Question Number: 29944

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/26/2015

RE: Competitive Under 17

Alain of Victoria, BC Canada asks...

If a team changes their keeper at half-time and the coach doesn't notify you, when do you issue the yellow card to the new and previous keeper? Do you have to wait until the kickoff is taken at the start of the second half?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If you notice it before the kickoff, you can be proactive and avoid the cautions altogether. 'Hey Reds, you want to tell me anything about your goalkeeper?'

If you allow play to start, you could caution them at the next stoppage.

I don't know Canada's take on it, but USSF has said that in games where there is generally unlimited substitution with right of return (most youth games and a lot of amateur) you don't need to caution them at all. Your starting of the half is tacit approval of the change of goalkeeper. You see the correct number of players, one of they wearing the funny shirt, and they're good. Makes sense to me. They didn't tell you about all the substitutions they made at half either, did they? But did you consider cautioning for that?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Alain
Once a referee is aware of changes at the start of the second half he should be proactive and avoid any problems. A simple word with the player and a check of the kit will suffice.
Now if the referee only becomes aware of the change after play has begun he waits until the next stoppage to caution the player. If the change involves two players on the field of play then both are cautioned. If it is a substitution that happens at half time then the substituted player has done no wrong IMO and he can be oblivious to it all. He may also remain in the changing room in and it is not a caution.
In the past I gave spoken to players at junior level who entered as a substitute at half time without informing me to which they apologised. I warned them that it was a cautionable offence, that they should always inform the referee and left it at that.
Interestingly where it makes a difference and it is relevant the teams deal with it correctly.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Alan,
by all means be proactive, handing out two cautions for an oversight is really not in the best interests of a match as it is not the coach that is required to say but the players themselves. Given you know just ask them to confirm it! You do not want to play gotcha refereeing

The LOTG allow substitution alterations for youth. In these cases of unlimited substitutions at the youth level, the referee is permitting the exchange at the half (this exchange occurred at a stoppage and if the referee restarts he is providing the permission, as you should ensure both teams are ready to begin.

If they had simply exchanged jerseys, it is possible in theory, if you were unaware of an exchange, you could award a caution to the #1 keeper for say, delaying a restart in the 2nd half and that as a player in the first half you had cautioned him as #12 for a reckless tackle. Hence your need to know! If they were identical twins more so! I refereed a match many years back where there were identical twins playing. I cautioned EACH of them, at least I think I did??? LOL
In cases where documentation for limited substitution is required
If a player changes places with the goalkeeper without the referee's permission
before the change is made:
• the referee allows play to continue
• the referee cautions the players concerned when the ball is ...next out of play
Cheers