Question Number: 27911

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 10/21/2013

RE: Rec Under 11

Ann Kittenplan of Enfield, MA USA asks...

Conventionally at the end of the game the referee blows the whistle three times one, two, threeeeeeeeee (the point being the three is extended). Does the game end at the start of the one, or at the end of the threeeeeeeeee?

I ask because I saw a game today where the ball went in the net during the threeeeeeeeee and I wondered what the ruling should have been?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The game ended when the referee decided that time was up. And because of that, the ref blew the whistle (however many times for however long - 3 is just traditional).

So the answer is, the game ended before the whistle sounded! Not much before, but before.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ann
The game ends when the referee decides so and he then signals the end of the game by a whistle. To make a difference between what would be a regular whistle say for a foul or ball out of play many referees whistle three times. Players then know that the game is ended.
Technically the game ends a fraction before the whistle - that is when the referee decides - and to the viewer that is at the 1st peep of the whistle.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The whistle is the way the referee lets everyone know the game is already over. The goal you saw should have not counted.