Official Timer

Section 16. The official timer will be from the home team and will sit at the scorer’s/timer’s table opposite the center circle. 

Section 17. If the official timer is not seated at field level, the home team is responsible for ensuring the following duties are performed:

a. stop the clock at the whistle and arm signal after each goal. If there is a 10 or more goal differential, the clock will continue to run after goals and within the last 2 minutes of play in each half (no stop clock), except when the official signals timeout. If the difference becomes less than 10 goals, the stop clock procedure is reinstated.

NOTE: The clock shall be stopped during timeouts even if the game is being played with running clock due to the 10-goal differential. A running clock means that the clock is NOT being stopped after goals or on whistles in the last two minutes in each half.

NOTE: When leagues elect to play with “running clock”, the clock will run after goals and stop on every whistle in the last two minutes of each half unless there is a 10-goal differential.

b. start the clock on the whistle at each draw.

c. sound a horn at the first stoppage of play

1. to notify the official of an illegal substitute.

2. if a clock has malfunctioned

d. sound the horn to indicate a timeout request by the team in possession during a dead-ball situation only.

e. notify the official when there are 2 minutes remaining in each half of the game.

f. during the last 2 minutes of each half of the game, stop the clock on every whistle, then restart the clock on the official’s whistle unless there is a 10 or more goal differential. If the difference becomes less than 10 goals, the stop clock procedure is reinstated.

g. sound a horn to indicate the end of the half and the end of the game.

h. stop the clock for any other circumstances only upon the time-out signal and whistle from the official. 

i. notify the official when a team requests a time-out and use a separate clock to time the time-out.

1. time 2 minutes

2. blow the horn at 1 minute, 45 seconds

3. blow the horn at 2 minutes

j. note the time on the clock when a player is issued a green/red card for delay of game and time the 2-minute elapsed playing time penalty, and notify the coach when the 2-minute penalty time has ended.

k. note the time on the clock when a player or coach is issued a yellow (2-minute) or red card (4-minute)and time the elapsed playing time penalty, and notify the coach when the penalty time has ended.