Question Number: 15931

Law 7 - Match Duration 7/3/2007

RE: Junior Other

Rob Stuart of JHB, South Africa asks...

Having never officiated at a senior level this question has always perplexed me. Firstly like most refs I use a stopwatch to measure time. After the allowed time is shown I blow my whistle to end the half or match. How does a referee know that for example that there are 2 minutes of extra time? He may know there are 2 minutes left but how many minutes of "extra time" is allowed. I am guessing that 1 minute before the end of the half the 4th official informs the referee who then informs the 4th official how many minutes are left. What I then find amazing is that invariably the half/game is stopped within seconds of this "extra time". Does the referee reset his watch the moment the 4th official indicates how many minutes are left?

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Well there are two ways really.

First, when I referee with a 4th official who needs to indicate the stoppage time I use a signal I devise before the game with the 4th official to indicate how many minutes to add at about the 43rd minute (so s/he has time to prep the paddle/sign board). The signal I give usually involves some sort of number on my fingers and a placement. 1 minte = 1 finger low and out to the side pointing on a 55 degree angle down - 4 minutes = 4 fingers at a 45 degree angle up (but that is just my system, others may varry).

Now your question is how do I know when the "stoppage time" has expired... I use a stopwatch that counts down from 45:00 to 0:00 once it hits 0 I can set it to count up. That way if I have added on 2 minutes for lost time, I know whent he 2 minutes is up. I also keep a constant running up clock on the other arm, but I freeze that out at 45:00 so my 2nd half starts at 45:00 and I can keep time up through 90:00.

That is how I do it. The other way some guys use is to just keep a watch counting up, so if they add 3 minutes - they know to stop the half when their watch shows 48:00 or more. I hope that makes sense as some options for you.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The referee keeps track of this and adds the time accordingly. In international matches, the referee has 4th officials to help him keep track of this.

Answer provided by Referee Jon Sommer

I personally have a watch that counts down from 45 that doesn't get stopped, i signal to my fourth, when not using the mic official system, with about two to go how many minutes added time I am going to play. I have another watch that i stop for stoppages so if my countdown shows 2 minutes to go and my watch that i stop shows 5 minuts, i know i have 3 minutes added time to signal. This becomes easy with mic system at higher level because I can say into the open mic "does everyone agree 3 minutes added time?" once i get the yes response i will them say to my fourth "Minimum of 3 minutes added time brian" He then has time to prepare his board for the crowd and coaches.