Question Number: 20778

Law 7 - Match Duration 1/30/2009

RE: Select Under 15

Sarah K of San Antonio, TX USA asks...

I asked a question about time management at my Recert training last week and I'm not sure the answer was correct. Perhaps you can shed some light.
In a tournament situation where you can't really add 'stoppage' time to a game due to field schedules, if a team appears to be deliberately wasting time by making multiple single player substitutions (i.e. at every allowed opportunity, they sub in one player), is the ref allowed to dis-allow proper (i.e. player at midfield, prepared and waiting to go in at the request time) substitution requests? If not, what's the best way to squash this behavior?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

No, you can't deny proper substitutions.

The proper way to deal with this is to refuse assignments in tournaments that don't allow you to enforce the Laws of the Game. If you choose to work the games, you must follow the rules the committee has set up. If they don't want teams wasting time by excessive substitution, let them come up with a solution.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Remember that when you are unable to add time to give the full measure of time to play anything you do to hurry things will waste more time. Coaches think they can win by not allowing the other side any time with the ball. They believe winning at any cost is better than teaching their players the skills necessary to maintain a slim lead in the latter stages of a match. What they are doing is not illegal but sure isn't within the Spirit of The Game.

Just as 'legal' as what the coach is doing is something you can do. As soon as it is your opinion the coach is wasting time by doing what this 'gent' did warn him to cease and desist because it brings The Game into disrepute. Next time expel him because he has now, knowingly, brought The Game into disrepute. He gets to sit out his team's next match and do some soul searching...

If a tournament committee refuses you the right to enforce the Laws of the Game do not accept assignments. There are other matches someplace on the planet, go there and work...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Substitute at the correct time per quidelines, follow procedure to the letter, they HUSTLE off and on otherwise caution for delaying the restart. They start to (hem and haw) or be at the midline and not ready to go, nail them for dragging their feet. Otherwise as in most things you reap what you sow!
Cheers

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

See Question: 20804