Question Number: 13852

League Specific 9/20/2006

RE: varisty high school High School

jennifer of pittsburgh, pa USA asks...

If a ball was shot before the whistle to end a half sounds and goes into the goal does it count? i was watching my sister's high school game and a player kicked the ball, the referee blew the whistle to signal the half was over and then the ball went into the goal. the ref said it was not a goal because the half ended before the ball went into the goal. i figured the rules were like basketball and since the ball had already been kicked when the whistle blew it should be a goal. what is the offiical ruling??

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

This one is in the US High School rules. When time expired AND is kept by the timer on a stadium clock the period of play is over. The timer is REQUIRED to count down the last ten seconds, too. If the referee has time in his hands he would usually find some "better" instant to blow for time. There is another small thing to look at, time could have expired BEFORE the player kicked the ball and the signal, the whistle, was delayed for some reason.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

No half is over when the referee stops play. Most referees will NOT stop play on a shot.