American Football: The gridiron game is divided into four 12-minute quarters and a timekeeper is responsible for stopping and starting the clock. Both players and fans can see what time is remaining throughout the game.

Australian Rules: Games are timed by a designated official and the end of matches are announced by a loud hooter.

Baseball: America's national pastime takes a rather laid back attitude to time. Like cricket, the length of the game is determined by the innings.

Basketball: As well as employing two referees, the sport also has a designated timekeeper, who stops the clock every time the referee blows the whistle. In Ireland, games consist of two 20-minute halves of actual playing time. The clock stops with every foul, substitution and time-out. All National League gyms have electronic clocks and most also supply 32-second clocks.

Rugby: The League game is governed by an independent timekeeper, while rugby union still favours the traditional method, with the referee keeping track of time and adding any relevant injury minutes.

Soccer: Time is largely the responsibility of the referee, although he does communicate with his other officials who indicate remaining injury time by displaying boards showing the time left.