Question Number: 16217

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/5/2007

RE: Varsity High School

James Hart of Oakland, MD USA asks...

Is it true that only players on the field can be shown a yellow/red card for Misconduct?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

No. Anyone on the bench may be shown a red or yellow card to indicate misconduct. The new High school rules are available online to NFHS members only. The changes for this year may be viewed.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Tell me the coach told you that! Of course that isn't true. Heck, in high school, you're even allowed, in fact are required, to show cards to the coaches when they get out of hand. But, it is right there in the NFHS rule book, which you should have, under Rule 12, Misconduct: Art. 1...A player, coach or bench personnel shall be cautioned for...and there is a long list and it is the same for "disqualification" (red card, or red and yellow together). And in the world game, under the Laws of the Game, all of the players, substitutes and substituted players are under the authority of the referee from the moment they make it onto the playing area (including the benches and field surrounds) until the moment when the referee has left the field and it's environs and can be cautioned or sent off accordingly. However, in world soccer (anything but high school or college in the USA) we don't show cards to coaches. We just warn them or dismiss them and write it up in the report. Some youth associations ask for a different procedure, but that is very localized - what I've stated here is the generally accepted procedure pretty much world-wide.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Since your question refers to US High School, the answer is players, subs, and coaches can be shown cards. .

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

See Question: 16248