Changes to be aware of for 2025/26 season

[Steve Fall]

Just a reminder :

https://downloads.theifab.com/downloads/changes-to-the-laws-of-the-game-2025-26?l=en

 

[Viridis1886]

Get your Countdown clock sound effects ready!

Has official guidance been given yet on what the 8 seconds and counting for the last 5 should look like?

 

[Steve Fall]

Get your Countdown clock sound effects ready!

Has official guidance been given yet on what the 8 seconds and counting for the last 5 should look like?

If you look at the image you raise your hand above your head and count down from 5.. Awaiting to see it used in a grass game yet.... - Maybe the Womens Euros...

 

[Ref253]

Something wrong with my hands. Physically cannot put one finger down without others joining it

 

[RefereeX]

Get your Countdown clock sound effects ready!

Has official guidance been given yet on what the 8 seconds and counting for the last 5 should look like?

Not that this is going to help the majority of referees, but I'm assuming there will be guidance on it at the CORE conference in July, which I'm looking forward to.
I'd imagine most county FAs will put on a CPD event to focus on it.

 

[Archer]

Get your Countdown clock sound effects ready!

Has official guidance been given yet on what the 8 seconds and counting for the last 5 should look like?

I’m a UCI Commissaire so when I’ve counted from 5 down to 1 it’ll be my natural instinct to push someone on a time trial bike down a little ramp

 

[ChasObserverRefDeveloper]

Something wrong with my hands. Physically cannot put one finger down without others joining it

Top tip - start with a closed hand, then raise thumb, then in turn raise the other fingers . . . but make it really visible so the crowd can chant "5 . . . 4 . . . etc."

 

[ASM]

Top tip - start with a closed hand, then raise thumb, then in turn raise the other fingers . . . but make it really visible so the crowd can chant "5 . . . 4 . . . etc."

Bizarre as it sounds but this was not permitted as part of the trials last season (in PL2). IFAB contacted the PGMOL to say it was a countdown not up and the approved signal is the only one permitted

 

[Viridis1886]

Not that this is going to help the majority of referees, but I'm assuming there will be guidance on it at the CORE conference in July, which I'm looking forward to.
I'd imagine most county FAs will put on a CPD event to focus on it.

We'll that's at least 8 seconds of CPD guaranteed!

 

[Samuel]

Without wanting to revive the thread or debate from when it was announced, will be interesting to see how it is applied preseason by the majority, let alone during the season

 

[ChasObserverRefDeveloper]

Bizarre as it sounds but this was not permitted as part of the trials last season (in PL2). IFAB contacted the PGMOL to say it was a countdown not up and the approved signal is the only one permitted

It is bizarre, because starting with an open hand and trying to lower one finger at a time is far more difficult than the "start closed" option.

 

[ARF]

 

[Archer]

 

[Runner Ref]

What about those from areas where 6 fingers are common?

 

[Viridis1886]

What about those from areas where 6 fingers are common?

They get to start 1 second earlier than the rest of us.

 

[bester]

The 5 seconds is a countdown to zero, not counting up from 4 to 8. Would look odd to be counting down verbally with your hand seemingly doing something different.

 

[ChasObserverRefDeveloper]

The 5 seconds is a countdown to zero, not counting up from 4 to 8. Would look odd to be counting down verbally with your hand seemingly doing something different.

The count is to inform the goalkeeper that they need to release the ball. After a count of 5 . . .

 

[Hilly1618]

I think I need a bit of a limerick from Ted Rodgers to help with this and Dusty Bin as an AR! (Sorry to our younger members who have no idea what I’m rambling about)

 

[JamesL]

After a count of 5 . . .

Before the countdown completes.

 

[ChasObserverRefDeveloper]

Before the countdown completes.

Quite right! (As usual)
My guess is that the initial three seconds will be the issue among weaker referees, with an estimate of three seconds stretching.
Referees failing to apply the 6-seconds limit resulted in this law change so we will need a seed change in attitudes among referees and goalkeepers if it is to work.
We will see