NFHS Rules 2010 Timing

Scott M. Aronowitznfoarules@gmail.com

(904) 718-1317

Starting and Stopping the Clock

On free kick downs, the clock stars when the ball is legally touched.

It does not start on first touching by Team K.

On scrimmage downs, the clock starts either on the ready or snap, depending on what caused the clock to stop.

Major clock stopper: clock starts on snap.Minor clock stopper: clock starts on ready.

If there are both major and minor clock stoppers on the same play, the major clock stopper supersedes the minor.

Major Clock Stoppers

Period ends.Charged timeout.TV timeout.Ball goes out of bounds.Incomplete forward pass (legal or illegal).Team B awarded new series.Either team awarded new series after legal kick.Score or touchback.Attempt to consume time illegally.Accepted delay of game penalty.

Minor Clock Stoppers

First down or measurement for first down.Injured player.Dry or change game ball.Heat/humidity timeout.Coach/referee conference.Attempt to conserve time illegally.Sideline warning.Official’s timeout.Dead ball following any penalty (except accepted delay of game foul).Equipment repair.

Example

With the clock running, Team A is flagged for holding on a down that ends on a) incomplete pass or b) inbounds run.RULING: In a), the clock starts on the snap; an in complete pass is a major clock stopper. In b), the clock starts on the ready. The only reason it was stopped was for the penalty enforcement (minor).

Example

On 4th down, Team K punts and is flagged for holding. The kick is caught by R2 who is tackled inbounds.RULING: If the penalty is accepted, the clock starts on the ready, since it was stopped for the penalty. If the penalty is declined, the clock starts on the snap, since a new series is awarded to Team B.

Inadvertent Whistle (3-4-2c)

Whenever the clock is stopped for an inadvertent whistle AND the down is replayed, it will start on the ready.

First Downs

When Team A is awarded a first down and a kick is not involved, the clock starts on the ready (3-4-2a), as long as no other major clock stopper has occurred.Change of possession is not a factor in determining when the clock starts.

The team awarded a new series is the factor.

Teams A and B retain their designation throughout the down (2-43-4).When either team is awarded a new series following a legal kick, the clock starts on the snap (3-4-3c).

Example

Team B intercepts Team A’s forward pass and fumbles on the return. Team A recovers and downs the ball.RULING: Even though Team A is awarded a first down on the break in continuity of downs, the clock starts on the ready. Possession change is irrelevant.

Example

Team K’s punt is blocked. K23 recovers behind the neutral zone and carries beyond the line to gain for a first down.RULING: First down for K, clock starts on snap.

Example

R27 muffs Team K’s punt beyond the neutral zone and K23 recovers.RULING: Team K’s ball, 1st and 10. Clock starts on the snap.

Example

4th and 10 on K’s 20 yard line. A27 punts as Team A is flagged for illegal formation. The ball is declared dead inbounds and the penalty is accepted (5 yards from previous spot).RULING: K’s ball, 4th and 15 from their 15. The clock starts on the ready because neither team was awarded a new series.

Penalties

The clock should start just as it would if the foul had not occurred.

Exception: accepted penalty for delay of game.

After 4th down, a new series is not awarded to Team B until all acts that occurred during the down are considered (5-1-2b).

Example

On 4th and 2, A12 is stopped inbounds short of the line to gain and B76 committed a substitution infraction.RULING: Team A accepts the penalty, resulting in a first down. Without the foul the clock would have stopped to award Team B a first down, but since Team A was awarded a first down, the clock starts on the ready.

Example

4th and 1 at Team B’s 30 yard line. At the 28, A12 illegally hands the ball forward to A35, who is tackled at B’s 25 yard line with one second on the clock. Team B accepts the penalty (5 yards from the spot of the foul and loss of down).RULING: Team B’s ball, 1st and 10 at their 33 yard line. The clock was stopped to administer a penalty and since Team B was awarded a new series after the enforcement, the clock starts on the snap.

Kickoff

Clock always starts on the snap following a kickoff, unless the free kick is replayed.

Fourth Down

The clock always stops after a fourth down play.The clock almost always stops after a legal kick down and starts on the snap (3-4-3c), with some exceptions.

Example

3rd and 10 on Team A’s 20 yard line. A7 in shotgun decides to quick kick. The kick is blocked and a) recovered and downed by A64 on Team A’s 18 yard line or b) recovered and advanced by A64 to his 33 yard line.RULING: In a) the clock does not stop; it is Team A’s ball, 4th and 12 from the 18. In b) the clock is stopped to award Team A a new series and it starts on the snap since a new series was awarded following a legal kick.

Timeouts

Each team is allowed three per half (one minute in length).No carryover from first to second half, nor from second half to overtime.

Each team is allowed one in each overtime period.No carryover to each subsequent overtime period.

When penalty decisions are pending, a timeout cannot be granted until the captain makes his choice (3-5-2a).Head coach may request charged timeout from the sideline OR designate a coach to request timeouts (3-5-2a).Any player or substitute may request a timeout.

Charged Timeouts

During a charged timeout there are two types of authorized conferences (2-6):

One coach on the field with 11 players in the huddle; orNear the sideline in front of the team box between the sideline and the 9-yard marks.

No limit on the number of coaches or players (as long as a coach is not on the field for a conference).Team may use phones and/or headsets.

Only one type of conference may be used.Holding an unauthorized conference is unsportsmanlike conduct (9-8-1f)

Authorized Conferences

It is legal for players to go near the sideline to communicate with coaches as long as coaching box restrictions are not violated, the players remain on the field, and the game is not delayed (9-8-1f Note).Authorized conferences can be held without a charged timeout.

TV/radio timeout.Heat/humidity.Between periods.Following safety, field goal or try (NOT after touchdown and before try).

Up to three attendants – no coaches – may enter the field.Exception: injured player, with permission of referee.

Charged Timeouts Other Than Requested

Following coach-referee conference for misapplication/misinterpretation where a ruling is not reversed (3-5-11).

Team has no timeouts: 5-yard penalty for delay of game (3-6-2c).

Clock is stopped for repair of player equipment that requires the assistance of team attendant or delays the ready for more than 25 seconds (3-5-2b).

Referee can give choice between removing player or taking timeout. No delay of game penalty assessed if no timeouts remain (player is removed).

Injury Timeouts

Player must be replaced for at least one down unless halftime or overtime intermission occurs.

He may not remain in the game if the team takes a timeout.

If he participates, player is charged with live-ball foul for illegal participation (15 yards, previous spot).

Bleeding/excessive blood on uniform = injured.Excessive blood: an amount of blood sufficient to saturate the uniform, or is likely to be easily transferred to another player.

Timing Adjustment

Timing errors on the game clock may be corrected if discovered prior to the second live ball following the error, unless the period has ended (3-3-5, 3-4-7).FHSAA point differential: 35+ point spread.

Up to and including 3rd quarter: discretionary.4th quarter: mandatory.

Extending the Period

If the situation calls for replaying the down, the period is extended.

Accepted penalties for live-ball fouls, double fouls, and inadvertent whistles.Time need not expire during the down; these events need only occur during the last timed down of any period.It does not matter which team fouls, only that the down is replayed.

Example

Team A is out of timeouts with 1st and goal on the 8 yard line. A87 catches a pass and is tackled inbounds on B’s one yard line. During the down, A68 was flagged for being downfield illegally. The penalty is accepted and marked off to Team B’s 13. The referee starts the clock on the ready and time expires before the snap.RULING: Period must be extended for an untimed down because the foul occurred during the last timed down and was accepted.

Extending the Period

Period is normally extended after a touchdown for the try.

If the TD is scored as time expires in the 4th quarter, the try must be attempted unless the game has been decided.

Accepted penalties for dead-ball fouls or nonplayer or unsportsmanlike fouls do not extend the period.

Extending the Period

The period can be extended where the down is not replayed.

Accepted penalty that results in a first down for Team A.Safety by penalty.

If a foul occurs that includes a loss of down penalty, any score is canceled and the period is not extended (3-3-4b).

Example

1st and goal on B’s 10 yard line. A88 catches a pass and is tackled inbounds on B’s one yard line but is flagged for pass interference. The penalty is accepted and marked off to B’s 25. The referee starts the clock on the ready and time expires before the snap.RULING: Period is not extended because OPI includes a loss of down.

Extending the Period

Period is not extended when the defense fouls during a successful try or field goal and the offended team accepts the result of the play with enforcement from the succeeding spot.

Penalty will carry over to the first play of the next period or overtime.

If there is an accepted penalty for a foul by the non-scoring team during a play that ends in a touchdown as time expires in the quarter, the period is not extended for the kickoff.

Penalty carries over to the try (period extended) or kickoff in the next quarter.

Untimed Down

If a foul occurs before or during an untimed down, it is treated the same as if it occurred during the last timed down of the period.

As such, there could be multiple untimed downs.

Delay of Game-5 Yard Penalty

25-second clock.Deliberately advancing a dead ball.Unnecessary delay in unpiling after a down.Snapping or free kicking before the ready.Failure to property wear legal or required equipment when the ball is about to become live.

Delay to Start a Half (9-8-1g)

If a team is not ready to play at the beginning of a half, the delay foul carries a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty (head coach).If both teams refuse to enter, the home team must enter first.If the field is not cleared by the home team management so that a half may start, it is a delay foul with a 5-yard penalty (3-6-4).