Question Number: 17203

Law 3 - Number of Players 10/8/2007

RE: Select Under 16

Dave Eberle of Clarkston, Washington USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 17139

Substitutions

I'm a little confused about your response, so please allow me to rephrase my question about substitutions in youth soccer, where substitutions are allowed at any stoppage, with permission of the referee:

The red team has a substitute at the halfway line ready to enter the field.

The blue team is awarded a throw-in.

Should the red team be allowed to make their substitution? Or must they wait until they get possession?


Paragraph 3.5 in the 2006 Advice to Referees does not give a definitive advice. The Guide to Procedures gives somewhat of an incomplete answer.

NFHS Soccer Rules are very clear on this matter. I wish FIFA/USSF were too.

Thank you in advance for addressing this issue again.

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

Yes. If your league, (I believe Washington State's soccer administration does) provides that an opportunity for substitution can be at any stoppage, then absolutely. If a substitute is standing at the halfway line, ready to substitute a player on the field and you have stopped play for an offside infringment, that is an opportunity for a substitution to take place, and EITHER TEAM may do so. FIFA/USSF are very clear about this. Law 3 very clearly states that a substitution (either team) may take place at ANY stoppage in play -- if I had to stop play because my goofball white GSD (German Shepherd Dog), Whitney, came onto the field of play and saved a great shot on goal for the keeper cuz she really wants to play with the ball, a substitution (by either team) could in fact take place then! If that is confusing, then it is only because too much is being read into it and something simple has been turned into something complex. NFHS, of course, requires that the phase of the moon on a given Tuesday night after the first full moon of the last harvest be taken into consideration when it comes to their "rules" -- but only when it can be see from the south. eeeshshshhsh.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Procedure for a substitution if the (at ANY stoppage) is in fact followed requires the substitute to be at the MIDLINE BEFORE the next stoppage after reporting in to the 4th official, AR or on the referees instructions.

FIFA allows Youth football to alter law 3 to serve the needs of the youth game. A single individual can be subbed and played countless times in the same match, restrictions like ONLY on a team's possession of the ball or if the other team does or not on free kicks or not on a pk! Whatever the add-ons are the referee must look to local policy for the absolute last word.

FIFA is VERY VERY clear in
Law 3 Substitution Procedure
To replace a player by a substitute, the following conditions must be observed:

? the referee is informed before any proposed substitution is made

? a substitute only enters the field of play after the player being
replaced has left and after receiving a signal from the referee

*****? a substitute only enters the field of play at the halfway line and during a (STOPPAGE) in the match *****

Law 5 allows a referee discretion to interpret but not the right to change laws.

Blue has been awarded a throw in, red sub was at centre waiting before that stoppage occurred then you could allow the substitution. The ball requires time to be retrieved, the throw in location is at the blue end of the field. How does allowing a legal substitution detract from the game or be construed as unfair?

However, you see blue was in a hurry up attack orientated throw in to release an attacker down the touch line could you allow play to continue with no substitution? A quickly taken free kick with subs of both or either team legally awaiting a sub opportunity should we recall the restart and go ahead with the sub?

If a goal was scored by the team who wanted to sub they will be happy. If a goal was scored against them they will be unhappy.

Teams have a right to continue attacking play which was unfairly interrupted which is why on some opportunities the referee will not look to the substitution area . Other times he must consider the legality of denying a reasonable opportunity for unclear reasons.

A ball deflecting out for corners, throw ins and goal kicks generally are not reasons to deny a substitution to either team. No real unfair penal foul or technical foul was committed simply a ball out of play, a stoppage.

Time MUST be added to make up for substitutions that are in fact wasting tthe opponents valuable playing time. In youth matches where adding time is discouraged or not permitted all subs better happen very quickly or those players who lollygag are going to be cautioned and shown a yellow card.

I could yield to the need to sub even in the final few seconds if those who wish entry have followed proper procedures. No referee should deny a legal substitution based on the fact that time is nearly expired. The tactical nature of the substitute is a coaches decision not the referees . An injured tired defender beaten in the final rush because we do not allow a sub that was 100% compliant with procedure is unfair. The tie game where the coach wants to get a good PK player on the field at the end of the match needs to be allowed to do so IF he has 100% complied with procedure!

A referee can always ADD time and or caution those who think they can dilly dally!

I want to point out that the only exception in youth procedure is if an injury occurs where we stop play to attend to that player we will allow that team to sub him out from the bench (he still must be checked and enter at the midline) and if there are players of the opponents already at midline they too could be allowed to do so. The restart here is a drop ball for the injury stoppage. If a restart was in effect and then the injury attended too the restart remains the same pk, dfk, indfk, throw, corner, goal kick offside, kick off, etc..!
Cheers

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

See Question: 18175