As time expires before halftime, the offense throws a deep pass and the defense commits pass interference. The flag is thrown, the penalty is marked off, and the offense is given 1 untimed down because the clock had ran out, and the half cant end on a defensive penalty. The offense lines up to run a play and then jumps offsides(fasle start). Should the offense be moved back 5 yards and given another untimed down, or is halftime? This happened in a game, and the rules book or the case book does not cover this particular scenerio.

I would saY the offense gets the 5 yard penalty and another shot. The play never happend (the untimed down) therefore they should get thier shot.

I would saY the offense gets the 5 yard penalty and another shot. The play never happend (the untimed down) therefore they should get thier shot.

 

I am pretty sure that is what happens too.

Just talked to an official who worked a finals game a couple years ago. He says, you back them up and play the down. I'll go with him.

I've talked to around 10 officials and I never get the same answer. I am an official, and we didn't give them another play. I feel bad, but I wish I knew the real answer so it don't happen again.

I've talked to around 10 officials and I never get the same answer. I am an official, and we didn't give them another play. I feel bad, but I wish I knew the real answer so it don't happen again.

 

I think this is the same issue that causes coaches to become upset on the sidelines every week. Every crew enforces rules differently. Which leads to confrontations between officials and coaches.

Regardless couldn't you decline the penalty?

Regardless couldn't you decline the penalty?

 

Wouldn't it be a dead ball penalty? If so, the clock wouldn't have started (or in this case the last play wouldn't have commenced) meaning the O would still get to have one last play. Right? If so, the D might as well take the penalty and move the O back 5 yards.

Regardless couldn't you decline the penalty?

The defense cant decline an offsides penalty. If anyone can find this in writing(the rule), please post it or tell where I can find it myself.

I think you have to play the down. I think the same would apply to delay of game or illegal substitution.

Can't end the period if penalty is accepted for a foul on alive ball play. False start was a dead ball foul so you still have an accepted foul on last live ball play. You have to replay the down

Can't end the period if penalty is accepted for a foul on alive ball play. False start was a dead ball foul so you still have an accepted foul on last live ball play. You have to replay the down

 

This is correct. If you look on page 41 of your rule book you will see the rule.

 

Rule 3-3: A period must be extended by an untimed down if during the last timed down of the period, one of the following occurred:

a. there was a foul by either team and the penalty is accepted, except for those fouls listed in 3-3-4b.

b. there was a double foul

c. there was an inadvertant whistle

d. too long to type.

 

Then it says the following:

 

"If (a), (b), © or (d) occurs during the untimed down, the procedure is repeated."

 

Therefore, in your scenario, the down should have still been played.

This is correct. If you look on page 41 of your rule book you will see the rule.

 

Rule 3-3: A period must be extended by an untimed down if during the last timed down of the period, one of the following occurred:

a. there was a foul by either team and the penalty is accepted, except for those fouls listed in 3-3-4b.

b. there was a double foul

c. there was an inadvertant whistle

d. too long to type.

 

Then it says the following:

 

"If (a), (b), © or (d) occurs during the untimed down, the procedure is repeated."

 

Therefore, in your scenario, the down should have still been played.

None of those scenerios occurred, no double foul, or inadvertant whistle, or the other stuff. And it says right up there in the rule if it occurred in the last timed down of a period which it wasnt because they jumped offsides on an untimed down. So that rule don't apply. I asked a college official that also ref's high school here in Ky(Jefferson County) and he said that there is no rule for that particular scenerio. He said that the offsides was the offenses play and that it should have been halftime. So I believe we made the right call for that play.

None of those scenerios occurred, no double foul, or inadvertant whistle, or the other stuff. And it says right up there in the rule if it occurred in the last timed down of a period which it wasnt because they jumped offsides on an untimed down. So that rule don't apply. I asked a college official that also ref's high school here in Ky(Jefferson County) and he said that there is no rule for that particular scenerio. He said that the offsides was the offenses play and that it should have been halftime. So I believe we made the right call for that play.

 

Didn't 'a.' occur. There was a foul by a team and by rule since it could not be declined it was automatically accepted.

None of those scenerios occurred, no double foul, or inadvertant whistle, or the other stuff. And it says right up there in the rule if it occurred in the last timed down of a period which it wasnt because they jumped offsides on an untimed down. So that rule don't apply. I asked a college official that also ref's high school here in Ky(Jefferson County) and he said that there is no rule for that particular scenerio. He said that the offsides was the offenses play and that it should have been halftime. So I believe we made the right call for that play.

 

"A" did occurred. There was a foul, "false start or encroachment" and the penalty was marked off, which means it was accepted. Maybe you should write the commissioner of the KHSAA and ask him about the play. He's on the NFHS football rules committee and will probably tell you that this is correct.