Question Number: 21130

Law 7 - Match Duration 4/15/2009

RE: Competitive Under 17

Sharyl of Germantown, TN USA asks...

What exactly is stoppage time added for? Last evening my girls U16 team played and I am the stats keeper. We are suppose to play 40 minute halves. I always set 2 stopwatches at the whistle to time the halves in case one watch stops for some reason. Last night in the 42.25 minute of the second half the team we were playing scored and the game ended in a tie which will effect our state league quals. I questioned the ref as to why the half ran 42.25 minutes and he said that he added stoppage time for subbing and when a foul was called to allow the ball to be situated for the kick. I have been associated with soccer since my child was 6 and I have never heard of this. Both my daughter and my husband have gone through the reffing course and niether had they. Can you tell me if this is actually allowed. I always thought stoppage time was for injuries or unusual circumstances which never subbing or fouling are. Thanks.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

I'm quite dismayed that your husband and daughter made it through the referee courses without a copy of the Laws of the Game, or knowledge of how and why time is to be added! Here is the relevant portion of Law 7:

Allowance for Time Lost
Allowance is made in either period for all time lost through:
? substitutions
? assessment of injury to players
? removal of injured players from the field of play for treatment
? wasting time
? any other cause
The allowance for time lost is at the discretion of the referee.

You'll note the 'any other cause' phrase. The referee is charged with making sure each team gets their full measure of playing time, as fully as is fairly possible. Most added time is less than five minutes, but it could be more depending on what happens in a game.

I'm truly amazed that at the U17 level you are just now encountering added time. It was the rare game that did not have at least a minute added to each half for me. The most I ever added was about 6 minutes for an injury removal and a couple of cautions.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

The law is clear on this, you are not, so we will enlighten you.

Time is specifically added for substitutions, it's right there in the list provided in Law VII, so that debunks your first thought that subs don't qualify for added time. Substitutions were not even a part of the game until the mid 1900's before then, if a player was injured then the team played short. The law makers have added subbing but concluded that the time it takes to complete this process is not a normal part of the game. In most soccer playing countries the match is limited to 6 - 14 total subs in a match (no reentry is permitted). Since we have bastardized the laws here to allow reentry and unlimited substitutions, I am actually amazed that more stoppage time is not added than it already is.

As it relates to setting the ball for the free kick, if he felt that your team unfairly fouled with the intent of using up what little time was remaining, but they didn't actively waste time, then he was within his authority to add time under the 'any other cause' blanket.

Sorry, but the ref was right. Actually, I'm not sorry.

The referee was within his authority to add this time.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

When we referee youth games we do not routinely allow added time for every substitution or we'd be adding 10-15 minutes to every game. That said, if teams are obviously slowing down the process we certainly add some time. Same if they are abusing the process and subbing needlessly many players at every opportunity. Of course, Law 7 allows us to add time 'for any other cause' which gives us the legal authority to add time for whatever reason we want. 2 minutes 42 seconds is not an unreasonable amount of time added for a U17 game

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

You are, I am afraid, completely misinformed!
As my colleague has listed the areas listed in law there is no need to reiterate them. You need to think on the aspects of youth soccer that given the MODIFICATION allowed for substitution, just how IMPORTANT it is to follow procedures to stop the time losses from occurring.

It is recognized that we use the running time to do most substitutions and to get ready for free kicks while the ball is already out of play! League restrictions, like sub only on your ball possession, two at a time or at referee's discretion! Example; as in a long ball over the hill requires retrieval for a goal kick, the opposition wants to sub so why not, there is no overt unfairness? The key is players FOLLOW the procedures and hustle on and off so the exchanges go quickly and smoothly

Often now we play with extra balls along the field to stop the ball out of play delays. Plus on free kicks we have delaying the restart (applicable to BOTH teams)as well as failing to respect the distance (applicable to the defending team) as cautionable actions. Zero tolerance for such shenanigans early cautions should stop repeat occurrences

Far too many tournament and tight schedules for some leagues leave no room for addition of time; in fact they try to prohibit it by setting deadlines and mandatory stoppages. Coaches then use a drag the feet process to kill time when leading or ahead in a result. Be it substitution or a free kick, if ether team is dragging out the restart to use up time if we assume PROPER procedures are followed, such delay actions could be considered as USB, thus cautionable &/or reported to the league or tournament officials!
IF time added is an option then these antics pose no real unfairness!
Cheers