Abuse of the Substitute Procedure

Abuse of the Substitute Procedure

This issue has been witnessed by me, and many coaches have contacted me to voice their displeasure about this scenario. A Coach is not allowed to just yell “sub” as the serve is being called for and then look up and down their bench for an athlete to sub into the match. This should not be allowed and the request ignored, or a delay of match penalty must be given. To allow this to happen gives the offending team an unfair advantage.  Officials must not allow this to continue. This behavior if it continues borders on unsporting behavior. When I issued the card to this coach, the behavior ceased. 
Here is the rule:
NFHS Rule 10, Section 2 – Substitutions
Rule 10-2-1: “A substitution shall take place when a substitute(s) enters the substitution zone.”
Rule 10-2-2: “The coach may request a substitution during a dead ball by verbally or visually signaling the request. The request is recognized when the substitute(s) is in the substitution zone.”
Rule 10-2-3: “The second referee shall whistle to acknowledge and authorize the substitution when the substitute(s) is in the substitution zone.”
So, under NFHS rules:
The coach can call “sub”, but the substitution is not officially recognized until the player(s) are standing in the substitution zone.
The R2 only whistles when the sub is physically present there.
Let me know if you have any questions,
Sharon Hughes