Question Number: 24307

Law 7 - Match Duration 11/11/2010

RE: Highschool Under 16

Patrick Talamantes of Sacramento, California United Staes of America asks...

During a game a few weeks ago, one of our players was blatantly fouled, and we were given a free kick. Before we could take the free kick, however, the ref blew his whistle for halftime. The linesmen went over and argued with this ref, but he overruled them by virtue of seniority.

Is that call legal?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

High school rules use a set clock and the referee does not have the power to add time as under TLOG.

The clock is stopped by rule for all goals, cautions, penalty kicks and injuries, but the referee also may stop the clock for any other reason. The clock is not generally stopped for a foul (other than a PK).

If the referee did not stop the clock, the half ends when the clock ran down to zero, and the assistant referee would have been correct to inform the referee that it was halftime. It is not required that the ball be in play or that the team be able to take a free kick.

NFHS rules provide for a visible signal when the referee stops the clock. In many places the clock is the stadium clock visible to all and there will be an official timekeeper who sounds a horn when time expires. In those situations it is obvious when time expires. When there is no stadium clock, the referee keeps track of time on the field. If so, only the referee knew if time had expired before the free kick could be taken.

In that situations, many referees would have stopped the clock to permit the attacking team the opportunity to take the free kick. But, the decision to do so rests entirely with the referee.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Patrick
The referee makes all decisions on the field of play and he is assisted in doing that by two assistant referees. I assume that is what you mean by linesmen. An AR should not argue with the referee on this matter as it is the referee's duty to keep time when there is no other means available. In the case of matches where there is an official timer present, with a game clock, the referee signals for the clock to be stopped or started. When the game clock reaches zero the match is concluded.
In a USSF game the referee would have discretion to add on time in the case of a foul committed at the end of a game or half.