Question Number: 16989

Law 7 - Match Duration 9/30/2007

RE: rec Under 10

michelle pomroy of truckee, ca usa asks...

When should the ref signal for halftime? I know the half lasts 25 min. for my age division. I was trained that the half should end at precisely 25 min. +/- time for injuries. A coach told me that I was wrong. He said that I have to wait for a natural stop in play (ie. ball over touchline) or a neutral possession to call the half. Who is correct? The FIFA Laws of the Game do not specify according to my book.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

As is usually the case, the coach is 100% wrong. The referee is the sole timekeeper of a match and the match is over when the referee says it is. Same goes for stopping for halftime. You allow whatever time you want and stop the match when you want to. there is nothing "unnatural" about stopping play with your whistle. While it would probably be unwise to do so, you are completely within Law to stop a match as a ball is in midflight heading for the goal.

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

The coach only wishes that the end of each half was signaled during a "neutral" time. There they go again making up things to suit their wishes....grrrr.....

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The league you referee for has time limits for the games. You, as the referee, are allowed to add time in any half for any time lost through injury, substitutions, wasted time or whatever you feel is fair. You may add time or not, depending on the circumstances. Sometimes it is seconds only, sometimes several minutes. Of course, you cannot reduce the halves! :-) While many referees will choose to stop the game at a "natural" stoppage if only seconds separate the time on your watch and the stoppage, it is NOT required. The end of the half is flexible, and a referee needs to be careful to add time only as necessary.