40 Second Clock and Equipment Repair

[Badger1]

Ralph, just wondering what was discussed with this.  Last season we were instructed to delay the ready for play signal to allow a player to fix certain items that became defective due to the last play such as fastening all chin straps, completely covering all of the shoulder pad/knee pads and the player was allowed to stay in the game.  If we discovered these items after the ready for play and the snap was imminent we were to stop the ready for play clock and send him out.  With the new 40 second clock, what was discussed or what procedure is the NFHS expecting us to follow?   

[Magician]

Ralph, just wondering what was discussed with this.  Last season we were instructed to delay the ready for play signal to allow a player to fix certain items that became defective due to the last play such as fastening all chin straps, completely covering all of the shoulder pad/knee pads and the player was allowed to stay in the game.  If we discovered these items after the ready for play and the snap was imminent we were to stop the ready for play clock and send him out.  With the new 40 second clock, what was discussed or what procedure is the NFHS expecting us to follow?   

Technically you shouldn't stop the clock to allow for repair. If they can't get it fixed they should get off the field. But if you are going to do that, you have now taken an administrative stop so when you are ready, set the clock to 25 and wind it when ready. The only time it will be 40 is if you are going from one scrimmage play to another with no administrative stop.

[Badger1]

I understand that they should have the responsibility to stay legal but most times last season they didn't know they had a chinstrap unfastened or their uniform wasn't in compliance (especially kneepads) and we can no longer flag these violations.

[Magician]

I understand that they should have the responsibility to stay legal but most times last season they didn't know they had a chinstrap unfastened or their uniform wasn't in compliance (especially kneepads) and we can no longer flag these violations.

If they can't fix it send them off per the new rule last year. Fastening a chin strap or pulling down your pants are pretty easy fixes to make during the dead ball period.

[bossman72]

Kill it
Send him off
Pump it to 25
Start it

[bbeagle]

Team B has no timeouts.

3rd and 10 for team A. 4th quarter :45 left on clock.

Team A play takes 6 seconds, gains 3 yards. 4th and 7. Clock at :39.
:40 play clock starts... Team A doesn't need to take another snap.

:38.. :37... :36... player B65 is down and injured, not getting up.

Say this was a real injury (not a fake)... do we call an injury time-out and start the play clock at :25, now giving Team B life again?

[Kalle]

Say this was a real injury (not a fake)... do we call an injury time-out and start the play clock at :25, now giving Team B life again?

The committee might want to think about following NCAA here, where the play clock is always set to 40 if it is stopped for a team B injury. Takes away any attempt to fake injuries to gain an unfair clock advantage. And yes, this does create a minor problem if the play clock started with the game clock at say :50 with the official noticing the injury at :40.

[KWH]

Answer to bbeagle: Yes the play clock would be set to 25 for the administrative stoppage. The game clock would start on the ready and YES A would need to snap the ball one more time.

Answer to Kalle: See Rules 1-1-6 and 3-4-6
I know thats not the answer you want to hear, but, that is the hand we are dealt for 2019.

 

[bossman72]

Answer to bbeagle: Yes the play clock would be set to 25 for the administrative stoppage. The game clock would start on the ready and YES A would need to snap the ball one more time.

Answer to Kalle: See Rules 1-1-6 and 3-4-6
I know thats not the answer you want to hear, but, that is the hand we are dealt for 2019.

 

Could we consider using 3-4-6 to make the play clock 40 seconds?

[Magician]

Team B has no timeouts.

3rd and 10 for team A. 4th quarter :45 left on clock.

Team A play takes 6 seconds, gains 3 yards. 4th and 7. Clock at :39.
:40 play clock starts... Team A doesn't need to take another snap.

:38.. :37... :36... player B65 is down and injured, not getting up.

Say this was a real injury (not a fake)... do we call an injury time-out and start the play clock at :25, now giving Team B life again?

This is no different than today with the 25-second clock.

[bbeagle]

This is no different than today with the 25-second clock.

Completely different.

Today, if the RFP is blown in with :39 left, Team A must put the ball into play.
In Fall 2019, if the RFP is blown in with :39 left, Team A does NOT need to put the ball into play.

Today, if the RFP is blown in with less time than the play clock starts at, and an injury occurs, Team A STILL does NOT need to snap the ball.
In Fall 2019, if the RFP is blown in with less time than the play clock starts at, and an injury occurs, Team A MIGHT need to snap the ball.

[bossman72]

Today, if the RFP is blown in with :39 left, Team A must put the ball into play.
In Fall 2019, if the RFP is blown in with :39 left, Team A does NOT need to put the ball into play.

If the RFP is blown with :39 left (25 sec clock), then you have until :14 to get a DOG.  So I'm assuming the play ends around :55 seconds or so left in the game.  You're comparing two different scenarios.

Today, if the RFP is blown in with less time than the play clock starts at, and an injury occurs, Team A STILL does NOT need to snap the ball.
In Fall 2019, if the RFP is blown in with less time than the play clock starts at, and an injury occurs, Team A MIGHT need to snap the ball.

Again, different scenarios.

You're assuming that the play ends with about :39 seconds on the game clock.
Player goes down with injury at say :30.

Before the rule change, you'd still have to chop it in and they have to snap it.
With the rule change, you'd still have to chop it in and they have to snap it.

[Magician]

Completely different.

Today, if the RFP is blown in with :39 left, Team A must put the ball into play.
In Fall 2019, if the RFP is blown in with :39 left, Team A does NOT need to put the ball into play.

Today, if the RFP is blown in with less time than the play clock starts at, and an injury occurs, Team A STILL does NOT need to snap the ball.
In Fall 2019, if the RFP is blown in with less time than the play clock starts at, and an injury occurs, Team A MIGHT need to snap the ball.

In that comparison the previous play ended at two different times. You don't "blow a RFP" with a 40-second clock. It starts when the previous play ends. In your example if the previous play ended with 39 seconds left, they don't have to snap it. With a 25-second play clock you are going to have 12-15 seconds before the play clock will be started. Without the injury you are likely to start the 25 after the game clock reaches 25. The challenge is one team is going to want you start it before and the other will want you to start it after and one of them will accuse you of cheating them depending on when you do it. With the 40-second play clock that issue goes away. If you realize with 36 seconds left a player is injured under either situation you are going to set it to 25 and start it when he's been replaced under either rule. In both cases it results in the offense having to run another play.

So this scenario with the play ending with 39 seconds and the injury be recognized with 36 seconds would be handled identically in both scenarios. The NCAA version of this rule would set the play clock to 40 after the injury and wind it so the game would still end. That was done to prevent the defense from gaining a clock advantage due to their injury whether was legitimate or not.

[KWH]

Could we consider using 3-4-6 to make the play clock 40 seconds?

Unfortunately, Not per the 2019 Rules Book!
I feel quite confident if it becomes an issue, it will be addressed. (I am having dreams of a rash defensive helmets coming completely off in the last 40 seconds    )
Should it occur, I would follow the written rule since video of such a situation would be the very best way to get the change approved.

[Magician]

Unfortunately, Not per the 2019 Rules Book!
I feel quite confident if it becomes an issue, it will be addressed. (I am having dreams of a rash defensive helmets coming completely off in the last 40 seconds    )
Should it occur, I would follow the written rule as video of such a situation would be the best way to get the change approved.

I wouldn't be opposed to this change (same with defensive injuries) but in 3 years of experimenting, we never had an issue with a team gaining an advantage because of a helmet off. Granted the average margin of victory is 24 points and only 2-3 games per season are within 1 score at the end. If a team gains an advantage from it (even if accidental) I would expect to see a change.