Question Number: 25911

Law 4 - Players Equipment 1/23/2012

RE: High School

tom dumas of rio vista , ca usa asks...

Can girls were sleevelss jersies? I found sites that said yes and others that said no. Our high school referees say its not a CIF or NHS regulation but a FIFA law and if the the high school does nto address soemthing it falls back to FIFA.
So bottom line do I have to buy new jersies

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

1. High school rules do not prohibit sleeveless jerseys. I believe the CIF - Northern Section has adopted the NFHS rules with respect to uniforms. Like all high school federations, however, it has the option to modify the rules.

2. Even in matches played under the laws of the game, however, the interpretation in the United States is that the enforcement of the ban in Law 4 against sleeveless jerseys is left to the individual leagues. Referees are expected to allow the match to be played, and to report the deficiency in the match report. My experience is that except at the highest levels of tournament play, youth leagues in CA do nothing to enforce the rule against sleeveless jerseys.

3. There is no high school rule that says in the absence of a specific rule, FIFA LOTG apply. What is provided in the rules is that on matters not specifically addressed by the rules, the referee shall decide. (Many referees will follow a USSF interpretation if there is no high school interpretation.) In this case, however, there is a very specific (and elaborate) high school rule on uniforms. Jerseys are not an area in which the referee may decide to add requirements not in the rules.

Your athletic director should confirm this with CIF and with the head of the local referee association, but I believe that it is unlikely that you will need to buy new jerseys for high school play.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Tom
The requirement for jerseys to have sleeves is a FIFA rule which must be adhered to in games affiliated to FIFA such as UEFA, USSF etc.
As NFHS is not affiliated to FIFA it is entirely a matter for that body to decide on uniform etc.
NFHS Rules state that when an illegally uniformed team is unable to correct the situation or cannot verify state association approval of the uniform, the game shall be played. The referee must, however, notify the state association following the game.