Question Number: 16164

Law 3 - Number of Players 7/30/2007

RE: Rec All-star Under 15

Bob Roach of Charlottesville, VA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 16134

Following up 16134 as well as my original questoin 16069.

The tournament we were attending was a rec all-star tournament. I really don't have a problem with trying to keep games on schedule, and agreed with the various ways the panel suggested the time wasting could be dealt with.

What I was wondering was if the ref, in response to a coach switching a field player and keeper 4-5 times each half in order to rest his players and waste time, could force the coach to sub out the goalie for another player on the sideline who has keeper jersey and gloves on rather than switch with a field player, who has to stop and trade goalie shirt and gloves while intentially taking their time. Or maybe not allow the switch.

Or is this a tactic that, being allowed in the laws of the game, the ref must allow. (hmmmm...kind of says it all right there, huh?)

I understand you can say hurry up please, or even caution for USB if they are still taking too long after a warning. Or even sneak a couple of extra minutes to the end of the game at the risk of being chastised by tournament officials. The ref at this particular game felt she could not do anything because the tactic was within the laws of the game. I still feel it was unsporting of the coach to waste time. We're not talking trifling amounts of time. We're talking 15 to 20 minutes of a 60 minute game was spent to switch out the goalie with a field player over the course of the game.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Bob, I think you did answer your own question. The ref has to allow the team to substitute and/or switch the goalkeeper at any legal stoppage. About the only thing he can do is develop selective hearing - you know, the kind you have when your wife is calling - and miss hearing the request for the next goalie swap.

As I said in one of the earlier answers, if you sign up to play in a league or tournament that values their schedule above all else, you are stuck with the decision you made.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Unfortunately, the Laws have not been breeched by this tactic as unsporting as it sounds. As a referee you do what you can to insure fairness but you cannot refuse a keeper change. Unless, of course, you don't hear the request which could be interesting if they went ahead anyway in which case you would caution both players for switching without your permission

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Bob you might want to look at paragraphs 3.4, 3.6 and 3.15 of Advice 2007 when it is published. This sheds a little light on the subject.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Bob,
the time use tactic is different then a time waste tactic but it can stray into time waste if the legal actions are not done in a timely manner. I am curious as to the switches occuring as a seperate incident or within an ongoing substitution or stoppage? In keeper switches generally at half or in injury they are sort of easy to follow. This stop start stuff requires PRIOR knowledge by the AR and referee of who and how, be it a sub from touchline and or switch with field player! Failure to follow or deviation from protocall can create opportunities for a referee to intervene legally and warn or caution such behaviour as the laws allow. I mentioned at the outset to be wary, a referee cannot fundementally disallow a legal sub only ensure every i is dotted and t crossed if the ruse is to abuse this priviledge!
Cheers