Question Number: 19244

Law 3 - Number of Players 6/2/2008

RE: 2 Adult

Bheki Moyo of johannesburg, Gauteng South Africa asks...

This question is a follow up to question 19230

I read in one answer sometime last year that a ref must wait to restart play until the keeper is ready. So in the regard in all the keeper changes here tha ref must wait for the new keeper to bet in his proper attire before play resumes is it not so?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Yes. It makes no sense to allow a keeper change and then restart play before the keeper is properly attired and ready to play. Would also be quite unfair. Simply add time as needed

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

For normal keeper exchanges, you allow them the time to get set with all their equipment, including pads and gloves.

If we're talking about the "I can change keepers at every stoppage" ploy, I might be tempted to restart play as soon as the correct color jersey is donned. They can struggle with the gloves on their own time.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

No referee should consider restarting without the keeper in place ready to go as a normal match condition. As my colleague Ref Voshol points out given the unusal situation of trying to use this keeper/player switch tactically. The point we make is the laws state the manditory equipment, gloves and hats are not mentioned and nothing about the keeper being in the goal itself is mentioned either. We would not think of creating an unfair situation if there was no unfairness already present and the right to add time was not interfered with. Cheers