Time Wasting: Referee Management & Added Time

Managing Time Wasting in Football: A Referee's Guide

As a referee, effectively managing time wasting is crucial for maintaining the flow and fairness of a football match. This guide will provide you with practical strategies and insights, referencing the Laws of the Game, to confidently handle time-wasting situations.

Key Takeaways:

* Recognise and address various forms of time wasting promptly.

* Apply the principles of advantage and caution appropriately.

* Accurately calculate and add sufficient time for stoppages.

Identifying and Addressing Time Wasting Tactics

Time wasting can manifest in many forms. Your role is to recognise these tactics and apply the Laws of the Game appropriately.

Common Time-Wasting Techniques

Here are some common examples of time-wasting:

* Delaying the Restart of Play: Players taking an excessively long time to take throw-ins, free kicks, or goal kicks.

* Slow Substitutions: Players walking slowly off the field when being substituted.

* Feigning Injury: Players pretending to be injured to stop the clock.

* Excessive Celebrations: Prolonged celebrations after a goal, especially late in the match.

* Kicking the Ball Away: Players intentionally kicking the ball away after a foul or when the ball is out of play.

* General Delaying Tactics: Any other action clearly intended to waste time.

Applying the Laws of the Game (Law 5 and Law 7)

Law 5 empowers you, the referee, to control the match using your authority and discretion. Law 7 deals specifically with the allowance for time lost. You must use both in conjunction to manage time wasting.

* Law 5: The Referee: This law grants you the authority to stop, suspend, or terminate the match for any infringements. It also allows you to take disciplinary action against players guilty of misconduct, including time wasting.

* Law 7: The Duration of the Match: This law covers added time. It states that the referee should allow for all time lost due to substitutions, assessment and/or removal of injured players, wasting time, disciplinary sanctions, medical stoppages permitted by competition rules, and any other cause, including any significant delay to a restart (e.g. due to interference from outside agents).

Practical Examples and Rulings

Let's look at some practical scenarios:

* Scenario 1: A player wins a free kick near the opponent's goal in the 88th minute. He takes an excessively long time to position the ball and then argues with the referee about the placement of the wall.

* Ruling: Caution the player for delaying the restart of play (unsporting behaviour). Ensure the free kick is taken promptly. Add sufficient time at the end of the match to compensate for the delay.

* Scenario 2: A player is being substituted in the 90th minute. He walks very slowly towards the touchline, delaying the substitution.

* Ruling: Urge the player to leave the field more quickly. If the delay is excessive, caution the player for unsporting behaviour. Ensure the fourth official accurately records the time wasted to communicate to you.

* Scenario 3: A player goes down injured in the 85th minute, and the medical team is called onto the field. After a brief assessment, the player is able to continue playing.

Ruling: Allow the medical team to assess the player. Add the time taken for the assessment to the added time at the end of the match. If you believe the player feigned injury, consider cautioning them for unsporting behaviour after* play has restarted.

Disciplinary Action: Cautions for Time Wasting

Issuing a caution (yellow card) is a key tool in your arsenal for combating time wasting. However, it's important to apply this sanction judiciously.

When to Issue a Caution

* Deliberate Delay: When a player clearly and intentionally delays the restart of play or wastes time.

* Repeated Offences: When a player repeatedly engages in time-wasting tactics, even after being warned.

* Unsporting Behaviour: Time wasting is considered unsporting behaviour and is a cautionable offence.

Consistency is Key

Be consistent in your application of cautions for time wasting. This will help players understand what is expected of them and deter future offences. Don't ignore minor instances early in the game, as this can set a precedent that encourages more significant time-wasting later on.

Documenting Cautions

Accurately record all cautions issued for time wasting in your match report. This information can be helpful for disciplinary committees and for tracking trends in player behaviour.

Calculating and Adding Appropriate Time

Adding the correct amount of time is paramount to ensuring fairness and negating the impact of time wasting.

Factors to Consider When Calculating Added Time

* Substitutions: The time taken for substitutions to be completed.

* Injuries: The time spent assessing and treating injured players.

* Time Wasting: The time deliberately wasted by players.

* Disciplinary Sanctions: The time taken to issue cautions or send-offs.

* Goal Celebrations: Excessive goal celebrations.

* Other Stoppages: Any other significant delays to the match, such as retrieving the ball from outside the field of play.

Communicating Added Time

Clearly communicate the amount of added time to the players, coaches, and spectators. This helps manage expectations and prevents misunderstandings. Use the fourth official to display the added time clearly. Remember, the displayed time is a minimum – you can always add more time if further delays occur during the added time period itself. This is covered in Law 7.

Managing Expectations and Potential Confrontation

Be prepared for potential confrontation from players or coaches who disagree with the amount of added time. Remain calm, professional, and explain your reasoning clearly and concisely. Stand your ground and uphold your decision.

Proactive Strategies for Preventing Time Wasting

Preventing time wasting is often more effective than reacting to it. Here are some proactive strategies you can employ:

Early Intervention and Communication

Address potential time-wasting situations early in the match. A simple word to a player who is taking too long to take a throw-in can often prevent the behaviour from escalating. Effective communication is key.

Setting the Tone

Establish a clear expectation for fair play and respect for the Laws of the Game from the outset. Your body language, whistle commands, and verbal communication all contribute to setting the tone of the match.

Managing the Game Effectively

By maintaining control of the match and making decisive decisions, you can deter players from engaging in time-wasting tactics. A well-managed match is less likely to be disrupted by unsporting behaviour.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What if a player pretends to be injured to waste time? Should I stop the game?

Use your judgement. If you genuinely believe a player is injured, stop the game and allow for medical attention. However, if you suspect the player is feigning injury, you can allow play to continue if it benefits the non-offending team (applying the advantage). After play stops, you can caution the player for unsporting behaviour. Remember to add the time wasted to the added time.

How much added time is "enough"? Is there a formula?

There's no magic formula. You must consider all stoppages. Err on the side of adding more time rather than less. It's better to compensate fully for time lost than to risk accusations of bias. The key is to be fair and accurate in your assessment.

What if time wasting continues during added time? Should I add even more time?

Yes! Law 7 explicitly states that you should add time for any time lost, including during added time itself. Don't hesitate to add more time if further delays occur.

Can I caution a player for time wasting even if they haven't been warned before?

Yes, you can. Time wasting is considered unsporting behaviour, and you can caution a player for a single instance of deliberate time wasting, even if they haven't been warned previously. The key is whether the action was clearly intended to waste time.

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