When is a sub a sub?

[Back In The Saddle]

I had a partner a couple weeks ago tell me to wait until a player enters the substitution zone until I signal for substitution. Otherwise, she may get near the zone, I signal for substitution, only to have the coach call the girl back because she didn't want her subbing right now. Seems like good advice, and consistent with what I understand from the rules.

After doing that way for a couple of weeks, I've noticed a lot of players will hesitate before entering the sub zone, as if they're waiting for me to signal for the substutition before they enter. Or players on the floor who come to the sideline, to await subbing, who look at me like I'm out of my mind when I don't signal immediately, waiting until their sub enters the sub zone.

Am I doing it right, and the players just need to adjust? Or am I doing it wrong, and need to pull my head out?

[Andy]

Well, I do it just the way you do. I do not recognize and signal the substitution until the head coach requests it and/or a substitute enters the sub zone.

I don't have the book (NFHS) handy here at work, but I believe that there is not a substitution request until one of those things happens. If I signal the substitution prematurely and the player realizes she is not supposed to go into the game at that point, I have to assess a UD for withdrawing a sub request. If I wait until the request is valid, by the actions of the player or coach, now it's on them if the request is withdrawn.

I have not noticed the issue you have with a hesitation before entering the sub zone, I seem to have more issues with getting teams to send multiple subs all up to the line at the same time.

[Back In The Saddle]

On the serial subs subject

How long is too long between the subs approaching the substitution zone? I denied one request in my match yesterday because they came about 5-10 seconds apart. I allowed one where the second sub was there about the time I was finished reporting the first one. But I wonder if I should have denied that one too.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

On the serial subs subject

How long is too long between the subs approaching the substitution zone? I denied one request in my match yesterday because they came about 5-10 seconds apart. I allowed one where the second sub was there about the time I was finished reporting the first one. But I wonder if I should have denied that one too.

That is a judgement call on your part. For me, if I have reported the first sub to the table and waved her in, I'm not allowing any more subs. And I tend to be pretty quick at getting subs into the game and moving along.

If there is a noticeable delay between subs coming up to the zone, but not enough for me to deny the second sub, I will say something to the coach. "Coach, please send all of your subs up at once." Most of the time, that takes care of it. After that I'm a lot less lenient on delays between subs entering the sub zone and will deny a second sub or assess a UD penalty.

[MCBear]

The answer to this is: (1) (a) when the head coach requests a substitution and/or (b) when a player enters the sub zone without the coach making a specific request and (2) when the official recognizes the request by whistle and signal.

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

On the serial subs subject

How long is too long between the subs approaching the substitution zone? I denied one request in my match yesterday because they came about 5-10 seconds apart. I allowed one where the second sub was there about the time I was finished reporting the first one. But I wonder if I should have denied that one too.

If there is no delay between authorizing one sub and the other one coming into the zone, then I have no problem - it simply becomes much like the consecutive sub procedure used in USAV and NCAA. If there is a noticeable delay between the subs getting to the zone, the second one is going to be denied.

[Retrozetti]

Originally Posted by Andy

I do not recognize and signal the substitution until the head coach requests it and/or a substitute enters the sub zone... I believe that there is not a substitution request until one of those things happens. If I signal the substitution prematurely and the player realizes she is not supposed to go into the game at that point, I have to assess a UD for withdrawing a sub request. If I wait until the request is valid, by the actions of the player or coach, now it's on them if the request is withdrawn.

Rule 10.1.2 qualifies an improper substitution request
Rule 10.2.1 explains the proper procedure for a substitution request
Rule 10 Section 2 explains the procedure for substitution

An easy identifier of a "recognized" substitution is the U's whistle being blown. The U's whistle and signal should only be made upon a "proper substitution request" (Rule 10.2.1) If 10.2.1 was not performed properly, the U should "not" recognize the substitution request. At that point, it may become a UD if it starts to delay the game.

However, (as described above) if the U signaled for a substitution prematurely (let's assume the coach didn't request and there was no player in the substitution zone), you should "not" assess a UD. Technically, they never requested a sub. Don't assess a penalty to a team for your error.
(Sorry Andy, just a slight correction to your response)