Watch, count up or count down?

[NHRef]

How do you like to have the watch time the game? Time it with a stop watch counting up from 0, or counting down to 0?

I think I like count down cause then I can't "loose track" of time, but it then has a beep that the players/coaches/parents MIGHT hear.

How do you prefer to do it?

--Bob

[IASocFan]

Based on recommendations on this forum, I bought a DIGI Sport Watch from Official Sports. See: https://www.kconline.com/testing.officialsports.com//c784.html

It counts down, and has several useful options. It beeps, but not very loudly. I lost my first and bought a second.

[Alberto]

Based on recommendations on this forum, I bought a DIGI Sport Watch from Official Sports. See: https://www.kconline.com/testing.officialsports.com//c784.html

It counts down, and has several useful options. It beeps, but not very loudly. I lost my first and bought a second.

The nice thing is the stoppage timer. It automatically beeps full time with stoppage. A very nice feature. The only problem with count down to zero chronometers is that when writing goals and bookings you have to do the mental math of when the action took place. 15:00 remaining first half UB #10, 30 minutes of the first half in the book or write on card.

[billf]

I have one count up and the other counts down. It helps me with the math. I have a computer science degree and have take a lot of math, but simple math on top of all othe other things racing through my brain during a match makes me feel like I'm in third grade learning long division again! :)

[Jeff from Michigan]

The nice thing is the stoppage timer. It automatically beeps full time with stoppage. A very nice feature. The only problem with count down to zero chronometers is that when writing goals and bookings you have to do the mental math of when the action took place. 15:00 remaining first half UB #10, 30 minutes of the first half in the book or write on card.


Well...I have the Digi watch, and don't really like it, so I rarely use it, except as a backup: it's too easy to forget to push all the various buttons, and the buttons seem a bit too sensitive for me --- I've stopped or started the watch when not meaning to do so. In addition, I DO NOT LIKE the fact that it beeps to sound full time before switching to stoppage time.

For myself, I have a Casio watch with both a countdown timer and stop watch. (I'm told it's also water resistent down to 200 meters...which means that I can referee games on a very wet pitch). Typically, I start both at the beginning of each half...and keep the timer counting down visible, so I have an easy answer when someone asks "how much time, Ref?" This is also the watch I'll start and stop as needed, if there's an injury or other reason to stop the clock. Periodically, if I've stopped the clock, I'll switch views to note the time discrepancy and see how much time I'll be adding; and, when there's a minute or so left, I'll turn off the timer (so that it doesn't beep) --- notify the coaches in a youth game how much, if any, time I'll be adding (in most adult games, the players on the field will already know, either because someone's asked, or I've told them; for higher level matches, I'll also notify the sidelines) --- and use the stop watch until the end.

In a higher level match (a cup match, or divisional playoff game, for example...or any game where I'm being assessed), I'll usually have a spare watch on my opposite hand...which will have the stopwatch...just in case the battery runs down on my "normal" watch. In the past, this has usually been the Digi watch...with the time set to Zero, so that it counts UP rather than DOWN...though since I've usually managed to stop it by accident during the course of the game (I tend to hold my hands behind my back during stoppages...and often accidentally bump the start-stop button), I'm thinking about getting a cheaper watch that won't have the same problem for this season.

I've never had problems converting the times for events (goals, cautions, injuries, etc), but I've always been good at doing math in my head: an easy trick is to subtract the minutes remaining from 45 (or whatever the per-half time might be). Thus, a goal with 44:xx on your watch is in the First Minute; a caution with 22:xx on your watch is in the 23rd; pair this with a I or II (for first- or second-half --- eg, I/27, or II/15...or simply don't worry about designating anything until the second half), and you can adjust times for your game report after the match, if you have problems adding "45" in your head to events occurring in the second half. And...if this is too confusing, just write down the time remaining; you can always convert things into "stopwatch time" after the game, if you need to do so. However, at least in Michigan, it's been my experience that only very high level matches require the game report to contain a full time record of "significant events;" for most game reports --- which will already contain the team rosters and officials present --- you'll just need to enter the score, goal-scorers, and misconducts. (You should still keep track of it all , though...just in case events require to to make a "more-than-minimal" report of your game).

[Agogwe]

This is a question from someone who has never been a ref before, when there is a stoppage of play, do you stop a stopwatch, or just keep a mental note of how much time should be added?

Also, why do some people complain whether the clock counts up or down? Is it really that big an issue? It never was for me or anyone I've talked to about it.

[jc508]

I too prefer to wear two watches, one counting up and one counting down, when I am assigned as a referee for the match. Ideally, I prefer to stop the countdown watch within seconds of the end of the match to avoid everyone hearing the alarm suggesting the end of the game and then only using the count up watch for the remainder and added time.

If I am assigned as an AR, I only use the count up watch. This is to avoid the potential hassle from coaches and parents when they hear the watch alarm going off and the game does not end because the referee has added time for time wasted. If I can avoid a problem, I try to do so.

As to how much time to add, I try to make a good faith estimate subject to conditions. If the game is very lopsided (score 6-0), I won't add all of the time that was wasted during the match. I used to do this because of the principle, but when a player was injured in that added time to the lopsided game, I decided to minimize the time added in that type of match.

I estimate the time to add since I find it almost impossible to say exactly how much time should be added. Yes, I do look at my watch and get an idea how much time is lost, but I don't start and stop my watch unless we are going to need an ambulance for the injury.

If I try to get an exact time, I have to question whether I should start the timing from when I first saw the player down, or when I first determined he appeared injured, or when I spoke to him to verify he needed help, or when I called on the trainer or coach to hlep the player. With so many variables and so many other issues to deal with when I try to get an exact time, I have found that a good faith estimate seems fair to me and, more importantly, to the players and coaches.

Just my opinion.

[Ref Flunkie]

Also, why do some people complain whether the clock counts up or down? Is it really that big an issue? It never was for me or anyone I've talked to about it.

Again I think the big thing is if a countdown beeps loud enough for people to hear. You don't have that problem with a count up timer. I usually use a count up and I do not stop the watch but estimate extra time (if I decide to even give any). Actually my Timex does a "stoppage time" type thing where once it counts down to zero it automatically starts the count up timer, but again it beeps like mad when the countdown hits zero so I don't like using it very much.



However, at least in Michigan, it's been my experience that only very high level matches require the game report to contain a full time record of "significant events;" for most game reports --- which will already contain the team rosters and officials present --- you'll just need to enter the score, goal-scorers, and misconducts. (You should still keep track of it all , though...just in case events require to to make a "more-than-minimal" report of your game).

Shoot, some games don't even require you to ID the goal scorers. I guess we take the lazy way of doing game reports :).

[Laggard]

This is a question from someone who has never been a ref before, when there is a stoppage of play, do you stop a stopwatch, or just keep a mental note of how much time should be added?


All advice I've received is to never stop your watch. The reason being that you WILL eventually forget to restart it. Then what do you do? If you're smart you've asked an AR to back you up and you go to him/her.

[IASocFan]

All advice I've received is to never stop your watch. The reason being that you WILL eventually forget to restart it. Then what do you do? If you're smart you've asked an AR to back you up and you go to him/her.


Yes, that trip over to the sideline is embarrassing. "AR, how much time do you have left?" You try to make it when the coaches aren't in the vicinity. :( :p

[ProfZodiac]

I wear two watches. (Only started doing that last season - thought it was overkill.) Both count down. That way if I get caught up in the action of the game, and trying to keep my eyes on seventeen different places at once, I don't miss the end of the game, or the last minute, during which no subs are allowed (Club rule). They beep, but I turn them both off right quick and if any one hears them, I tell them to play until my whistle. My stoppage time is usually only around thirty seconds.

[Crowdie]

All advice I've received is to never stop your watch. The reason being that you WILL eventually forget to restart it. Then what do you do? If you're smart you've asked an AR to back you up and you go to him/her.

In New Zealand we are advised to have two watches. The first you stop and start for substitutions, goals, injuries, etc and the second is just left running. If you do forget to restart the first watch at least then you can an indication from the second watch as to how much time is left. It also means that when the second watch reaches 45 minutes you can look at the first watch and see how much time has been spent in stoppages (for your own interest).

Crowdie

[Caesar]

In New Zealand we are advised to have two watches. The first you stop and start for substitutions, goals, injuries, etc and the second is just left running. If you do forget to restart the first watch at least then you can an indication from the second watch as to how much time is left. It also means that when the second watch reaches 45 minutes you can look at the first watch and see how much time has been spent in stoppages (for your own interest).

Crowdie
I just leave one running on countdown, then use my second on count-up to only time stoppages such as injuries, substitutions and administration such as cautions. I then just do the maths when my straight 45 min countdown finishes.

I generally don't make much allowance for normal stoppages, unless they're excessive in length. Nobody wants to play 10mins worth of added time.

[MidwestRef]

This depends on whether I'm doing high school or USSF games.

In USSF, I use a DigiSport as my main watch. The main reason is because of the stoppage time on the watch. This counts down, then it beeps at full time, with 30 seconds left in stoppage, and at the end of stoppage time. My backup watch counts up. If I wear short sleeves, I cover this watch with a wristband so I don't even think about that watch.

For high school games, I use a countdown timer and stop time - just like we were using a scoreboard. I tell the players before the game that the game ends when my watch goes off. If this means a goal is disallowed because of time, so be it. I follow the high school rules. My second watch counts up - just like it does in USSF. I can usually guess the amount of time to add if I get in a trouble spot.

[kevbrunton]

I can say from first hand experience that having a beeper on your watch can really cause you a lot of grief. I was refereeing a U16 boys game in a tournament that had gotten very heated. Since it's a tournament game, we're not supposed to give any extra time, right. It's 1-1 with time running down and a player takes a shot from about 25 yards out. A defender, inside the penalty area, jumps up to try to block the shot with his head, but winds up blocking it with his upraised arms. After this happens, but before the whistle can get to my mouth, my watch starts beeping.

So of course, I have half the sidelines and half the field saying the game is over because the watch beeped before I blew the whistle -- that I could not award the PK. At that point, no matter what I said, a lot of people were going to be seriously ticked with me for no reason other than the fact that my watch beeped.

So from them on I have used count up timers so that one of my watches will never be beeping.

[NHRef]

One of my concerns with a count up, is that the games I tend to do all have different times for each half depending on the age, doing a shorter game after a couple of longer games, it is easy to forget to check the watch.

Though I did my first game this weekend with a count up. Each half was 35 minutes and my count down doesn't do that one, so I had no choice.

[kevbrunton]

One of my concerns with a count up, is that the games I tend to do all have different times for each half depending on the age, doing a shorter game after a couple of longer games, it is easy to forget to check the watch.

Though I did my first game this weekend with a count up. Each half was 35 minutes and my count down doesn't do that one, so I had no choice.
Yes, but another advantage to the count up is that you don't have to reset your watch for every game. Last weekend, we were doing a mixture of U14 & U15 National League games. The U14's play 35 minute halves and the U15's play 40 minute halves. My crewmates had to reset their watches every single game because we were alternating age groups.

[brichter]

I can say from first hand experience that having a beeper on your watch can really cause you a lot of grief. I was refereeing a U16 boys game in a tournament that had gotten very heated. Since it's a tournament game, we're not supposed to give any extra time, right. It's 1-1 with time running down and a player takes a shot from about 25 yards out. A defender, inside the penalty area, jumps up to try to block the shot with his head, but winds up blocking it with his upraised arms. After this happens, but before the whistle can get to my mouth, my watch starts beeping.

So of course, I have half the sidelines and half the field saying the game is over because the watch beeped before I blew the whistle -- that I could not award the PK. At that point, no matter what I said, a lot of people were going to be seriously ticked with me for no reason other than the fact that my watch beeped.

So from them on I have used count up timers so that one of my watches will never be beeping.


Play is considered to have stopped when the referee decides to blow the whistle, not when the whistle blows.
If tournament rules allow no stoppage, then you shouldn't be adding any time anyway. However, Law 7 states that time must be extended to allow the taking or retaking of a PK, so the point is moot.

[kevbrunton]

Play is considered to have stopped when the referee decides to blow the whistle, not when the whistle blows.
If tournament rules allow no stoppage, then you shouldn't be adding any time anyway. However, Law 7 states that time must be extended to allow the taking or retaking of a PK, so the point is moot.
I agree -- I never said they had legitimate gripes. But if that watch doesn't beep, there's no gripe at all (at least about the game being over). That's all I was saying.