1. REQUIREMENTS FOR INJURED PLAYERS
2011
REQUIREMENTS FOR INJURED PLAYERS
USSF Position Paper
January, 2012

2. BASIC PRINCIPLES: Play stopped solely for serious injury or
2011
BASIC PRINCIPLES:
Play stopped solely for serious injury or
Referee waves medical assistance onto the field
Player is not treated on the field
Player is REQUIRED to leave the field
Player may not return to the field except
With the referee’s permission and
Only after play has been restarted

3. Field player injured in collision with goalkeeper
2011
EXCEPTIONS:
Goalkeeper
Injury is severe
Field player injured in collision with goalkeeper

4. NEW EXCEPTION (added 2010):
2011
NEW EXCEPTION (added 2010):
Any two or more players from the same team injured in a collision

5. Exceptions involving collisions assume:
2011
Exceptions involving collisions assume:
All players involved are seriously injured

6. Goalkeeper & Field Player Both, Seriously
2011
PLAYERS INVOLVED
INJURY STATUS
CORRECT ACTION
Goalkeeper & Field Player
Both, Seriously
Both permitted to receive treatment on the field and to remain on the field
Goalkeeper & Field Player
Only Goalkeeper Seriously
Goalkeeper permitted to receive treatment on the field and to remain on the field
Field player remains on the field
Only Field Player Seriously
Field player required to leave the field to receive treatment and cannot return until after play resumes and only with the permission of the referee

7. Two Field Players, Same Team Both, Seriously
2011
PLAYERS INVOLVED
INJURY STATUS
CORRECT ACTION
Two Field Players, Same Team
Both, Seriously
Both permitted to receive treatment on the field and to remain on the field
Two Field Players, Same Team
Only One, Seriously
The seriously injured field player is required to leave the field to receive treatment, cannot return until after play resumes and only with the permission of the referee

8. Field player or goalkeeper who is not required to leave
2011
NOTE 1:
Field player or goalkeeper who is not required to leave
May still leave the field if permission is given
BUT
Allowed to return (with permission) prior to the restart

9. 2011
NOTE 2:
“Severe” injuries are presumed to be serious enough that the player, after receiving emergency treatment, will be taken off the field and not be able to return

10. Bleeding or bloodied players are REQUIRED to leave the field
2011
NOTE 3 (continued):
Bleeding or bloodied players are
REQUIRED to leave the field
Even if an exception applies (e.g., collision with goalkeeper)
Goalkeeper is the only exception
(can stay on the field and be treated for both serious injury and blood/bleeding)

11. Bleeding or bloodied players are REQUIRED to leave the field
2011
NOTE 3 (continued):
Bleeding or bloodied players are
REQUIRED to leave the field
HOWEVER:
If bleeding/blood is the result of an injury and player is NOT required to leave the field based on the injury, the player may return to the field prior to the restart (with permission) after the blood/bleeding problem is corrected

12. Example 1 Situation: Solution: Blue #13 collides with Blue #5
2011
Example 1
Situation:
Blue #13 collides with Blue #5
Both players seriously injured
Blue #5 requests permission to leave field to replace torn uniform
Solution:
Both can be treated on the field
Neither required to leave
Blue #5 can return prior to the restart

13. Example 2 Situation: Solution: Red goalkeeper collides with Blue #11
2011
Example 2
Situation:
Red goalkeeper collides with Blue #11
Goalkeeper is seriously injured
Goalkeeper is bleeding from injury
Solution:
Goalkeeper can stay on field and receive treatment for injury
Goalkeeper also permitted to correct bleeding/blood problem while on field
Blue #11 not required to leave

14. Example 3 Situation: Solution: Red #44 and Red #51 collide
2011
Example 3
Situation:
Red #44 and Red #51 collide
Red #44 is seriously injured
Solution:
Red #44 cannot be treated on the field
Red #44 required to leave, cannot return until play restarts and received referee permission
Red #51remains on the field

15. Example 4 Situation: Solution: Red #44 and Red #51 collide
2011
Example 4
Situation:
Red #44 and Red #51 collide
Red #44 is seriously injured
After stopping play, Red #51 is also determined to be seriously injured
Referee beckons trainer onto the field
Solution:
Both players may be treated on the field
Neither required to leave
(Beckoning trainer turned situation into two-teammate exception)

16. Example 5 Situation: Solution: Red #55 collides with Blue goalkeeper
2011
Example 5
Situation:
Red #55 collides with Blue goalkeeper
Red #55 is seriously injured
Solution:
Red #55 required to leave
May not return except by permission after restart

17. Example 6 Situation: Solution: Blue #34, Blue #51, and Red #17 collide
2011
Example 6
Situation:
Blue #34, Blue #51, and Red #17 collide
Blue #51 and Red #17 are seriously injured
Solution:
Blue #51 and Red #17 are required to leave
Neither may return except with referee permission and only after the restart

18. Example 7 Situation: Solution: Blue goalkeeper collides with Blue #46
2011
Example 7
Situation:
Blue goalkeeper collides with Blue #46
Both are seriously injured
Additionally, Blue #46 bleeding at the forehead from the contact
Solution:
Both players may be treated for their injuries on the field
Blue goalkeeper not required to leave
Blue #46 required to leave for blood/bleeding (and may also be treated off field) but may return prior to the restart of play (with permission)

19. Example 8 Situation: Solution: Red #15 and Blue #39 collide
2011
Example 8
Situation:
Red #15 and Blue #39 collide
Both are seriously injured
After stopping play, Blue #39 is determined to be severely injured
Solution:
Red #15 is required to leave
Blue #39 may stay on the field to receive emergency first aid before being removed by ambulance
Red #15 must wait until after play resumes to request permission to re-enter

20. Actions to take are set by Law and Guidance
2011
REMINDER
Actions to take are set by Law and Guidance
Not dependent on age/competitive levels
Determination of what is “serious” or “severe” critically dependent on age/competitive level

21. If in doubt about “serious” or “severe”
2011
However,
If in doubt about “serious” or “severe”
Decide in favor of protecting the safety of the player