Is it time to introduce a stop clock?

[Old Programme seller]

I think football should learn from it's own history. Last century, the two main changes to the rules were the offside rule from 3 to 2 players in the 1920s, and the backpass rule in 1992. Both improved the game as a spectacle (though it took 10 years for scoring to settle down after the offside change). There has also been an excellent clampdown on dirty play from the 1990s onwards, which has been a huge improvement. There were not that many changes otherwise. It was not a perfect game, but it benefitted from a hands off approach.

Recently, with VAR, handball, injury time and offside, they have fallen into the Rugby Union trap - endless tinkering. They have to be seen to be doing something. VAR in particular was a solution in search of an actual problem. Before you know it, the sport changes for the worse. Keep it simple. That's why the game is so popular. If you complicate it, the game will be worse for it.

Goal line technology is great. I would scrap all other VAR.

Goal line technology is great when used properly not when you have ‘not so Hawkeye’

 

[FatPaul]

Fifa wants injured players to stay off for one minute

Players who receive treatment for an injury could be forced to stay off the field for one minute under proposals from Fifa.

www.bbc.com

Just reviving this thread as the time wasting issues have arisen again. I'm still a big fan of the idea of a stop clock, whilst keeping punishments for time wasting similar to what we have now.

 

[Geordie Blade]

I quite liked Wednesday's tactical break yesterday, when the keeper went down off the ball. Cue a huge huddle where they discussed injury time tactics in depth. Then started again for about thirty second before Otegbayo's got himself sent off.

 

[YES Blade]

Fifa wants injured players to stay off for one minute

Players who receive treatment for an injury could be forced to stay off the field for one minute under proposals from Fifa.

www.bbc.com

Just reviving this thread as the time wasting issues have arisen again. I'm still a big fan of the idea of a stop clock, whilst keeping punishments for time wasting similar to what we have now.

To me it seems the simplest way of solving time wasting is to simply have an official clock in the stadium which is stopped. But like most things with the rules in football the simplest and easiest solution takes an age to be introduced.

 

[Corkblade]

I quite liked Wednesday's tactical break yesterday, when the keeper went down off the ball. Cue a huge huddle where they discussed injury time tactics in depth. Then started again for about thirty second before Otegbayo's got himself sent off.

Alot of team's are doing this now, especially if they're under pressure in a game.One way of stopping it that a outfield player has to leave the pitch for 1 minute when the keeper is "fit"to resume playing, it's becoming ridiculous now with the regularity of it happening

 

[Snowflake]

To me it seems the simplest way of solving time wasting is to simply have an official clock in the stadium which is stopped. But like most things with the rules in football the simplest and easiest solution takes an age to be introduced.

If you change the rules then it affects grassroots football. Each league can introduce some changes but not the basic rules.

 

[Selly]

To me it seems the simplest way of solving time wasting is to simply have an official clock in the stadium which is stopped. But like most things with the rules in football the simplest and easiest solution takes an age to be introduced.

Time wasting - yes.

Players going down injured to disrupt the momentum gained by the opposition and or huddle on the touchline to get new tactical advice - wont do jack to stop it.

Honestly I'd like to see both. If you go down and there isn`t a foul, you leave the pitch for a minute - if your the goalie then the captain/vice captain goes off for a minute.

Both teams yesterday did the "goalie injured/tactical time out". We did it when we were having our wobble and it gave us a chance to regroup. They did it for a final push into injury time which then was rendered somewhat irrelevant when they got reduced to 10.

 

[Selly]

If you change the rules then it affects grassroots football. Each league can introduce some changes but not the basic rules.

The Stadium clock in Rugby union is still controlled by the ref with calls of "Time off" and "Time on". Same person in control, different methods.

 

[Snowflake]

The Stadium clock in Rugby union is still controlled by the ref with calls of "Time off" and "Time on". Same person in control, different methods.

Only at elite level.

 

[PokerBlade]

Alot of team's are doing this now, especially if they're under pressure in a game.One way of stopping it that a outfield player has to leave the pitch for 1 minute when the keeper is "fit"to resume playing, it's becoming ridiculous now with the regularity of it happening

I'd be up for this. Make it the captain so no arguments during the game.

 

[Selly]

Only at elite level.

Sure- but the point is whether is a "stadium" clock or a wristwatch, the same person is in control. The only difference for grassroots would be the players couldn't see how much time is left, but they can simply ask the ref...

 

[Geordie Blade]

Alot of team's are doing this now, especially if they're under pressure in a game.One way of stopping it that a outfield player has to leave the pitch for 1 minute when the keeper is "fit"to resume playing, it's becoming ridiculous now with the regularity of it happening

Or just don't allow players to go over to the bench.

Still, it was lovely when Wednesday's effort backfired spectacularly yesterday.

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

Much like how opta gives out highly detailed stats - just use an automated clock which ticks when the balls in play and stops when it isn’t - throw ins, goal kicks etc. When the clock reaches 45 it’s half time. 90 - full time. No added time. Fairly simple really.

If anyone needs any more advice on football-related matters just give me a shout.

 

[YES Blade]

Time wasting - yes.

Players going down injured to disrupt the momentum gained by the opposition and or huddle on the touchline to get new tactical advice - wont do jack to stop it.

Honestly I'd like to see both. If you go down and there isn`t a foul, you leave the pitch for a minute - if your the goalie then the captain/vice captain goes off for a minute.

Both teams yesterday did the "goalie injured/tactical time out". We did it when we were having our wobble and it gave us a chance to regroup. They did it for a final push into injury time which then was rendered somewhat irrelevant when they got reduced to 10.

The keeper one should be pretty easy to stop, just prevent players from going to bench when a keeper is getting treatment.

The fourth official could easily monitor the situation and managers/coaches could be sent off if they are using the tactical keeper injury.

The other option would be to legalise it and introduce time outs, but I can’t imagine that would be very popular as it would be too American.

 

[Snowflake]

Sure- but the point is whether is a "stadium" clock or a wristwatch, the same person is in control. The only difference for grassroots would be the players couldn't see how much time is left, but they can simply ask the ref...

The luxury of a ref at grassroots is not often enjoyed, but I take your point.

 

[1889]

I’m sure when I played basketball at school they had a clock that was stopped every time the ball went dead. Seems a perfectly simple system to introduce.

However I think it would be surprising how long a full 90 minutes of football would take to complete and would create unexpected issues. Those who currently leave early to catch their train would miss most of the second half. Tyrese Campbell would only be able to complete 30 minutes. End of season games affecting promotion/relegation would finish at different times, allowing rivals to know the outcome and respond accordingly?

 

[Selly]

The luxury of a ref at grassroots is not often enjoyed, but I take your point.

Well then I would argue that the game they are playing is already significantly diverged from league football. A stadium clock isn't going to change much.

I’m sure when I played basketball at school they had a clock that was stopped every time the ball went dead. Seems a perfectly simple system to introduce.

However I think it would be surprising how long a full 90 minutes of football would take to complete and would create unexpected issues. Those who currently leave early to catch their train would miss most of the second half. Tyrese Campbell would only be able to complete 30 minutes. End of season games affecting promotion/relegation would finish at different times, allowing rivals to know the outcome and respond accordingly?

Play 30-35 mins each way instead.

 

[1889]

Well then I would argue that the game they are playing is already significantly diverged from league football. A stadium clock isn't going to change much.


Play 30-35 mins each way instead.

Wouldn’t that sort of defeat the objective?

 

[Toronto Blade]

I don't think I've ever seen a game as bad for timewasting as the Birmingham one. They were just sitting down every couple of minutes and inviting the trainer on, then sprinting back on the pitch a second later.

Either introduce a stop clock or make all injured players wait 3, 4, 5 minutes until they can re-enter the field.

Wendy keeper did the same yesterday obviously wasting time.

 

[Selly]

Wouldn’t that sort of defeat the objective?

Not if you are stopping the clock every time the ball is out of play.

If you are only stopping it when the ref should stop it now then you leave it at 45 mins.

 

[Rufus Smalls]

To me it seems the simplest way of solving time wasting is to simply have an official clock in the stadium which is stopped. But like most things with the rules in football the simplest and easiest solution takes an age to be introduced.

Yes, football really struggle implementing simple rules like having a stop clock for taking time off when play stops.

Its such a difficult concept to grasp on a field of sport that rugby did it almost overnight.

And don’t get me started on ref’s being unable to count to 6 or 8, or whatever number of seconds it is, that the goalie must release the ball by.

Applying simple rules is a totally alien concept in football.

 

[Heathrow Blade]

American Football gets a lot of stick (rightly so) for the amount of standing around and time outs not just in the game but for commercial breaks, however when the ball is in play the clock is very strictly enforced. If you've been to Wembley or White Heart Lane there are play clocks all around the ground. Once a down is stopped and the ball is in play, they have 40 seconds to reset and get the game going again or they are penalised. Everyone (including the players) knows where they stand. The ref at Portsmouth was the only one I've seen recently openly enforcing the ball in the keepers hand rule by raising his hand and counting (and from my view visbily shouting the countdown) and it made both keepers get on with it.

 

[jt64]

Wendy keeper did the same yesterday obviously wasting time.

Cooper did the same in the first half, and seemingly does so more games than not. Wes had form for the same before him

 

[jt64]

The ref at Portsmouth was the only one I've seen recently openly enforcing the ball in the keepers hand rule by raising his hand and counting (and from my view visbily shouting the countdown) and it made both keepers get on with it.

I watch a lot of non league and I've not seen a red NOT do this. Maybe league refs think it's above them to do so

 

[LBA_Blade]

Yes, football really struggle implementing simple rules like having a stop clock for taking time off when play stops.

Its such a difficult concept to grasp on a field of sport that rugby did it almost overnight.

And don’t get me started on ref’s being unable to count to 6 or 8, or whatever number of seconds it is, that the goalie must release the ball by.

Applying simple rules is a totally alien concept in football.

Not to go all UFO conspiracy theory but I still think the IFAB purposely make the laws of the game so vague/grey that they can’t be held accountable. If the referee instructs the 4th official to hold up 5 or 10 minutes at the end of the game how do we actually know it’s only 4 or 6, we haven’t been stop, starting our watches. If a team gets a later winner and relegates another there can’t be any legal challenges brought forward as no evidence that wasn’t the case