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Dave,
The NFHS made a rule change just last year for the 2006-07 season that permits the wearing of a protective face mask for a player with a facial injury. It is rule 4-2-8. Prior to that season such masks were illegal and a player could not participate while wearing one.
The language in the front of the 2006-07 book where the rule changes are listed each year was:
"4-2-8 NEW A protective face mask may be worn by a player with a facial injury. The mask may be made of hard material, but must be worn molded to the face with no protrusions. A medical release for the injured player signed by a physician (MD/DO) shall be available at the game site."
That exact same text, minus the word "NEW", appears in the current 2007-08 NFHS soccer rules book on page 26.
If your state association plays by the NFHS rules, then the referee should allow a player to participate if the above requirements are met.
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