Question Number: 31492

High School 4/27/2017

RE: High School

Lexus Jaramillo of Fairbanks, Alaska USA asks...

Are NFHS refs allowed to deny substitutions even if there is no quick restart, both AR's have their flags up, and coaches are yelling at the referee for subtitutions? What are the reprecussions for that?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Lexus
Substitution opportunities are very well defined in NFHS and they can only happen at certain times. One would expect that the referee crew will know when a substitution would be allowed or not.
Substitutions can be denied at certain times and I am not sure what you mean by repercussions such as whether a delay in a substitution had any affect on a game. Teams need to manage substitutions in line with the Rules.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Lexus,
Although NFHS provide detailed definitions of when substitutions can occur (or can not, as the case may be) the overall provision is that:

''Entry onto the field of play by a substitute except at the beginning of a period is prohibited without the approval of a referee ...''

Based on this, as far as I read the rules (and much like the IFAB Laws) substitutions, even at a defined substitution opportunity, are still only allowed with the referee's approval. If the referee does not give approval, the substitution(s) cannot take place.