Stoppage Time-Help

[soccerman8067]

Well i've been refereeing for about three years and have to say i still dont have an amazing understanding about calculating stoppage time. Some say it's a certain amount of time per caution/send off or injury? Another is the actuall act of calculating it. Many mentors advice against stopping your watch. So should it be to always wear two, and stop one? I'm curious if i could get your take on stoppage time and the precise way of calculating it. Thanks.

[hradilv]

The ATR says "The amount of time the referee allows for time lost in either half of a game or in any overtime period... is entirely at the referee's discretion." I, too, have heard some "rules of thumb" (like 30 sec for a goal, substitute, injury, etc.), but it's still up to the referee. I have a watch that will count up and add that time to the countdown timer, so when there is a long delay, I just start that. Works pretty well for me.

[boylanj64]

I usually wear a second watch, but unless it is a major stoppage I'm usually content just to guess. And in youth leagues such as U12 where there are massive numbers of substitutions I usually don't bother accounting overmuch for the time lost due to that.

[DWickham]

The object is to give players the sense that you've added back the time lost through injury, for unfair delays in restarting the match, and time lost for unusual events.

I find that the players don't expect added time for goals and cautions, except when the caution is for delaying the restart of play. I will be conscious of time lost for an injury and try to give back any time wasted (usually by the team that is ahead) kicking the ball away on a restart; walking slowly to retrieve a ball kicked off the field of play or through excessive substitutions once a team gets ahead. These events, however, each rarely take longer than 10 or 15 seconds. If you announce at the time that you are adding time, the tactics often stop. It is still critical, however, that you add some time whenever you make such an announcement. The usual problem, however, is the short time between scheduled matches. Being strict about the halftime length can often give you a minute or two in the "bank" to add at the end of the match.

I find that whenever I stop a watch, there is a strong likelihood that something will go awry when I start it again. Except in high school (where stopping the clock is required), I find it better to make a judgement at the end about what is fair (e.g., at least two minutes) and don't worry about precision. My experience is that players hate referees who never add any time, and appreciate those who do.

[ThreeCards]

I don't add any stoppage unless there have been injuries or excessive time wasting, though I will wait until the last attacking play has completed to blow the whistle.

I've had several matches in which a team begins to waste time with a goal lead, only to let in a couple of late goals. In cases such as these, I'll blow the whistle as close to regulation as possible and wait for the losing coach to complain about no stoppage. :rolleyes:

[AussieDynamo]

A common rule of Thumb is 1 minute in the first half and 3 in the second.

I don't have stoppage time often, usually when I do I'm an AR so I don't worry about it. In Australia it's stoppage time only at the first grade men's level (or national championships or 18s and up at State League Level) so it's not an issue for most people. When I have had it I wear two watches one as a count up which I never stop and a count down which I stop when there's a stoppage, if it's a game with unlimited interchange I won't count subs unless they're taking too long.

If I forget a 2nd watch I do the 1 minute first half 3 minutes second. It's pretty accurate, never had a complaint about it.

[GKbenji]

I dislike the idea of a "standard" amount of time. Add the amount of time actually "Lost", not some arbitrary number. I've had plenty of second halves where there were no injuries, no unusual subs, nothing out of line, so no stoppage time needed.

Even without a second watch, it's easy to glance at the time when a major stoppage takes place (for a card, you need to record the time of the incident anyway), and glance again just before you start play. Then just total it up in your head--it usually isn't that much. Even a "long" injury where someone has to come out onto the field often only takes 90 seconds or so. "Let's see, that injury was just over a minute, I took about 30 seconds for that caution, one team stalled a bit near the end with the lead, so 2 minutes stoppage." Easy.

[constructor]

While I haven't heard of any "rules of thumb" to go by when adding stoppage, usually I'll add about a minute for the first half and similar for the second, barring injuries or cards. Usually players will ask about time remaining in a half to which I'll usually tell them "about X minutes and some stoppage" Note that I haven't committed to any set time and depending on the conditions of the match, might just end it with about a minute stoppage if nothing of note happened.

As for watches, I wear two. One is in countdown mode while the other is in count up mode. I monitor the countdown one for time remaining in the half. The other is left running so when there is an event, I can look at it and get a feel for how much time is being wasted and might need to be added later. It only stops at half time and isn't reset. Why? So if there is an event that will require a match report and they usually start off--"In the Xth minute.....", then I'll know exactly when in the match the event occurred. Also, two watches gives redundancy in case one fails.

Rant Mode On-----
One situation that stoppage usually doesn't figure into at all- tournaments. All idea of stoppage goes out the window in tournament format where a match is a set amount of time as mandated by the tourney organizers. Invariably, somebody at the tourney will whine about no stoppage time, or when we refs start our clocks while they ignore the call to the pitch. In those cases, if kick off is at 2p and the officials are ready, clocks start at 2p, so get the pep talk out of the way and take the field. At half time, most tourneys allow 5 minutes. I'll blow the whistle at 4, again at 4.5, and again at 5 and announce clocks are going to start. If the teams continue to ignore the call, then the clocks start and we'll just stand there and watch them. They'll mosey out and take their places and I'll start the match knowing that they're already X minutes into the half. When I signal the end of play, there's always the jerk who insists that I've cut the match short, to which I point out that I blew the whistle 3 times to get them on the pitch, if they won't follow tourney rules, then, it's their time that's being wasted, less time I have to run. And that's the way tourneys have to be in order to keep the matches on schedule. All it takes to really foul up the day is one ref who doesn't have the stones to stay on schedule regardless of what the prima donnas think.

[AussieDynamo]

I dislike the idea of a "standard" amount of time. Add the amount of time actually "Lost", not some arbitrary number. I've had plenty of second halves where there were no injuries, no unusual subs, nothing out of line, so no stoppage time needed.

Even without a second watch, it's easy to glance at the time when a major stoppage takes place (for a card, you need to record the time of the incident anyway), and glance again just before you start play. Then just total it up in your head--it usually isn't that much. Even a "long" injury where someone has to come out onto the field often only takes 90 seconds or so. "Let's see, that injury was just over a minute, I took about 30 seconds for that caution, one team stalled a bit near the end with the lead, so 2 minutes stoppage." Easy.

I work for a professional club on their medical team, and yea, long injuries CAN take a LONG time - we had a match a few years ago a three way collision one fractured tibia and one torn hamstring - 9 minutes of stoppage time, and that was probably still short.

[Guy Fawkes]

I always just go by how it felt; if there are injuries that take a long time I do look at my watch and remember how long they took.

But I typically just go by what it felt like. I am almost 100% correct when I watch professional games and guess the amount of stoppages, so I'm comfortable with my ability.

[boylanj64]

I work for a professional club on their medical team, and yea, long injuries CAN take a LONG time - we had a match a few years ago a three way collision one fractured tibia and one torn hamstring - 9 minutes of stoppage time, and that was probably still short.

Well, broken bones probably aren't what he meant by long injuries... I had to call 911 to one of my games for a shattered tibia, which probably took about 40 minutes. I think he was talking more about a player laying around and whining for a while without any "real" medical issues.

[Ref Flunkie]

I guesstimate unless it is an uber long injury. I won't give any if there aren't any injuries/major stoppages like a sorting out of a scuffle or unless we have time wasting.

[Sport Billy]

I am almost 100% correct when I watch professional games and guess the amount of stoppages, so I'm comfortable with my ability.

I'm pretty good at that also. But if Man U is involved, it changes. If they are winning, delete 45 seconds. If they are tied or losing, add 90 seconds. At least that's what EPL officials tend to do. ;)

But I do have one real question.

Do you add stoppage time to stoppage time?

I find many officials do not, but I also find that it is the one time during the game that players will have lots of non-cardible time wasting. Putting the ball out deep, taking harmless midfield fouls, etc.

[boylanj64]

I'm pretty good at that also. But if Man U is involved, it changes. If they are winning, delete 45 seconds. If they are tied or losing, add 90 seconds. At least that's what EPL officials tend to do. ;)

But I do have one real question.

Do you add stoppage time to stoppage time?

I find many officials do not, but I also find that it is the one time during the game that players will have lots of non-cardible time wasting. Putting the ball out deep, taking harmless midfield fouls, etc.

Well, you're supposed to. That's the advantage we have when not doing televised matches, is we don't have to announce the amount of stoppage, and can do it more by feel. On TV, if a ref says 3 minutes and doesn't blow until 5 because the players spent the first 2 making fools of themselves, the commentators and fans will blame the official, not the players.

[Sport Billy]

Well, you're supposed to. That's the advantage we have when not doing televised matches, is we don't have to announce the amount of stoppage, and can do it more by feel. On TV, if a ref says 3 minutes and doesn't blow until 5 because the players spent the first 2 making fools of themselves, the commentators and fans will blame the official, not the players.

True -- and they will start hearing whistles.

I do it by feel also. I was just wondering what others do.

[Sandcrab Margarita]

I don't recommend this for everyone, but when I'm in the middle, I wear only one watch, use the count-up stopwatch function, & stop it when I feel the need to add time. So far, I've never made a huge error in forgetting to restart the stopwatch, however, I have gone for up to a minute before remembering, & then I've got to keep it in my head. Have never had a complaint about stoppage time or lack thereof.

I'll add time for injuries, ball gone far out of bounds, & cautions. On the rare occasions I need to talk to a coach during a stoppage, I'll add time as well. Our league uses substitution breaks around halfway through each half, & though I announce loudly that we'll pause only one minute, I'll stop the watch for the break (they inevitably take longer).

When I run a line, I just let the stopwatch run through.

The way I see it, the kids deserve a full game of soccer, & my approach reduces time-based gamesmanship. Your mileage may vary.

[USSF REF]

I'm pretty good at that also. But if Man U is involved, it changes. If they are winning, delete 45 seconds. If they are tied or losing, add 90 seconds. At least that's what EPL officials tend to do. ;)

But I do have one real question.

Do you add stoppage time to stoppage time?

I find many officials do not, but I also find that it is the one time during the game that players will have lots of non-cardible time wasting. Putting the ball out deep, taking harmless midfield fouls, etc.

I do.

I was refereeing a W-league game earlier this year. A minute before the end of the first half I told the 4th official to put up the added time marker of "2". Just as the sign went up, a player went down with injury. By the time she was cleared from the field, I looked at my watch and it read 47:00, so I ended the half at 49:00 to play the two minutes that we lost due to injury.

Then, in the second half the score was like 7-0, and even though there had been several subs and some injuries, I added "0" and ended the game. Though technically incorrect in law, the assessor told me that it was the "correct decision".

So adding time can be a bit of an art as well as an application of the law.

[Sport Billy]

Then, in the second half the score was like 7-0, and even though there had been several subs and some injuries, I added "0" and ended the game. Though technically incorrect in law, the assessor told me that it was the "correct decision".


Very wise move.

When I was in high school, our "district" was comprised of us, an excellent private school with a very good soccer program, and 5 inner-city public schools that barely fielded teams. We would win those games 15-0 and that was when we were trying to keep the scores down - all third string, 2 touch etc.

Anyway, I still remember during one of those games, the ref waved to the press box. I thought it was odd that he would just turn and wave mid-game. I'm certain not many people caught it. About 1 minute later, the clock went 20:01 -> 20:00 -> 9:59.

Those kids were freshman football players trying to stay in shape so they played as the soccer team. They weren't there to compete. They knew it and we knew it. There was no need to embarrass them. I thought it was a good move on the ref's part.

Afterwards, the other coach thanked the ref for that. I always admired both of them for it.

[boylanj64]

Very wise move.

When I was in high school, our "district" was comprised of us, an excellent private school with a very good soccer program, and 5 inner-city public schools that barely fielded teams. We would win those games 15-0 and that was when we were trying to keep the scores down - all third string, 2 touch etc.

Anyway, I still remember during one of those games, the ref waved to the press box. I thought it was odd that he would just turn and wave mid-game. I'm certain not many people caught it. About 1 minute later, the clock went 20:01 -> 20:00 -> 9:59.

Those kids were freshman football players trying to stay in shape so they played as the soccer team. They weren't there to compete. They knew it and we knew it. There was no need to embarrass them. I thought it was a good move on the ref's part.

Afterwards, the other coach thanked the ref for that. I always admired both of them for it.

That's funny, and very sporting.

At one PDL team where I do games, their clock conveniently speeds up in the second half if they're ahead, and I'll hear the announcer say they've reached the end of regular time when I know they're only about 42 minutes in. I've never had complaints playing out the full 45+stoppage, but it is fairly humorous.

[Wahoos1]

While I haven't heard of any "rules of thumb" to go by when adding stoppage, usually I'll add about a minute for the first half and similar for the second, barring injuries or cards. Usually players will ask about time remaining in a half to which I'll usually tell them "about X minutes and some stoppage" Note that I haven't committed to any set time and depending on the conditions of the match, might just end it with about a minute stoppage if nothing of note happened.

As for watches, I wear two. One is in countdown mode while the other is in count up mode. I monitor the countdown one for time remaining in the half. The other is left running so when there is an event, I can look at it and get a feel for how much time is being wasted and might need to be added later. It only stops at half time and isn't reset. Why? So if there is an event that will require a match report and they usually start off--"In the Xth minute.....", then I'll know exactly when in the match the event occurred. Also, two watches gives redundancy in case one fails.

Rant Mode On-----
One situation that stoppage usually doesn't figure into at all- tournaments. All idea of stoppage goes out the window in tournament format where a match is a set amount of time as mandated by the tourney organizers. Invariably, somebody at the tourney will whine about no stoppage time, or when we refs start our clocks while they ignore the call to the pitch. In those cases, if kick off is at 2p and the officials are ready, clocks start at 2p, so get the pep talk out of the way and take the field. At half time, most tourneys allow 5 minutes. I'll blow the whistle at 4, again at 4.5, and again at 5 and announce clocks are going to start. If the teams continue to ignore the call, then the clocks start and we'll just stand there and watch them. They'll mosey out and take their places and I'll start the match knowing that they're already X minutes into the half. When I signal the end of play, there's always the jerk who insists that I've cut the match short, to which I point out that I blew the whistle 3 times to get them on the pitch, if they won't follow tourney rules, then, it's their time that's being wasted, less time I have to run. And that's the way tourneys have to be in order to keep the matches on schedule. All it takes to really foul up the day is one ref who doesn't have the stones to stay on schedule regardless of what the prima donnas think.


You and I would work well together at a tourny. This has happened to me often and I make sure that the AR's know, AND the fans know that the watch has started. I will prep pre-game (since you usually work sets with the same offcials) and my watch starts like yours. I also do yell out to each AR that time has started.

I did this once in a semi and the Coach that took 9 minutes to come back on a 5 minute halftime came tracing to me at the whistle. "What part of my three whistles, one personal call to you and statement that your captians turned and heard of me "starting the watch" on time was confusing?"

By the end of the season, and the 3rd game in 30 hours, there can only be so much to discuss.