Recently, I was working as AR for a state emeritus on a boys 15s gold division game. The game was close and fairly played. There was only the barest of complaints from the touchlines, and in general no ugliness, hostility, or apparent reason to shorten the game. With the score 1-0, the CR blew the whistle for full time with 29 minutes elapsed in the second half. The coach of the losing team immediately questioned it, saying only 29 minutes had been played. I looked at my watches and both said 29:04. The CR responded to the coach, saying that 30 minutes had been played. I jogged out and met the CR and other AR at the center. I quietly told the CR I only had 29 minutes as well, but it was obvious that he knew and had done it deliberately. He did not explain himself and I can't figure out what he would do that. We were running a shade behind, but it seems you'd have to make both halves 29 minutes and notify the coaches before the game if you wanted to make up some time. It felt like the CR was tired of the play, like he would have been if it were an ugly game, but it wasn't. I felt the CR really did the game a disservice, and robbed the losing team of at least a minute (maybe two minutes with stoppage time) of chances to tie things up. Coaches aren't stupid, and that coach obviously had a watch running. He knows he was shorted. Strikes me as the kind of thing that really breeds animosity between coaches and referees. Basically, "I'm screwing you and there's nothing you can do about it." As an AR, once I realized the CR had made the decision to end the game at 29 deliberately, I cleared/reset my watches. I wear two and was worried the coach might ask me how much time I had. I do not like to lie, so I planned to just say, "Sorry coach, I already reset my watch." If I was asked by the tourney director or something, I could still give a more complete answer.
Bummer for you. And you never found out? That seems like something the tournament should be told about. I once had a U7 coach ask me to cut the game short because he had Cubs playoff tickets. Maybe your guy had Avs tickets?
If I were you I would pull the assignor (or if it is a tournament the referee coordinator at your site) aside and tell him what happened. Youth soccer, ESPECIALLY tournament play, is about having fun and getting the players as much playing time as we can, as long as it's safe. I have run into some of these burned out guys who are retired and still going out there, whether for the exercise or the money. They are definitely not there for the players. If this guy wants to be this way, then he should stay home. Obviously, telling the tournament staff or the teams is not your place, and could create some other issues if the losing coach demands a replay. That would be a logistical nightmare (also not your problem), but this referee did a disservice to the teams and to the game. You have to let someone know about this. I'm glad that you kept your mouth shut on the field. THat is not the place to solve this. Praise in public and criticize in private. Privately, you need to have a polite, but frank conversation with the referee coordinator and/or the assignor about this. Good luck!
Good suggestion. I sent him an email. Thanks! I don't think it was done to save himself a minute of running, or because he didn't want to be there, or anything... but it was confusing.
Good suggestion. I sent him an email. Thanks! I don't think it was done to save himself a minute of running, or because he didn't want to be there, or anything... but it was confusing.
If it's a tourney format, I really can't see a reason for cutting time short. I have been accused of it, but in all reality, the clocks started after the mandated 5 minute halftime break and they were showing no inclination to take the field. Did the guy just start the clocks without announcing it?
The referee does not have the authority to shorten the match without permission from the competition authority the game is being played under. It sucks for you, as the AR, but he did a disservice to the game.
No, he deliberately cut the game short. In your example, the clock starts when the ball is touched at kickoff - not because you've decided it's time, even though the teams aren't on the field. Cautioning for DRP is your option here, not cutting playing time.
maybe he needed to take a leak real bad. turtle head poking out? constipation perhaps? who knows... refs are people too, which means some of them lie. unfortunate, but it happens.
Haha. I worked with a ref on an intramural match who ended a match short for one of the above reasons. Luckily it was 7-0 and the losing team wasn't complaining about losing 3 minutes of playing time. Things happen, hell his watch may have screwed up. Mine ran out of battery mid game before. Then I went to Target post-match and bought 2 new ones .
Depends on the league. In our adult leagues, we are told to start the clock at game time if the players are screwing around not getting ready to play. There are the rules and then there are the "rules".
Ditto- in all of the tourneys I've worked, we've been directed to >STAY ON TIME< with no time added, and only 5 minutes at half. If the teams aren't taking the pitch at the appointed time, then the clocks start after it is loudly announced that we are doing so. If they don't take the pitch then, well, it's an easy match for us. We'll just stand there and let the clocks run from that point. While I like certain aspects of this, the thing I don't like about it is a limited ability to deal with time wasting. An astute competition authority will recognize that and put into the tourney rules that all subs are at the ref's discretion. That will allow some means (however limited) of dealing with the gamers and time wasters. With a competition authority issuing the time and sub directives, it takes the responsibility of starting/stopping times for the match from the ref and puts it squarely in the hands of the comp auth. When the teams sign up for these tourneys, they should read ALL the rules of competition, especially the parts directed at what the ref will do for match control regarding subs, start time, elapsed time, no added time, no protests, no refunds etc. I take time to read all the rules, why shouldn't the rest of the participants? For regular matches, we are instructed to start on time as much as possible with about a 15 minute leeway for teams that are traveling or have misplaced documentation. (No Pass, No Play, No Exceptions) After that clocks start or it's a forfeit. In short, pretty much what USSF directs. Rant Mode On What really gripes me about some refs at tourneys is NOT staying on time. The idea that they're being "fair" to the teams is misplaced. Not only does the lenient ref wreak havoc in the schedule, often it causes the rest of the crew (or teams) to be late to other matches if they have to change venues. Now let's look at this from another angle. Let's say 95% of the refs at the match are following the comp auth's directives for the tourney. How is it fair to the vast majority of the teams who are following the directives when the lenient refs let a few teams do something else? Not to mention when those teams who got Mr Rogers Ref move to the next venue or match and that ref is following the directives and then it's "well the other ref...." and that sets the stage for controversy, especially from coaches and parents who haven't bothered to read the rules past the schedule part.
I can understand tournaments wanting to stay on time, so no added time, limited halves and time between games....but if it's a USSF sanctioned tournament, they should NOT be advising you to "cut" the half short. If it's a 35min half, you blow the whistle at 35min. If the tournament has set the schedule up where there is only 5-10 minutes between games, then they should be aware that fields will get put behind schedule. It's your job (not you specifically) as the Referee to ensure a speedy start. If you are ready to play and the teams aren't, then you should be doing all within your power to move them onto the pitch. You can't just start your timer because the half hasn't officially begun until you've blown your whistle for kick-off, which is another option if both teams are just f-ing aroung.
Nowhere did I say that we were advised to cut a half short, only to stay on time. So if kick off is scheduled for 10a and halfs are 35min (lengths usually stipulated by tourney rules), then the half should end at 10:35 and kickoff for second half will be at 10:40 with match ending at 11:15 Next match would usually be scheduled for kick off no earlier than 11:30. When the organizers say in the ref meeting to start and end ON TIME, no stoppage time and 5 minutes at half, and the refs stick with it, then where's the issue with only 15 min between matches? On time means- on time, and On Schedule means- on schedule, no stoppage means- no stoppage. I don't see where there is any leeway to do otherwise if you're going by what the tourney organizers have directed. And YES, you CAN start the clock at the appointed time if the tourney organizers have directed you to. Otherwise, you're just another of "those" guys who screw up the schedule and create the inequitability for the teams who are abiding by the schedule. How is that fair to the rest of the teams who are following schedule and rules? I'm waaaay past worrying what a coach/team/parent thinks about when or if I start the clocks in a tourney. You're taking the tourney coin, you do what the organizers say, otherwise you're not being consciencous of your duties as an impartial ref. I'd even go as far as to say you're imposing yourself and your opinion on the tourney in an unfair manner because your actions won't apply to everybody equally. Best course is to do what the organizers tell you to do and then nobody, but nobody can say anything to you about it.
There is something more important than our dutied to the tournament prganizers, not matter how much they are paying you. You have a higher duty to the LOTG. I don't care what the tournament people tell me, I'm not blowing my whistle to start the game unless both teams have 7 players on the field. I will start my watch, because this is a timing thing. I will not start play because it can make things more difficult for you and the tournament. What happens of you blow the whistle to start the match, so you can stay on time, with 3 players from one team on the field and none for the other. Now an astute player puts the ball on the center mark and kicks it into the goal. According to your thinking, since you started the game, because nothing else matters other than staying on time, this is a good goal. Now you have kept the schedule, but created a LOTG disaster. Undoubtedly, there are no protests, so the team that is 1 goal down will have no recourse. Don't tell me it's their fault because they weren't there on time. The referee created the problem because he didn't follow the laws. The LOTG state that there are certain thing that can be modified for youth soccer (which most tournaments are). Number of players to start a non-small-sided match is not one of them. Tournaments here state that if you aren't ready to go within 5 minutes of the start time, then it's a forfeit. This happened after a tournament, and referee, found out that you can't start a match with 3 players on one side just to stay on time. It has nothing to do with impartiality. It's not my opinion that I need 7 players per side to start, it's the LAW!! This seems to have gotten a little off topic. The referee in the OP did a great disservice to the players, the game, and reflects poorly on referees. Start the match as soon as you can field the proper number of players, and play until the entire time is up. How hard is that??
I avoid tournaments that won't let refs add stoppage time. It's not fair to the game, and especially considering most also allow unlimited subs, it allows a coach to hold a 1-goal lead by subbing at every opportunity late in the game. If the tournament rules say to start the clock at the appointed time whether the teams are on the field or not, then that's a different story. Keep in mind that Jim Allen has said that if you accept an assignment, you accept it with the restrictions in place. He's specifically said it regarding time, though I believe his comments are more towards ending on the nose rather than adding stoppage time. That having been said, you're obviously talking about starting the clock as required by the tournament, but not actually starting play until both teams have enough players to play, which makes perfect sense. I just didn't want to let go the concept that you have a duty to the LOTG that's higher than the tournament rules - if you accept the assignment, you accept the rules.
There is a BIG difference between starting play and starting the clocks. As Wreave pointed out, you accept the assignment with the restrictions given. I feel that is very much in keeping with the spirit and LOTG. Otherwise, you're becoming an active agent in determining the outcome (of the tourney) that you should not in all good conscience do. If a team doesn't field 7 players at a tourney start time, the clocks still start although play will not. If they still don't have 7 or more by the time stipulated in tourney rules, then it's a forfeit. I, as a ref, have absolutely no say in the matter other than to act as the rules of the assignment say. Let's leave the tourney format for a moment and carry this a bit further. Suppose you don't like how USSF has outlined how U16s are supposed to play. For instance, suppose I really think that they should play 2 45s as stipulated in LOTG, and arbitrarily ran the clocks that way. Is that fair to other teams in the same league who are competeing for points at the end of the season? Go back and read the section in LOTG that outline the size of the fop, the ball to be used, and duration of play. You'll find that FIFA has left that open to modification for age, level of play, etc, to be determined by local sanctioning bodies. Back to the OP, I really can't see any reason for ending a match early in a tourney format unless the tourney rules allow it. Usually they do have a caveat for weather, etc.
If you need to stay on time, you should be adjusting the length of the halves, not starting the clock without starting the game. If you are starting 10 minutes late, you should cut 5 minutes from each half, not cut 10 minutes from the first half and 0 minutes from the second.
And just how are you going to explain changing the length of the halves to the tourney organizers why you decided to deviate from their format? When the org calls for 35min halves for U16s and kickoff is at 11a and you don't start until 11:15, you can't arbitrarily change the length of the half because that isn't fair to the rest of the teams in the same bracket who acted responsibly and got there on time and started on time. Also if a match is scheduled for 11a, the teams BOTH KNOW it's for 11a, and they know the clocks start at 11a, then it is their responsibility to be there on time and be ready to play. Leave the gamesmanship crap back home. Be ready to start on time or pay the price in less playing time on the pitch. It is the TEAM'S responsibility to be there on time and ready to play. Here's another way to look at it. You're the ref. You've checked everybody in on time, done the toss, and told captains that the start is in 3 minutes. The captains go back to their respective benches and (hopefully) tell the coach that there's three minutes to kickoff. Coach looks over at the ref and thinks (or worse- says) something to the effect of "just who does this idiot ref think he is.. I'll do whatever I want" and proceeds to take his jolly sweet time doing a Knute speech for the next 5+ minutes. Meanwhile, you've blown at 2:30 and called for teams. Again at the start time, no reaction from the benches other than a coach looking over at you with a "what are you going to do about it" grin on his face and he ignores you for another 2 minutes. Now you're at least 2+ minutes past start time and it'll take another minute to get everybody on the pitch. When the players finally take the pitch, they've already been given a dose of "watch me dis the ref" from the coach and guess where that match will go for the duration while the coach screams at the ref about calls and the parents sing along. Follow this pattern all day at a tourney and I'll guarantee you'll be off schedule before lunch and be running out of daylight at the last match, not to mention maybe being late to another field or making a team late to another field or cutting their rest short before their second match. Remember guys, tourney play is DIFFERENT with regards to time and you aren't the one making the decisions on how long and when. All you can decide are matters relating to how the match is played within the rules of comp and LOTG.
I thought this was how tourneys were supposed to run? That's why they only give us 5-minute halves and 5 minutes between games - they obviously want us to make up the schedule, because theirs is so unrealistic. /sarcasm off Of the real issues you raise, "cutting their rest short" isn't one of them. For that to come into play, you'd be so far off it's not even funny.
If this is a tournament that I'm doing, the first person I'm going to say something to about one team wasting time getting back on the field is the field marshal. They have the authority to go to the offending team and tell them they either get on the field or they forfeit the big bucks they paid to play and/or lose the game as a forfeit. I bet those players will sprint on the field after that!
Several years ago I was the Co-Tournament director for a 200 team tournament for 2.5 years or 5 tournaments in a row. We had it written in the rules and the referees were reminded in the referee meeting, that if they received the field more than 5 min. late they were to inform the coaches that x minutes were to be cut from each half and the 1/2 time. The tournament ran "on time" partly because if we had a referee who refused to comply with our timing instructions they would be moved to AR only assignments the rest of the tournament. Field marshals were instructed to inform the coaches, during the pre-game team check in procedure, of the time shortening if they knew that a field was in danger of getting off schedule. We provide excellent referee hospitality and cash payment by field marshals to the referee crew before each game. In return we expected assistance from the referees in keeping the tournament running smoothly.
Cash before the game?! Kind of removes the incentive to do a good job. jk Is that how it is done in Tenessee? Any other suggestions about how to deal with this? Besides getting the Field Marshall involved--if he is nearby, fine, but if not...? And you know if you walk over to his golf cart--if he happens to be nearby, the team will take the field and give you a bunch of "what is your problem, ref" looks. Seriously, this is a pet peeve of mihne, and I am not sure how to deal with it.