Take a look at 2018 POE (pace of Play and Timing Issues). Especially as the 40-second play clock adoption gains momentum, IMHO this will become more important...but, right now I'm going to interpret it as the right thing to do
In all honesty, does the absence of a "40 second clock" cause ANY problems, than an effective Referee has been unable to easily and consistently avoid, for the last 100, or so, years? Is it really needed, or something we've been told must be necessary to appear "up-to-date"?
For a game, so popular to attract participants from age 8/10 - 50+, of intense physical contact and complexity, it seems appropriate that significant differences, in both the participant maturity and developed skills be designed and incorporated in specific rule sets, to accommodate those inherent, unique differences, and intended to minimize and/or avoid problems, at their respective levels.
The
NFHS 2018-19 "Game Officials Manual Points of Emphasis" (pgs 86-87) Suggests the following, "While regularity and consistency is the responsibility of every game official on the field, the Referee likely has the most effect on this procedure. Situations occur such as the R being overly patient for a QB receiving the play call from the coach at the sideline or other crew members unevenly hurrying to retrieve the ball as time declines near the end of a half.
Such practices, as inadvertent as they may be, project an inappropriate attitude of bias towards one team, or the other and additionally subtract from the fairness of the game". It then goes on to review the recommended procedures to follow for "Marking the ball RFP", which are intended to minimize, or avoid, these problems..
More advanced levels of the game have determined that an ability to match an opponents substituting may be appropriate to prevent creation of a specific, relevant and intentional disadvantage.