Timing question

[irod]

Not sure why I never noticed this, but I have noticed that EPL (and probably others) time the halfs starting from 00:00 to 45:00.

NCAA starts timing from 45:00 (or 40:00?) to 00:00.

Not sure about high school.

Why the difference and is one better than the other?

Thanks

[MassachusettsRef]

NCAA and High School count downwards because the clock is the official time. When it reaches 00:00, the half is over.

Matches played under FIFA/USSF auspices are supposed to have the clock count upwards, because time can be added on by the referee and time is officially kept on the field. The clock should always stop at 45:00, 90:00 or 15:00/30:00 (for extra time periods), and any added time is communicated by the referee, through the fourth official, to the benches and crowd. The number displayed is the minimum number of minutes that the referee will add (eg., if "3" is displayed, that means there's anywhere from 3:00-3:59 of added time, with the possibility of their being more if there are further delays/stoppages within that added time).

[irod]

Thanks, I suppose I've not seen added time in NCAA, as the clock does stop under certain circumstances. So there is no added time in NCAA or HS, just clock stoppages?

Would you happen to know how club soccer matches are timed? Or is it a matter for each state association? I've often heard sideline fans yelling "stoppage time" but I figured they didn't know for sure.

Thanks again.

[BC_Ref]

Not sure why I never noticed this, but I have noticed that EPL (and probably others) time the halfs starting from 00:00 to 45:00.

NCAA starts timing from 45:00 (or 40:00?) to 00:00.

Not sure about high school.

Why the difference and is one better than the other?

Thanks

I know high school uses gridiron type timing. So when the clock hits 00:00, game is over. No "extra' time can be added - you can only stop and start the clock. The discretionary time add-ons that FIFA affiliated leagues have is not allowed. So a run-down clock is appropriate

So one reason is that in games run under the LOTG, 45 minutes is the minimum running time of the game. The ref decides how much added time is needed for subs, stoppages, time wastages, etc... so the clock needs to go upwards.

One isn't better than the other - just that the count-up clock fits your standard soccer game, and the count-down fits your high school. Not sure about NCAA - Canadian universities use FIFA standard rules with some minor modifications.

[BC_Ref]

Thanks, I suppose I've not seen added time in NCAA, as the clock does stop under certain circumstances. So there is no added time in NCAA or HS, just clock stoppages?

Would you happen to know how club soccer matches are timed? Or is it a matter for each state association? I've often heard sideline fans yelling "stoppage time" but I figured they didn't know for sure.


Time in any game (outside NCAA and NFHS) is always kept on the centre's watch. A fan can easily enough figure out whether you are in stoppage time by simply starting your watch at kick-off. After the regulation time (no more than 45 minutes), you are into "stoppage". How much - at the discretion of the ref unless you are in a tournament situation (where they pretty much tell you - 25 minute halves, not one second over)

[DerbyRam54]

I know high school uses gridiron type timing. So when the clock hits 00:00, game is over. No "extra' time can be added - you can only stop and start the clock. The discretionary time add-ons that FIFA affiliated leagues have is not allowed. So a run-down clock is appropriate

So one reason is that in games run under the LOTG, 45 minutes is the minimum running time of the game. The ref decides how much added time is needed for subs, stoppages, time wastages, etc... so the clock needs to go upwards.

One isn't better than the other - just that the count-up clock fits your standard soccer game, and the count-down fits your high school. Not sure about NCAA - Canadian universities use FIFA standard rules with some minor modifications.
I triggered a minor firestorm at last night's high school refs meeting by suggesting that one of the ways players/coaches/spectators might become displeased with the ref was by blowing for time when a team had a goal scoring opportunity. I was strongly chastised for suggesting that there should be any allowance for time lost and told to stick to USSF games....a good suggestion for next season I think.
I would imagine the countdown clock approach is an attempt to make officiating the game somewhat like pointy-ball (along with the array of hand signals you are supposed to give). Of course, a pointy-ball game isn't actually over when the clock shows 0, it continues until the play in progress is dead. Which would be paralleled in real football with some allowance for time lost...

[IASocFan]

I do a lot of high school games. About half are with stadium clock and half are on fields without scoreboards using the CR's watch. I often feel out of control with the stadium clock. It's more apt to invite late subs and stalling by the team with the one goal lead.

It also involves a fourth person, not necessarily without bias, who may or may not be paying attention when the clock needs to be stopped and started. Basketball officials have constant stoppages, so the timekeeper is ready. Soccer may go an entire half without a stoppage or may have one every five minutes; it's too easy for the timekeeper to fall asleep. Therefore, besides everything else the CR and ARs need to watch, they need to watch the "Official Clock" too. If there is a timekeeper problem, the timekeeper is usually up in a booth where communications is impossible or difficult. Several times, when the timekeeper has forgot to start or stop the clock and the Referee team didn't notice in a timely fashion, we've resorted to timing on the field and explaining why to the coaches. I haven't had a problem with the coaches in doing this. Always backup the timekeeper!!! :)

[BC_Ref]

Therefore, besides everything else the CR and ARs need to watch, they need to watch the "Official Clock" too. If there is a timekeeper problem, the timekeeper is usually up in a booth where communications is impossible or difficult. Several times, when the timekeeper has forgot to start or stop the clock and the Referee team didn't notice in a timely fashion, we've resorted to timing on the field and explaining why to the coaches. I haven't had a problem with the coaches in doing this. Always backup the timekeeper!!! :)

Hoping this timing requirement doesn't come north then. :)
Although most schools don't have stadiums - and I was shocked when a university varsity game was played at stadium-less field (not sure if this was gender discrimination since it was "only" a women's game - couldn't be important enough to rate a stadium, after all, could it?)

Although timing is important since local fields are fully booked - and when different leagues have overlapping permits, this creates a problem. (one field has the last youth gaming ending - assuming no delays, no added time, no nothing - at 2:00. The men's league game starts at exactly 2pm - so they aren't happy with being delayed. Apparently the schedulers don't talk to each other)

[refontherun]

This does puzzle me as well. In the area I ref HS, about 80% of the games I do are without a stadium clock. The twenty percent that use them have teenage time keepers that aren't even paying attention to the game much less the signal to stop the clock. So many of the high school/middle school games are quite one sided, so it's almost pointless to add the time.

Another problem with stadium timing is when you have back to back games (i.e. 4:00 and 5:30) and one team arrives late. You have no choice but to cut time (they can't play past 8:00 because of school district rules), and trying to get the AD to agree and get the clock reset is just a pain and wastes even more time. Thank god for the mercy rule!

Just a sidebar: During the regular season, the high schools use the two man system, but during the playoffs they go to three. Wonder why that is? Could it be that three is better? :)

[NHRef]

Our high school has a new clock on the field, in watching my sons games I noticed that the clock is always stopped at 2:00 and the official time is kept by the ref on the field. I assume this is due to "unqualified" clock operators but it resolves alot of the issues brought up here.

[DerbyRam54]

Our high school has a new clock on the field, in watching my sons games I noticed that the clock is always stopped at 2:00 and the official time is kept by the ref on the field. I assume this is due to "unqualified" clock operators but it resolves alot of the issues brought up here.
It does if you use common sense in interpreting the "rules" but if you just blow the whistle at 40 minutes (as I was told the rules require) regardless of what's happened/is happening on the field then you may as well just use the stadium clock. At least then if play ends just as a player is teeing up a great shot on goal you can just shrug your shoulders and point at the clock. Just think, if Clive Thomas could have done that in 1978.... :D

[blind_clown]

Clock should stop at 2:00 and you do what you want. If it doesn't stop at 2:00 most of them have buzzers and the problem is solved by using that.

[IASocFan]

In Iowa, the clocks don't stop at two minutes. A few do have the unfortunate feature of not making a sound when the clock goes to 0:00.