Question Number: 15987

Law 3 - Number of Players 7/10/2007

RE: Rec Under 9

Greg Burgess of Jarrettsville , MD USA asks...

Theoretically, I am coaching a game and I do not have any substitutes available. During the course of the game, a tired player runs off the field, thus I am playing a man down. When the tired player is ready to go back into the game, does he need permission from the referee to re-enter the game? Does the player need a stoppage in play to re-enter the game?

Thanks

Greg in Jarrettsville

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

First, this player should have received permission from the ref to temporarily leave the field. That is required in Law, but it also serves to set up for his return.

The ref now knows that you are playing "down". So she will then be anticipating a request from your player to reenter the field. If there is no inspection issue (such as would be required if the player left for bleeding or equipment) then the player would be allowed to reenter the field from the touchline as play continues - the referee beckons him on. She would be wise to do this when play is not in the vacinity of the player, as it would not be fair for him to suddenly be able to challenge an opponent. If the ref is not comfortable with allowing the player on "on the fly" so to speak, she may wait until a stoppage - any stoppage, not just one of the defined substitution opportunities. At U9 it would probably be best to wait for the stoppage to avoid confusion - those games are already confusing enough as we attempt to keep track of where all those bodies are headed and what they are doing.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

The player does not need a stoppage in play to reenter the game, however he does require the referee's permission to do so. In fact, he requires the referee's permission to leave the field in the first place.

So, when your player wants to run off the field to rest you will need to obtain the permission of the referee to do this. This is basically so it is acknowledged that this player is "out of the game" and will not be making any sneaky runs back onto the field trying to catch the other team offguard. Likewise, your player needs the referee's permission to be considered "back in again" in order to be considered during dynamic play.

In your question, it's possible that the referee could've cautioned and shown the yellow card to your player for leaving the field of play without the referee's permission. However, the referee seeing the play leave the field may have considered that he has given tacit permission for the player to leave.

More importantly on returning to the field your player MUST actually obtain some sort of signal from the referee before reentering the field. This is highly important as just charging onto the pitch places the opponents at a disadvantage as their tactics and positioning have been affected by your player's absence. His quick reemergence into the game without any sort of check by the referee would be unfair to the opponent. The referee will ensure fairness by allowing the player to enter the field at the appropriate time. This permission may be obtained while the ball is in play (when your player may only enter from the touchline) or while the ball is out of play (from anywhere on the field).

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Yes he does and he also needs permission to leave. By the letter of the law, your player should receive a caution for leaving field w/o permission. Players must have referees permission to leave or enter field. The player should ask referee to step off (at any stoppage) and can come on with referees permission (at any stoppage). Key thing is that the referee must give permission.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

You can not tell a player to leave the field. You must tell the player to ask the referee's permission to leave the field. From the moment the referee says yes until he gives permission to return if the player participates in play he will be cautioned for unsporting behaviour.

Advice to Referees [ATR] paragraph 19.5 WATER says, in part:

Players who wish to drink water while play continues may do so only from the touchline and without leaving the field.

There are changes subsequent to what is quoted that involve other places where water may be placed and when it may be consumed so when ATR hits the street you might want to read the new information.

You should train your players to constantly move for the entire period of play. Allowing them to get tired during competition shows weakness in the fitness program you offer in training. Even at the U-little level of competition players must be fit enough to compete. You, yourself state you play at a disadvantage when one of yours is all woofed out and needs to hit the oxygen bottle. Work them in training so they may be a success on the field.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Greg,
as my colleagues have mentioned a player requires permission from the referee to leave the field or renter the field during ongoing play. Players can leave the field through natural playing momentum provided they return within a reasonable time.

Note a referee COULD give your players permission to leave the field to attend to an injury or equipment malfunction or get some water or shade even BEFORE it occurs if conditions are such that safety is an issue. I have done so in heated environments where a player may leave to be attended to avoid heat exhaustion or sickness or when a player injured had dragged himself into touch behind the play.

If a player does leave to get water or rest or treatment that player MUST reenter when I wave them on. So in effect I gave permission de facto before to leave but they needed my wave on to re-enter!
Cheers