Game clocks

[Guest Newbie]

Another thread got me thinking why HS game clocks count down to 00:00 instead of counting up like they do in the pros, Olympics, etc.  Is it because we're so used to football and are using their facilities that we simply go along with it?  Can those clocks count up instead of down?  I know it won't affect the outcome of the game, but just another point to ponder.

[hj_hawk_60]

Im not positive but i do not believe that those clocks have the capability to count up. As far as i know they only count down

[bullets13]

i think the necessity to count up in pro games might be because of stoppage time.  if their clocks went down to zero, the crowd and coaches wouldn't know when 3 extra minutes were up.  in HS, they don't have stoppage time, so it doesn't matter.  but i think hawk might be right as well, i doubt most of these scoreboards around here have the capability to go up anyway.

[Guest Newbie]

[quote name="bullets13000" post="790886" timestamp="1271389358"]
i think the necessity to count up in pro games might be because of stoppage time.  if their clocks went down to zero, the crowd and coaches wouldn't know when 3 extra minutes were up.  in HS, they don't have stoppage time, so it doesn't matter.  but i think hawk might be right as well, i doubt most of these scoreboards around here have the capability to go up anyway.
[/quote]
That's interesting.  I can't remember which game it was but it was an away game where the opposing team was obviously taking their time subbing in and out while trying to protect their lead, keeper taking time shagging ball, defender kicking ball to the stands, that the center ref said he was adding so many minutes of play to the game which makes me wonder, was this an unusual event?  Do local refs do that or have the discretion to do it? 

[hj_hawk_60]

[quote name="Newbie" post="790890" timestamp="1271390139"]
[quote author=bullets13000 link=topic=68637.msg790886#msg790886 date=1271389358]
i think the necessity to count up in pro games might be because of stoppage time.  if their clocks went down to zero, the crowd and coaches wouldn't know when 3 extra minutes were up.  in HS, they don't have stoppage time, so it doesn't matter.  but i think hawk might be right as well, i doubt most of these scoreboards around here have the capability to go up anyway.
[/quote]
That's interesting.  I can't remember which game it was but it was an away game where the opposing team was obviously taking their time subbing in and out while trying to protect their lead, keeper taking time shagging ball, defender kicking ball to the stands, that the center ref said he was adding so many minutes of play to the game which makes me wonder, was this an unusual event?  Do local refs do that or have the discretion to do it?   
[/quote]

I have seen refs stop the clock when teams attempt to that, but i dont know that i have every actually seen refs add times

[bullets13]

[quote name="hj_hawk_60" post="790910" timestamp="1271400220"]
[quote author=Newbie link=topic=68637.msg790890#msg790890 date=1271390139]
[quote author=bullets13000 link=topic=68637.msg790886#msg790886 date=1271389358]
i think the necessity to count up in pro games might be because of stoppage time.  if their clocks went down to zero, the crowd and coaches wouldn't know when 3 extra minutes were up.  in HS, they don't have stoppage time, so it doesn't matter.  but i think hawk might be right as well, i doubt most of these scoreboards around here have the capability to go up anyway.
[/quote]
That's interesting.  I can't remember which game it was but it was an away game where the opposing team was obviously taking their time subbing in and out while trying to protect their lead, keeper taking time shagging ball, defender kicking ball to the stands, that the center ref said he was adding so many minutes of play to the game which makes me wonder, was this an unusual event?  Do local refs do that or have the discretion to do it?   
[/quote]

[b]I have seen refs stop the clock when teams attempt to that, but i dont know that i have every actually seen refs add times[/b]
[/quote]

ditto.

[hj_hawk_60]

I did a search online and everything i saw went with what bullets said. The reason for the clocks counting up is for stoppage time in pros. It is easier to let the clock run for 4 more minutes than it is to set a clock to count down 4 minutes because stoppage time is usually not decided until the final minute of regulation time.

The halftime clock does stop at 45:00 and a separate clock starts and counts up. The 2nd half clock runs till the ref stops the game after the stoppage time.

[oodooo]

[quote name="bullets13000" post="790953" timestamp="1271423883"]
[quote author=hj_hawk_60 link=topic=68637.msg790910#msg790910 date=1271400220]
[quote author=Newbie link=topic=68637.msg790890#msg790890 date=1271390139]
[quote author=bullets13000 link=topic=68637.msg790886#msg790886 date=1271389358]
i think the necessity to count up in pro games might be because of stoppage time.  if their clocks went down to zero, the crowd and coaches wouldn't know when 3 extra minutes were up.  in HS, they don't have stoppage time, so it doesn't matter.  but i think hawk might be right as well, i doubt most of these scoreboards around here have the capability to go up anyway.
[/quote]
That's interesting.  I can't remember which game it was but it was an away game where the opposing team was obviously taking their time subbing in and out while trying to protect their lead, keeper taking time shagging ball, defender kicking ball to the stands, that the center ref said he was adding so many minutes of play to the game which makes me wonder, was this an unusual event?  Do local refs do that or have the discretion to do it?   
[/quote]


I have seen refs stop the clock when teams attempt to that, but i dont know that i have every actually seen refs add times
[/quote]

ditto.
[/quote]

I've participated in games where the refs couldn't stop the clock in time to address either excessive/flagrant fouls or delay tactics so he added 3 minutes of stoppage time, and yes this area.