When is a sub legal?

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by Rita C

When do they "legally enter" the court? What is the definition of that?

That's my point.

Rita

AFAIK there is no definition of that specifically. However, "The substitute shall remain outside the boundary until an official beckons, whereupon he/she shall enter immediately." Which I take to mean that the "enter" part of "legally enter" means to cross over the boundary line onto the court. The "legal" part requires the official to beckon the substitute. So I understand "legally enter" to mean waiting until the official beckons, then stepping onto the court.

However, it's pretty commonplace that subs do not get beckoned, but are ... recognized? by the official and allowed to enter with his/her consent. Example, you've got two subs waiting at the table. At the next whistle, the official brings the subs in. While that official is holding his partner off, waiting for the replaced players to leave the floor, another sub checks in and comes onto the floor. The official sees the sub enter, and does not beckon but continues holding his/her partner off until the additional substitution is completed. The additional sub was not beckoned, but I'd say the player legally entered the game.

That probably just complicates the attempt to define "legally enter", but it's common practice.