Question Number: 16487

League Specific 8/29/2007

RE: AYSO Under 17

Tarlock of Palmdale, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 10128

Referee Chuck says [10128] "USYSA has legislated stoppages at which substitutions may be made. The referee must wait for one of those to arrive before allowing any substitution". What are those stoppages please?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Relatively recently, US Youth Soccer has recommended that leagues follow the FIFA Laws of the Game that allow substitutions at any stoppage. At least some states in Region 1 are using that for their State Cup games. This policy may spread across the country if USYS stresses it.

Before this, only some stoppages were substitution opportunities. These may vary by league, because again they were recommendations by USYS, but they commonly were:
* prior to a kickoff (start of half, after a goal)
* prior to a goal kick
* for an injury
* prior to a throw-in, for the team possessing the ball

The issue in Q#10128 was that the referee stopped play when the goalkeeper made a save. This wasn't a natural stoppage in play; the referee created the stoppage.

Update: As Ref Fleischer notes, AYSO has different substitution rules. AYSO is not affiliated with USYS; instead they have a direct link to USSF.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

There is one thing I didn't think of when writing the answer to that question: 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,