Question Number: 17158

Law 3 - Number of Players 10/7/2007

RE: Select Under 15

Deborah Heinzmann of Concord, CA USA asks...

I understand that clock management is part of the game of soccer,and in the case of a match that can go into overtime and kicks from the mark subbing becomes an art; but in a rec league game that can end in a tie, do I have to allow the coach of the leading team a sub very near the end of the half, if doing so will burn off any remaining time the opposing team has to get the ball and shoot? I am looking for whether I have any discretion as to substitutes or not, basically. I can't find anything in the Laws.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If all the rquirements of Law 3 have been met you cannot refuse the substitution. What you do is allow it and then simply add time on as required.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Ah, Deborah. Your assignment is to re-read Law 7 - The Duration of the Match. There you will find all the reasons the referee may add time -> make allowance for time lost. And, as Ref Contarino states, IF (big IF) the requirements of Law 3 have been met (in other words, was the sub at the halfway line before the stoppage where he could sub? Did he inform your AR he wanted to sub prior to going to the halfway line?) you can allow the late in the game substitution and add back the 30 seconds it takes to complete - and politely let the coaches know you are adding the time. That usually takes the wind out of their sails. And, if they don't have the sub up and ready to go, you are under no obligation to hold up the game for them to get up and ready.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Follow Law 3 to the letter and add time to stop this time wasting.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Very good of you to realize that in a game that may go to Kicks From The Penalty Mark to determine a winner, the coach may have tactical reasons for subbing late in a game. It might not be an intent to run time off the clock, but rather to get a good kicker or two back into the game.

As my colleagues have stated, as long as the subs are ready to go when there is a stoppage, allow the substitution. Make a show of fussing with your watch - while you might not really be turning it off, the team will see you're paying attention to time. Add time generously to compensate for this and any other time that was lost during the game. If it gets really obnoxious - say 3 or 4 sub requests within a couple minutes - tell the coach, "Fine, but I'm adding time." All but the densest coach will soon realize that his ploy isn't working.