2014
Mount Lofty Districts
Football Club
Prepared by:
Grant Baker
GUIDE FOR TIME KEEPERS
This document is prepared for assisting Time keepers of Football Teams from U13’s to ‘A’ Grade
-INDEXContents
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1
2. Pre-game .................................................................................................................................... 1
Liaising with your Team Manager .............................................................................................. 1
Liaising with Opposition Time Keepers ...................................................................................... 1
3. During the Game ........................................................................................................................ 2
The Times for each quarter during the game ............................................................................ 2
Starting the game....................................................................................................................... 2
Completing Time Card ............................................................................................................... 3
Liaising with coaches during game time (intervals) ................................................................... 4
Umpire giving RED or YELLOW CARDS ....................................................................................... 4
Injury on the Field requiring Play to stop /Stretcher ................................................................. 4
4. Return to the Club change rooms at completion of game ........................................................ 6
5. ATTACHMENT ONE .................................................................................................................... 7
Mount Lofty Districts Football Club TIME KEEPERS duties
Introduction
This document is a guide to enable the TIME KEEPERS to effectively assist the clubs managing the
games. It is not designed to be a comprehensive guide, but to effectively administer the main
aspects of timekeeping at games.
The HFL website is a very important source of information when in doubt and this guide should be
read in conjunction with information available from the HFL.
Pre-game
Liaising with your Team Manager
There are team managers for the Mount Lofty Districts Football Club (MLDFC) for U13’s, U15’s, U17’s
and senior team.
The Team Manager for any of these grades will provide you a folder with what is needed for the
game. Such items will include





The Official SA Community Football League TimeKeepers Card.
A stopwatch for the count-down of the time in a quarter (mobile phones have this accessory
as well)
A guide relating to the responsibilities of the Time Keeper (Refer to Attachment One)
A RED and YELLOW Sheet to verify with UMPIRE what offence occurred on field
The official send-off sheet that records Players sent off
Liaising with Opposition Time Keepers
Before the game is due to commence, it is incumbent on the Teams Time Keeper to make their way
to the Timekeepers position on the oval and:


Introduce themselves to the opposition team timekeeper.
Discuss the experience of each and work out the responsibilities for the game, e.g., one
noting the time of the game commencing, while the other starts the game with the siren
watching for the direction of the umpire, likewise at the end of the quarter to note the finish
time
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Mount Lofty Districts Football Club TIME KEEPERS duties
During the Game
The Times for each quarter during the game
Importantly, note that each grade (u13, u15, u17, B and A Grades) all HAVE differing Time periods
for the quarters being played.
Time (minutes) between
quarters
Time
(minutes)
between
grades
IMPORTANT: The rule of thumb is for the grades lower than A Grade, is to consider at the HALF
TIME break whether the game is on time or not, and if not TIMEKEEPERS must divide the remaining
time evenly between the last 2 quarters to finish on the times indicated.
The GAME MUST finish on the scheduled time indicated for the 4th quarter
Starting the game
The game starts by the order of the umpire, who hold his arm in the air and blows his whistle.
When he does this, the home timekeeper provides one long blast on the siren/horn, whilst the other
Timekeeper notes the quarter commencement time on the Timekeepers score card.
The time commences on your stopwatch ONLY when the ball leaves the umpires hands for the first
bounce
In all grades other than A, there is NO TIME ON for goals or out of bounds or when a score occurs
The end of the Quarter is signalled by the Time Keeper by using the siren/horn when the time for
that quarter is completed. The time keeper keeps the siren on until the umpire acknowledges the
activation. The other timekeeper notes the quarter conclusion on the Timekeepers Score card, AND
now ensures that the TEAMS keep only to their scheduled rest breaks between quarters. The
TIMEKEEPER will give ONE last blast of the siren 1 Minute before the scheduled restart of the
quarter.
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Mount Lofty Districts Football Club TIME KEEPERS duties
Completing Time Card
In the previous heading, direction was provided regarding noting the time of the start and
completion of each quarter.
.
The card must be filled in correctly in the appropriate headings.
Our League Association is Hills Central. The Grade is relative to the Team Grade. The Oval is where
the game is being played and the Date is the day and month, putting in the year after 20
Below then indicate the teams for the day, with the HOME Ground TEAM entered on the Left Hand
Side of the Form and the AWAY TEAM on the right hand side of the form.
During the Game, when a score is made by a team, a mark is made on the scorecard in the
corresponding teams ‘Goals’ or ‘behind’ LARGER BOX relative to what score occurred. At the end of
each Quarter, the True number of GOALS and BEHINDS are indicated in the SMALLER BOX alongside
the running marks in the LARGER Box, as well as completing the times
Once the tally of the Scores is made, liaise with your fellow timekeeper for agreement, and also
check the score on the scoreboard to verify accuracy, initial the timecard at the end of each quarter.
At the completion of the GAME, the scores are added up from the SMALLER BOXES to obtain the
final results. The CARDS are then signed by the respective TIMEKEEPERs, and when there are issues,
for resolving any issues regarding the scores with Goal Umpires and Umpires before submitting their
cards DIRECTLY back to their TEAM MANAGER
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Mount Lofty Districts Football Club TIME KEEPERS duties
Liaising with coaches during game time (intervals)
Game running over Time at Half Time Break (only for u13, u15, u17 & B grades)
 Before the 3rd quarter starts
 Inform the coaches/representatives of the team of the issue the game is running over
time and WHAT the likely timings of the 3rd and 4th quarters, remembering that the
GAME MUST complete by the designated time.
Umpire giving RED or YELLOW CARDS
When a player is sent off for a penalty, the UMPIRE will flash a red card (Category A offence) OR a
yellow card (Category B offence) to the TIMEKEEPER indicating which type of offence . The
Timekeeper will flash the YELLOW/RED card in the Time keeper’s box acknowledging the Umpire’s
determination and manage the penalty timings involved for whichever Category Offence
The HOME GROUND Timekeeper is responsible for Filling out the Time Keepers Report Sheet in the
user pack provided by the TEAM MANAGER, recording the details of the Player (number, etc.)
Time Keepers Report Sheet
Injury on the Field requiring Play to stop /Stretcher
Whenever there is an incident when play is stopped to attend to injury on the ground, the
Timekeeper will complete the form as indicated.
See Below for the HFL send-off rules and instructions to the TIMEKEEPERS:
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Mount Lofty Districts Football Club TIME KEEPERS duties
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Mount Lofty Districts Football Club TIME KEEPERS duties
In Summary, the important aspects for the home ground Timekeeper are:
A Time Keepers Report Sheet is prepared by the home ground Timekeeper for each match.
When a player is sent off by the umpire during a match Timekeepers are to acknowledge the sendoff by an Umpire by showing the appropriate card back to the umpire.
The home ground Timekeeper shall fill in the Time Keepers Report Sheet with appropriate
information, shall note the time of the send-off and the player involved, and the scores of the match
when the player is sent off.
For a CATEGORY A Offence, the time before a replacement player can re-enter the playing arena is
after 15 minutes Flat Time in A Grade and 10 minutes Flat Time in all other grades and after
permission from the timekeepers
For a CATEGORY B Offence, the time before the player or his replacement can only enter the arena
after the 15 minutes Flat Time in A Grade and 10 minutes Flat Time in all other grades and
permission from the timekeepers. If any offending player receives a second yellow card in the same
game, he shall be off for the REMAINDER OF THE GAME and NOT REPLACED FOR A PERIOD OF 15
minutes Flat Time in A Grade and 10 minutes Flat Time in all other grades.
The Time Keeper Report Sheet must be signed by the Umpire after the game even if no player has
been sent off, with a fine being imposed on the home club if not done
Return to the Club change rooms at completion of game
 Return to the clubrooms and seek out the Team Manager returning all equipment and
completed timecard, and the Time Keeper Report Sheet for the game.
 When there are any issues relating to the scores, follow-up as needed to ensure that
problem is resolved prior to submitting the Timecard to the Team manager.
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Mount Lofty Districts Football Club TIME KEEPERS duties
ATTACHMENT ONE
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Mount Lofty Districts Football Club TIME KEEPERS duties
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