Question Number: 18336

Law 7 - Match Duration 2/5/2008

RE: REC Under 15

ncsoccer of Lexington, NC USA asks...

Can a goal be scored as time ends or as horn sounds? Such as in basketball. If ball is in flight or on ground the horn sounds and the ball goes in a second later. Does it count? Also please quote rule and page number. Thanks; ncsoccer

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

There are no horns, so there is no rule to quote regarding such.

Law 5 says the referee "acts as timekeeper and keeps a record of the match."

Law 7 says:
Allowance is made in either period for all time lost through:
* substitution(s)
* assessment of injury to players
* removal of injured players from the fi eld of play for treatment
* wasting time
* any other cause
The allowance for time lost is at the discretion of the referee.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Also Law 5 says the referee "acts as timekeeper", so, everywhere except in US High SChool, the game is over when the referee says it is. In high school, they do use a horn and the ball must be in the goal in accordance with Law 10 BEFORE the horn goes off in order to count. Everywhere else, the referee's whistle signals that the game has ended and if he blows the whistle while the ball is still in flight, it's no goal. Soccer in this respect is unlike basketball and American football

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Nope. The whole ball must be all the way across for the goal to count.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

If there is a timer and she uses a horn to end the match the match is over at the sound of the horn. This applies to NFHS and NCAA soccer and no other place in the world.