Decision re:  Law 5 Stoppage for Player Injury

Please read the attached memo concerning the stoppage o4035f play for injury.

In essence, when a referee stops play for injury, and someone comes onto the field to assist the injured player, the player must leave the field as soon as he or she can be safely moved.  At this point the coach has two options:  either substitute for the injured player or play short handed.  If the coach elects to play short handed, the injured player may return to play as soon as play is resumed with the approval of the referee.

The purpose of this decision is to discourage unnecessary stoppages and keep the game moving.   Note this decision only applies if someone comes onto the field to assist the injured player (coach, first aid, parent, etc.) and the decision to substitute is exclusively up to the coach.  In the event the coach elects to play short, Referees are encouraged to allow the player to re-enter play from the touch line as soon as play is resumed and the player is ready. Should the coach subsequently determine the injured player is not ready to return to play, then another player may be substituted at a stoppage of play with the permission of the referee.

As an additional note, this practice shall only apply to competitive divisions (U10 - U19), and we ask that referees use discretion when administering this practice to U10 players during the first half of the league season.  In short, be instructional and understand that some coaches have a looooong learning curve.