Impact of EFL’s New Timing Rules on Gameplay
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: The LED board shows an additional 10 minutes of added time during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Aston Villa at St. James Park on August 12, 2023.
How the New Timing Rules Will Affect the EFL
If you’ve followed the first few matches of the EFL season, you’ve probably already noticed the longer amount of stoppage time at the end of each half. The days of two or three minutes being added to the end of games seem as dead as two points for a win; officials are now cracking down on time wasting and adding on whatever they need to in order to get back to 90 minutes of action.
That’s great for the fans, but how will it affect the players and coaches? Here’s a look at what we can expect from the new rules.
Roster Management Is More Important Than Ever
In the Premier League, fixture congestion isn’t easy, but it’s manageable. Unless you find yourself in European competition, you’ll likely only play about 45 matches for the year. That allows teams in the top league to keep their best players on the pitch fairly often.
In the EFL, 46 is the baseline, before you add in cup competitions. For lower-level teams, it’s even worse because of the EFL Trophy. Last year, playoff winner Sheffield Wednesday had to play 60 competitive matches when all was said and done. It could have been worse for the Owls; they only lost their EFL Cup match on penalties and could have played more.
Teams will have to manage rosters better than ever if each match goes another 10-15 minutes. You can’t afford to carry dead weight; everyone has to be able to contribute.
Fitness and Smart Managers Will Be Rewarded
Hiring the right people to run things will be more crucial than ever. You need a good sports science team, you need a good medical staff and you need a manager who’s not afraid to make substitutions. The days of standing pat and shouting from the touchline are over; in-game decisions will matter more than ever. So will getting your starting 11 right for each match; managers will have to consider each decision carefully.
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Players Will Adjust
It will take time, but we will eventually see less time wasting throughout football at every level. If players know it only means more time on the pitch, they’ll limit the amount of time wasted and try to get those numbers lower.
Players can and will figure this out over time. But for the short term, it’s going to have a major impact on the EFL.
