Referee Question about Clock

[sumoroyal]

I run the clock for Mason County and I have a couple of questions about clock keeping.

 

Question #1: At the end of the game when one team is trying to run out the clock, the white hat starts the clock and then stops the clock for any kind of reason, and then blows the whistle to play but then does not give the signal to start the clock for what ever reason. What do I do? Do I start it anyways? Then the side judge, not the white hat, signals to start the clock. Do I start it on his signal?

 

Question #2: This happens every game and I don't see how it is correct. There is one minute left in the game and the winning team is trying to run out the play clock. Then run the play clock down and then false start. The referees walk off the penalty, and the the white hat gives the signal to start the clock. then about a minute runs off before a play is ever run. They could run down the play clock again and then false start over and over and run out the clock. I see this happen on many penalties. I would think a penalty would stop the clock.

 

Some referees out there please advise.

[offside]

I run the clock for Mason County and I have a couple of questions about clock keeping.

 

Question #1: At the end of the game when one team is trying to run out the clock, the white hat starts the clock and then stops the clock for any kind of reason, and then blows the whistle to play but then does not give the signal to start the clock for what ever reason. What do I do? Do I start it anyways? Then the side judge, not the white hat, signals to start the clock. Do I start it on his signal?

 

Question #2: This happens every game and I don't see how it is correct. There is one minute left in the game and the winning team is trying to run out the play clock. Then run the play clock down and then false start. The referees walk off the penalty, and the the white hat gives the signal to start the clock. then about a minute runs off before a play is ever run. They could run down the play clock again and then false start over and over and run out the clock. I see this happen on many penalties. I would think a penalty would stop the clock.

 

Some referees out there please advise.

 

#1. My advice to you is for you to hope that the whitehat knows rule 3-4-3 as well as you do (I will provide it to you below). If he forgets to wind it and you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it's supposed to run, RUN IT. (Especially if another official is winding it). We can always fix it by adding more time to the clock if you're wrong; but it's a lot harder to fix it the other way.

 

#2. It's not correct, but you can't do anything about this as a clock keeper. The referee should apply Rule 3-4-6...When a team attempts to conserve or consume time illegally, the referee shall order the clock started or stopped. Please don't interject yourself into this one.

 

Print this out and keep it in the pressbox with you:

 

Rule 3-4-2...The clock shall start with the ready-for-play signal on a down beginning with a snap if the clock was stopped for any reason other than specified in Rule 3-4-3 or an untimed down.

 

Rule 3-4-3...The clock shall start with the snap or when any free kick is touched, other than first touching by K, if the clock was stopped because:

 

a. The ball goes out of bounds.

b. B is awarded a new series. (Turnover on downs, fumble recovery or interception).

c. Either team is awarded a new series following a legal kick.

d. The ball becomes dead behind the goal line. (Touchback).

e. A legal or illegal pass is incomplete.

f. A request for a charged or TV/radio time-out is granted.

g. A period ends.

h. A team attempts to consume time illegally. (Referee's call, not the clock keeper).

i. The penalty for a delay of game foul is accepted.

Edited October 11, 2009 by offside

[sumoroyal]

I don't see anything about starting the clock after a penalty. It should not happen.

[offside]

I don't see anything about starting the clock after a penalty. It should not happen.

 

That's incorrect. Frequently, the clock will start on the ready for play signal after a foul. (I presumed you knew this and did not type all of 3-4-2).

 

Rule 3-4-2...The clock shall start with the ready for play...

 

b. Because the ball has become dead following any foul provided:

1. There has been no charged time out during the dead ball interval.

2. The down is not an extension of a period or try.

3. The action which caused the down to end did not also cause the clock to be stopped.

[offside]

This is available on the KHSAA website http://www.khsaa.org/football/general.html

 

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOOTBALL CLOCK OPERATORS

A. The clock operator should report to the officials’ dressing room at the stadium at least one hour before game

time for the following purposes.

1. To synchronize timer’s watch with official game time as established by the official responsible for timing.

2. To advise officials whether the clock operator will be in the press box or on the sideline. Determine procedure

for communication with timer and check this procedure prior to the game.

3. To discuss coordination of starting, stopping and adjusting the clock in accordance with the playing rules.

B. The field clock is normally started 30 minutes before game time. The halftime intermission will start on the referee’s

signal when the players and officials leave the field. All pregame and halftime activities will be synchronized

with the official game clock. The mandatory three-minute warm-up period will be put on the clock after

the intermission time has elapsed and shall be started immediately.

C. The clock operator shall have an extra stopwatch available. In case of failure of the game clock, the clock operator

shall immediately contact the officials, giving them the correct data regarding the official time. The official

responsible for timing will then pick up the correct game time on the stopwatch. If the field clock becomes

inoperative and is subsequently repaired, it will not be used again until the next period or when the referee

determines it is operational. The public-address announcer will indicate the field clock will not be official until

the malfunction is corrected and a subsequent announcement is made on the public-address system.

D. Game Procedures:

1. The clock operator is an integral member of the officiating crew and game administration. Unfair advantages

occur when the game clock is not started correctly by rule. Great care must be exercised to see that

no time lag occurs in starting or stopping the clock.

2. On all free kicks, the nearest official(s) will signal the legal touching of the ball by indicating that the clock

should start.

3. Any official may signal a time-out; therefore, the operator should be alert to stop the clock.

4. The incompletion signal will stop the clock. Note: On plays near the out-of-bounds line and in advance of

the line to gain, an official may give a winding signal to indicate the ball is inbounds and follow it by a stopthe-

clock signal for an apparent first down. Be alert for both signals.

5. The clock operator will automatically stop the clock following a touchdown, field goal, touchback or safety

after the appropriate scoring signal has been made.

6. After the clock has been stopped, the referee will start it again on the referee’s start-the-clock signal and if

no such signal is given, the operator will start the clock on the snap without the signal from the referee.

7. The referee may start the clock again in certain instances before the ready-for-play signal.

8. The try is not a timed down.

9. There are instances when a period shall be extended by an untimed down. During these extensions, leave

the clock at :00. Do not reset the clock for the next period until the referee declares the period over by facing

the press box and holding the ball overhead.

10. Each state association may decide whether or not to utilize a running clock in certain situations, and the

procedures for those situations.

09

®

[offside]

I'm unable to copy/paste the Running Clock Memo and Notes, but it's also available on the KHSAA website http://www.khsaa.org/football/general.html