Question Number: 16907

Law 3 - Number of Players 9/26/2007

RE: Rec Under 13

Mark of Elkins, WV US asks...

I have a question about substituting and did not know where to look under your "Q&A Quick Search" and was unable to get the FIFA Laws to download. Can either team substitute during a throw-in,goal kick, corner kick, or dead ball or is it limited to just the team with posession? Thank you for your help.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Yes. You can substitute on ANY stoppage of play.

That is of course unless your local league has changed the substitution rules to restrict the times when subs may come in. In that case check with the league instead of the laws.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

All substitution questions should be under Law 3, Mark, for future reference. There is also a wealth of information on the ussoccer.com website, including the Advice to Referees which might answer some of your questions. On page 3 of your LOTG (you do have a copy, I hope) it says substitutions are one item that may be modified for players under 16 years of age, and those modifications will be in your state youth league rules. I looked W. VA up, and basically, a team can sub on their own throw-in, at any goal kick, kick-off, or stoppage for injury. That's pretty standard youth league stuff. There is also a provision to allow for a sub if a caution is given for the player cautioned (not required). Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Thanks for the head's up, that function has been on the fritz since May and the webmaster is still loosing hair over it. Substitution is one of the five things FIFA says may be changed by national associations. In many cases youth leagues and some amateur leagues allow unlimited substitutions at specific stoppages in play. Others don't so the referee must check what the league wants before starting his match.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

This TOTALLY depends upon your state rules and modifications to the Laws of the Game. There is a movement afoot in youth soccer in this country to go by FIFA directives which would allow subs at any stoppage. However, in most states you are still only allowed to sub on own throw, goal kick, caution, injury, kick off, or at the quarter interval if you play quarters and do not restart each quarter with a kick off.

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

See Question: 16954