Question Number: 25551

League Specific 10/4/2011

RE: FLT 2 Travel High School

Ernie Buel of washington, nj usa asks...

Why does HS soccer still use the 2 ref. system when no other competitive group use it? I believe this is nation wide.
I read that this began 30 years ago, what can we do to change it?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ernie
Simple . Get those that make the rules to change them.
Rules changes and editorial revisions, are approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Soccer Rules Committee. All rules changes recommended by the committee are subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
The process as I understand it is that the NFHS Rules editor contacts state association staff during the sport season to review issues and solicit rule change agenda items. After wide consultation the changes are submitted for approval to the relevant boards. So there is a process there. It simply needs a champion. I suspect though that there are many champions for leaving the status quo
I came across this interesting piece
http://fortheintegrityofsoccer.blogs.com/artandscienceofrefereeing/2007/11/the-demise-of-c.html

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Some high school leagues use 3 referees in the diagonal system of control. And some use the 3-whistle system, the so-called 'double dual' (which many find to be an abomination).

But many others will only use a dual system, because then the schools only have to pay for 2 referees. It's less about quality and quantity, and more about cost.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

It costs less to put two referees on the field. Schools are short of funds, and weekday afternoon matches can affect the supply of referees. But, its mostly about money. Schools lack it, and many high school sports, like soccer, do not generate revenues.

NFHS rules permit the diagonal system with three referees. In my area, some schools ask for 3 (either because they are private schools that can afford it or pass the cost to parents or because they want 3 for the 'key' matches against rivals.) Moreover, no one in club world seems to be singing the praises of three referees as the key to a well managed match. School athletic directors don't expect that they will see fewer complaints (or fewer red cards) if they pay for one more referee.

There will be 4 umpires at a regulation major league baseball game ; 3 at a regulation college game, and 2 at a high school game. No one thinks that 2 can do the same job as 4. But, the question for the high school rules committee is: can two referees do an adequate job?

So, IMO, the real issue isn't the diagonal system, but whether it better for the high school game to have one trained 'average skill' referee and two club lines or two trained 'average skill' referees in a dual?

(I don't believe anyone would doubt that one 'great' center referee would do a better job than two average ones in a dual or that two great referees in a dual would do a better job than an average DSC, but no region has enough great referees.)