1. Region One Football Officials Association
Rule Topics:
Timing – Starting/Stopping Clock
We Are All Here to Learn

2. Timing – Starting & Stopping Clock
NFHS Rule 3-2-4

3. Stopping Clock
Golden Rule: the action that stops the clock – starts the clock
Example: Foul by ‘A’ during a touchdown. What stopped the clock? When will clock start?
Any official may stop the clock – echoed by all officials
Signals that stop clock (good pre-game for ECO)
Time-out or Out-of-Bounds
Incomplete pass
Score (Touchdown, Field Goal, or Safety)
Touchback
Clock does not run:
During a try after score
During an untimed down
Use officials time-out to replace player who helmet comes off during the down (that was not result of foul)
Punts kicked out-of-bounds in the air – 1st signal is to stop clock, then spot the ball
Golden Rule Example: Foul by ‘A’ during a touchdown. What stopped the clock? TD When will clock start? SNAP

4. Clock Starts:
On free kick when legally touched by ‘R’ – started by covering official
When legally snapped, if clock is stopped because:
Ball goes out-of-bounds
B or R awarded new series
Ball becomes dead behind the goal line (touchback)
Time-out
End of Period
Fair catch
Delay of game penalty is accepted
Legal OR Illegal forward pass is Incomplete
Awareness of Rule Exception - ‘A’ legally “spiking” ball
Attempt to consume time illegally – this does not say ‘attempts to illegally conserve time’
(3-4-6) Referee can start/stop clock if team attempts to consume or conserve time illegally
Either team awarded new series after legal kick
Example: ‘R’ touches ball beyond the NZ & is recovered by ‘K’
On an accepted foul under 2:00 minutes in either half, the offended team may choose to have clock started on the snap
Elsewise clock starts on ready-for-play signal from Referee
Could include after inadvertent whistle or officials time-out
ECO watch for “silent wind” on 1st down in-bounds
Clock remains running if runner or airborne receiver's forward progress is stopped inbounds & is carried out-of-bounds
Illegal forward pass could be a 2nd forward pass during a down or a pass beyond the LOS.
Example of attempt to illegally conserve time: pass intentionally thrown incomplete to conserve time – in this case the clock starts on the RFP.

5. Case Studies
#1: If free kick is chosen after fair catch, when does clock start?
#2: If intentional grounding penalty, when does clock start?
#3: In last few seconds of 4th quarter, in rush to stop clock A’s snapper & QB are only players in legal position when ball is snapped & legally spiked. Ruling?
Ruling: Foul for Illegal formation. “Spike” is legal. Reason for clock stoppage is incomplete pass. Clock starts on the snap.
Note: “Spike” from shotgun formation, after fumbled snap, or spike that hits snappers legs is illegal forward pass & clock starts on the RFP.
#4: Clock running, 2 seconds remain in Q4, ‘A’ trailing 21-20:
‘B’ encroaches – when does clock start?
‘A’ false start – when does clock start?
Same scenario but in Q1 – when does clock start?
#5: Score A-13, B-14 w/ clock running -10 seconds remain. QB A12 is flushed from pocket & to avoid sack throws ball in the stands. Flag for IG. On play B21 holds. Penalties offset. 1 second remains on clock. When does clock start & Why?
#1: when legally touched by R
#2: snap
#3: snap
#4: (new 2017 rule now comes into effect about foul by opponent in last 2 minutes of half) snap; RFP; RFP in both scenarios
#5: RFP (clock did not expire during the down, so there is not an untimed down, and there is not an accepted penalty)

6. Thank You!