GENERAL INFORMATION

Oddly enough, the original Laws of the Game made no provisions for substitutes. Eleven players started the game and those same 11 iron-men finished the game.

Potential problems with substitutions - While you monitor thousands of substitutions in your career without any problems, when something goes amiss, it creates a major problem. Doing the right thing by the letter of the law goes against what feels right under the spirit of the law. It places referees in a very undesirable spot. The best mechanic is to make sure the active player has completely left the field of play before allowing the substitute to enter the field of play. The younger the age group the more the referee must weigh the additional playing time gained by the players the possible consequences

Substitutes must be ready - Before the referee signals for substitutions, the substitutes must be ready. They must be properly uniformed, near the halfway line.

Field exit by player being replaced - To increase playing time, referees should encourage players being replaced to exit the field at the closest point. As soon as the player being replaced is off the field, the substitute may enter. It is becoming commonplace for departing players to come touch the hands of the entering substitute. There is no need for such action. Do not allow a team with a slim lead to waste time using that technique.

When the substitute becomes ready - Use common sense. If the substitute enters during a goal kick or kick-off, you might allow them to jog to a proper position. Referees are not obligated to wait for a player to get into position to signal the restart. That is a courtesy many referees extend but do not allow a team with a slim lead to waste time using that technique. If a substitute walks towards their position rather than jogs into place, while sitting on a 2-1 lead, call for the restart. They certainly can't say they're tired, can they?

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