Question Number: 25604

Law 7 - Match Duration 10/14/2011

RE: Select Under 12

Steve Reel of Ammon, Idaho USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 25379

If there is an active play on the goal and time has expired, does play end. In this case a player was driving to the goal with the ball, he was within 20 - 30 yards of the goal with only the opposing goalie in front of him. The referee stopped play for halftime. I thought play only ended (at halftime or end of game) with a change of possesion, no active play, or out of bounds. Please advise. Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Steve
Play ends when time has fully expired. It has nothing to do with possession, out of play etc. In this case the referee has deemed that time was up and as a result play was stopped.
Now the mechanics of this depends very much on the referee and indeed the use of digital stopwatches with alarms. An increasing number of referees set their match alarm for say 30 minutes and when 30 minutes expires, with the alarm sounding/vibrating, play is stopped no matter where the ball is.
Other referees will not use this method and they know that timing in soccer with time added on for time lost it is possible to find say a few seconds which means a play can be completed. I use this method and I would never stop say a corner or a goal scoring opportunity so that the timing is questioned. If other referees want to use it so be it as in this case.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Time cannot be extended just because a team is attacking. When time is up - and all lost time has been fully compensated - the ref should end the half.

But when the game has reached a particularly exciting moment, such as a breakaway, my attention will be on the game and any possible fouls and misconduct that might occur. I probably won't have time to look at my watch to see those last couple seconds tick away. I will be focused on the needs of the game.

I might end the game on a potential attacking restart - corner kick, close-in free kick, etc. If the team taking the restart is not in any particular hurry to get going, I'm certainly not going to extend time for them. If the opponents are doing something to delay the restart, that's cause for more time being added on.

The only time the game must be extended for a restart is for a penalty kick. And then only long enough for the kick to take place - no rebounds, follow-ups, etc.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

I have no idea where this idea (only ended with a change of possession, no active play, or out of bounds) of when a game or half may end came from, but I can assure you it is incorrect. The referee is charged with keeping time in the game, and to add time if some is lost for various reasons, but if time has expired according to the referee's timekeeping, then the half/game is over, and it is really just that simple.