Question Number: 16206

Law 3 - Number of Players 8/4/2007

RE: C3 Adult

John Baltutis of Belleville, ON Canada asks...

A coach asks for a substituion at every opportunity, he is only changing one player at a time,is this allowed.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Coaches do not ask for substitutions at the opportunity, they notify the nearest official they intend to substitute a player. The referee allows the substitution based on whether or not the players will accept a delay in their planned restart. US Soccer's Advice to referees offers good guidance in the following paragraph. As a Canadian referee you not bound to heed what is written, it is nevertheless very good advice

3.5 PREVENTING DELAY DURING SUBSTITUTION
Referees should prevent unnecessary delays due to the substitution process. One source of delay is a request for a substitution that occurs just as a player starts to put the ball back into play. This often
(incorrectly) results in the restart being called back and retaken. Another common source of delay is a substitute player who is not prepared to take the field when the request to substitute is made. In each case, the referee should order play to be restarted despite the request and inform the coach that the substitution can be made at the next opportunity.

The referee shall not prevent a team from restarting play if the substitute had not reported to the appropriate official before play stopped.

During the pregame discussion, the role of each official in managing the substitution process should be discussed in detail. Every effort should made to ensure awareness of local substitution rules, to follow
procedures which facilitate substitutions with a minimum of delay, to avoid overlooking valid substitution requests, and to prevent the substitution process from being abused by teams seeking to gain an unfair advantage.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You ask if this is allowed. SHort answer is yes it is. The referee cannot refuse a request for substitution as long as the substitution is allowed and what Ref Fleischer states takes place. If the player is at the center line ready to come in AND YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THE REQUEST, you have to allow it. If time wasting is obviously involved I'd simply tell the coach I'm adding time as required. I also may exhibit selective hearing loss and I will not acknowledge if the sub will delay an opponent's restart. SInce most free subs are allowed at own throw-in, any goal kick, injury, after a score, or after a caution, the time where the sub will delay an opponent is at a goal kick so I look to see if the opponent is ready to take the kick quickly and will not acknowledge a request that will prevent the opponents from putting the ball in play quickly

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Yes - but make sure to add time and to inform the coach that no time is being wasted as he intends.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi John,
A referee has NO authority to deny a legal substitution just because it is one at a time or near the end of a match. Unlimited substitution at the youth level allows the same player to come and go any number of times. A coach can not request a substitution UNLESS all procedures are followed as trying to delay or con the referee into an unfair stoppage is not a reasonable act of a responsible coach! Time use and tactical substitution is part and parcel of the game. Irritating as it might be a referee must weigh in on proper following of the procedures, reasonable effort to complete the exchange in a timely fashion and the opportunity for the players on the field who are continuing to want to play.
If it is a stoppage and the substitution bylaws are specific as to when or unspecific as to when not to a referee should ENFORCE the procedural necessities to the letter! This will limit discussion or the need to show cards and NOT allow time to be used unfairly!
Cheers