Question Number: 33192

High School 3/27/2019

RE: NFHS High School

Scott Sallah of Harrisonburg, VA United States asks...

Yellow card on field for USB, injury results. The player who committed the offense must leave the field until the next legal substitution per NFHS rules. The injured player leaves the field and an immediate legal substitution opportunity is created. May the player who committed the foul and was carded then return immediately to the game? Obviously logic would say no but interpreting the rules leave vagueness in the wording.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Scott
As you state a player who receives a yellow card must leave the game, but may be replaced by a substitute. The cautioned player may re-enter at the next legal substitution period.
The game needs to restart before that next legal substitution opportunity becomes available.
Reference Rule 3.3.3 Situation C. The players must be removed and leave the game.
I also believe that the substitution mechanism would not be in line with the procedure laid down.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Scott,
I think it is fairly logical that after being cautioned for injuring an opponent, the offending player who is required to leave the field for that reason may not immediately return before play has even restarted. The NFHS rule says that the player may not return until the next legal substitution opportunity. As far as I can judge, the next opportunity means the one that occurs subsequently, and can not logically be the same substitution opportunity that was caused by the offending player's actions.

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Scott,
The clock was apparently stopped for both the caution and the injury as the injured player had to leave the game. During this time out, the player was cautioned and had to leave the field. Substitutions are permitted from the bench because of the injury. However, the cautioned player cannot reenter the game until the clock has been re-started and the next legal substitution opportunity occurs.

I hope that you have a very successful Virginia High School League season and get to work the State Championship games in June.