Question Number: 16917

League Specific 9/26/2007

RE: all Other

ref47 of arlington, va usa asks...

This question is a follow up to question 16873

don't the hs rules technically prohibit a ref from adding time because he/she is not the official time keeper? isn't the stadium clock normally the official time, or a visiable clock at the timer's table?

if the ref believes the clock is inaccurate, he/she can have it reset. if the ref believes time is being wasted by excessive subs, he/she can stop the clock. and, although not specifically written, the ref can stop the clock when he/she believes it needs to be stopped, such as wasting time on throwins, or goal kicks.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The answer given was a simple Yes. The answer used NFHS Rule 6, Art2, b. as its basis. Because Rule 6 removes the keeping of time from the referee it allows a team to cheat their opponents. The committee of 13 otherwise rational human beings has mucked with The Game again. This attempt to make things fair is an affront to The Game and I believe the referee is correct in taking the official time from the time at that instant. He is also correct in cautioning the time wasting player and the coach telling him to do so. The writers of NFHS soccer rules are flat wrong on this one too, just my opinion. Thanks for asking Bert.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hey Bert. Don't you just love high school rules?