Question Number: 10128

Law 3 - Number of Players 10/13/2005

RE: AYSO recreation Under 16

Lincoln of Palmdale CA, CA USA asks...

A referee elected to stop a game for substitutions while the goalkeeper had the ball in his hands.He restarted the game with a dropped ball, basically drop/rolling the ball to the GK who had caught the ball before the stoppage by the referee for substitutions. Is this OK? Shouldn't the restart be the GK in possession of the ball even if the GK was substituted?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino 10/13/2005

If a referee stops the game on his own for no reason than other to stop the game, the restart is a dropped ball. That said, he may NOT stop the game at his discretion to allow substitutions. Subs are allowed at any normal stoppage of play. The only time a referee should arbitrarily stop a match is for an injury in which case teams may sustitute.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer 10/13/2005

Substitutions may be made at any stoppage, not the other way 'round. The referee has no authority to stop play to make substitutions. ..USYSA has legislated stoppages at which substitutions may be made. The referee must wait for one of those to arrive before allowing any substitution. Substitutions may be made at any stoppage, not the other way 'round. The referee has no authority to stop play to make substitutions. ..USYSA has legislated stoppages at which substitutions may be made. The referee must wait for one of those to arrive before allowing any substitution.

AYSO substitutes at a time halfway between the beginning and end of a period of play, that's the only time, save an injury.

Regards,

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 16487