Question Number: 26951

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 10/27/2012

RE: Rec Under 9

Johnny b of San Antonio, Texas USA asks...

Does a goal shot at the first whistle but goes in before the third whistle in end of regulation count?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Johnny
There is only one whistle and once it sounds the game is over.
Many referees use the three whistle end of game signal to make it different from say calling a foul or ball out of play but the first whistle is what counts.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Johnny,

As soon as the whistle sounds, the match is over. Don't worry about the length of the whistle, that's just a communication tool to clearly signal what the whistle is for. It's when it's first blown that indicates play is being stopped - and even if the ball is in the air on the way to goal when the whistle is blown, the match is over and a goal cannot be scored.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Play ends when the referee decides that time is up. The ref makes known that decision by blowing the whistle. So actually the game ended a short moment before the whistle sounded - when the referee decided to blow the whistle - and it doesn't matter if the ball goes in the net while the whistle is still sounding.

Also there is no proscribed method of whistling to end the game. Two or three blasts may be traditional, but one will suffice. The whistle sounding means play stops, for whatever reason the whistle is blown (end of time, foul, offside, even a mistake by the ref). Nothing can take place after the whistle sounds.