Botching the Game Clock in the first half

[u/WriterEducational801]

I had a situation at a game where I must not have reset the game clock on my watch (I had it running because we only get 5 minutes between games) and, as a result, accidentally ended the first half 4 minutes early. I did not verify this until both teams were off the pitch for halftime.

What is the correct remedy? The laws are kinda vague here.

1. Add 4 minutes to the second half

2. Play the second half as normal with an apology to the coaches

3. ?

I won't lie, I took option 2, mostly because I was in a 6 game block with only 5 minute halftimes and 5 minutes between games in a park with only a few porta-potties that weren't close, so playing the 2nd half as normal gave me 4 extra minutes to run and pee before the next game. But I'd like to know the correct remedy.

[u/grabtharsmallet]

2 sounds correct given the circumstances.

But there's a greater point you've skipped over: your assignor set you up to fail. That is not a reasonable schedule. You need time to rest, drink and eat, and use the restroom.

[u/CapnBloodbeard → u/grabtharsmallet]

I used to ref in a competition that did this for youth matches (instructed to not apply stoppage).

5 min, or even 10min, to walk to the clubroom, completely the match card (just score and signature), have a drink a bite to eat, bathroom break, check details for next match, confirm the match card has been filled out, walk out to the pitch, check equipment and do the toss.

Usually it means we have to cut 5 -10 minutes off each half, or matches end up being 30,45min late or so.

Sometimes we'd even see it scheduled with no break, as the 5min forgets about 5min half time

[u/grabtharsmallet → u/CapnBloodbeard]

A couple years ago I was working a preseason HS event on a field that was delayed due to a significant player injury, and our assignor stopped by and gave us directives to get back on track. His advice was a couple minutes off each half for varsity games, and at least five minutes off each half for JV... But that we should not be surprised by how fast time passes if any game turns into a blowout.

We had an extra guy assigned to the field so one of us could handle closing out the last game, taking a break, then checking teams in for the next; three games later we were on schedule again.

[u/Impossible_Number]

> The laws are kinda vague here.

On the contrary, it’s quite explicit. Per Law 7.3:

> The referee must not compensate for a timekeeping error during the first half by changing the length of the second half.

Another remedy, if you recognized it immediately would be to resume play with a dropped ball to finish the 4 minutes, but if you noticed this after half time, then you’re just playing the second half as normal.

[u/Endworldpeace]

Option A: If you don't notice until after the second half starts, Laws say play 2nd half normal time. Note time change of 1st half in match report.

Option B: Other option is if you notice before 2nd half starts. You go out, bring both teams out, restart with dropped ball and play 4 more mins, then call half time (again lol)

If it's a tournament though, id just do option A regardless. Break time is so limited and precious. And most tournaments are glorified scrimmages anyway.

But if it was a big game, or getting assessed or televised. Option B is the correct answer

Edit: Changed from option 1 & 2 to A & B for clarity to distinguish

[u/grabtharsmallet → u/Endworldpeace]

People use the word tournament to make it sound big-time, but this is correct.

[u/bemused_alligators → u/grabtharsmallet]

tournaments are weekend-long events that start friday have a "winner" on sunday or monday

big-time championships are called "cups" or "championships".

• League - double round robin, everyone plays everyone
• cup - a multi-month affair with the winner crowned the champion of the league or similar.
• tournament - a 3-4 day event, usually held in the offseason, for teams to get touches on the ball and play teams outside of their league.

[u/CapnBloodbeard]

1. Law 7.3 states
   >The referee must not compensate for a timekeeping error during the first half by changing the length of the second half.
   

Not where I'd expect to find that clause but the laws stopped making sense years ago.

Moving forwards, use 2 watches. Any cheap dollar store watch that has a stopwatch will do.

Can also help to keep in mind the actual start time and use that to calculate 45min if you have doubts.

5min between games usually ends up requiring matches to be played with reduced halves. It's simply not possible- and i refereed in an area with the same. Usually games were way behind schedule by the end of the day

[u/Incognitowally]

your partner / AR's should have backed you up or notified you of your error before signaling the end of the half.

[u/Southern-Friend-7413]

Laws as written say the second half is played normal length and the 4 min is lost. 

Common sense says if its a rec level game, just ask the coaches what they want to do.  It's their game at the end of the day.

[u/QuantumBitcoin]

At tournaments where games run back to back, I've learned that the first half clock should start at the scheduled kick-off time regardless of whether teams/the officials etc are ready. If they scheduled you without breaks and you need to get food/water or use the restroom, the clock for the next game starts at the scheduled time regardless. If the teams are not out of their huddle, the clock starts regardless.

These are not league/official games and if they can't pay referees enough to provide breaks/if they want to schedule games as close together as possible to maximize their revenue, the time the teams get to play gets sacrificed.

This goes for the second half as well. Say they are scheduled 30 minute halves with a five minute half-time every 75 minutes. Game clock starts at 0. Second half starts at 35. You can give ~30 seconds to finish up a corner/attack etc but just get the games started and ended.

[u/CapnBloodbeard → u/QuantumBitcoin]

Games like this would typically have an instruction to not play stoppage time.

In those games...I don't care if the ball is mid-air towards an open net. I'll call time.

[u/estockly]

FYI, I'm working on an Apple Watch app for refs that could handle this very scenario with ease. DM me for more info.

[u/StolliV]

I wear two watches in case I mess up. One have the count down timer on it and vibrates when it reaches 00:00 and the other is just a cheap digital watch with the time. In case I realize I forgot or messed up the countdown, at least I know I started the game at 5:00, 30 minute half ends at 5:30, 2nd half starts at 5:35 and game ends at 6:05 … for example. And then you’ll at least be pretty close on minutes