The countdown clock they use in high school and college soccer in the US needs to change.
For those not particularly familiar with soccer, typically the center referee keeps track of time and waits for a natural break point in action to whistle for half time and the end of the game. If a team is actively threatening an attack, the referee will let the play finish before he blows the whistle. Sort of like in football where the play continues as long as the ball is snapped before time runs out. This is how soccer is timed everyplace else in the world and in club soccer in the United States.
However, high schools and college soccer in the United States is played with a running clock. When that thing hits zero, it is game over regardless of what is happening on the field. Ball in the air and you head it into the net for a goal 1 second after the clock hits zero? They waive off the goal. Absolutely bizarre way to time the game, in my opinion.
