Jatkoajat

Jatkoajat, often translated as "overtime," is a common practice in many sports to resolve tied games. The specific rules and duration of jatkoajat vary significantly depending on the sport and the league or competition. In ice hockey, for example, a typical regular season overtime period might be a short, sudden-death session where the first team to score wins. If the game remains tied after this initial overtime, it may proceed to a shootout or further overtime periods, depending on the league's regulations.

In basketball, jatkoajat usually consist of a fixed period of play, typically five minutes in professional leagues. If the score is still tied after this additional period, another overtime session is played, and this continues until a winner is determined. Soccer, or football, also employs overtime, often referred to as "extra time," particularly in knockout stages of tournaments. This usually involves two halves of a set duration, and if the score remains level, the match may be decided by a penalty shootout. The fundamental purpose of jatkoajat across all sports is to avoid draws and ensure a definitive outcome to the competition. The implementation of these overtime rules aims to add excitement and a climactic finish to closely contested matches.