Question Number: 20804

Law 7 - Match Duration 2/3/2009

RE: Select Under 17

Doug Crawford of Moraga, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 20778

Most of the time I do add small amounts of time when it is appropriate, even at tournaments where the rules discourage it. Most of these youth tournament rules have wording such as '... time is not added except in extraordinary circumstances ...'. They sometimes add a phrase like 'such as an ambulance on the field ...'. I have not seen a tournament which strictly forbids adding time. When I do, I would plan to avoid the tournament.

For now, I consider blatant time wasting by the coach to be an 'extraordinary circumstance', and add extra time.

Thanks again for sharing your experience.
/Doug

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Doug and thanks for sharing this. I have experienced the opposite where tournaments state emphatically 'No time will be added by the referee'. i have a tournament coming up in 2 weeks and will have a careful look at the regulations and hope to find wording such as you cite. I would agree that blatant time wasting by the coach constitutes extraordinary circumstances.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Wow, an enlightened tournament committee. Usually the Almighty Schedule is so important that it cannot be violated. After all, if you can get in 98 games per day instead of 94, you can invite two more teams to pay their way into your fundraiser.

Back to my normal level of cynicism now ...

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Good thoughts Doug! Look out for the players on your field and you'll usually do well, no matter what the coaches think! I really like your thinking.

Regards,