Question Number: 16549

League Specific 9/5/2007

RE: competive High School

Bill Carmalt of Milan, PA USA asks...

This is a NFHS rule 3 section 3 Art 4.

Blue team has a roster of 10, so they are always playing short.

White team has full roster and can make substitutions.

Hot day, Blue coach pulls a player off with the referees permission due to fatigue/heat concerns. The play hydrates and is ready to return to play. She waits for a stoppage at the scorers table.

The white team sends a substitute to the scorers table.

The ball is kicked out of bounds by white. Blue throw in. The referee beckons both players. Was this correct?

The reading of 3.3.4 says the team NOT in possession .... may substitute.. it the team in possession is also substituting. However, in the above case, the Blue team is not substituting, it is only going up to strength.

Leads to a second question: when a returning player is entering at a stoppage, must whistles be blown?

Thanks, Bill

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

No the referee made an error in rule. He allowed a player off the field to return, this is not a substitution. Most referees can't fathom the difference between a player, a substitute and a substituted player [except in unlimited substitution matches where this team member becomes a substitute again].

Whistling is not required here because it is not required in Rule 9, Art. 3. I would recommend holding play until the returning player has stopped running to his position on the field. At that time just wave to restart. NOTE: the coach may be screaming at you because he thinks a substitution has taken place, it hasn't. If that happens deal with it by using a card. That might keep him quiet next time, though I doubt it...

Regards,