Dealing with a lesser experienced clock operator...

[Official_21]

I haven't encountered this situation yet in my nine years of being a clock operator, but wanted some advice on how to deal with the situation below, should the need arise.

I am just wondering what should I do if I come across a fellow clock operator who doesn't have a clue on what they are doing?
My helpful nature would tell me to try and help out my fellow clock operator, but for me to juggle two tasks is difficult for me, as I have to focus on my job.
Should I just carry on and then let the R (or Game Admin) know at half time?

In other words, what is the best way of handling the above situation.

[TxJim]

Help him out best you can but don't fall down on your job on the game clock doing so.
If it is really bad, we can pick it up on the field with the B, try and fix it at the half.
But, most I've seen with a problem come along and pick it up as the game progresses.

I think TASO has published a timing aid on page 17 of the Chain Clock Mechanic.
Ideally, if you had a copy of Page 17, it would have most all he would ever need.
Print off and carry some extra copies for that rainy day.

As an R, yeah, I want to know what the problem is, so at the half if you both come down to the locker room, we straighten in out together as a team.

Not every problem is a timer's issue.
Had a game a few years back where me and the crew were convinced the timers didn't know what they were doing.
Turns out the scoreboard system had been hit by lightning earlier in the week and neither the timers nor the school realized it until investigating after the game.

[Official_21]

Not every problem is a timer's issue.
Had a game a few years back where me and the crew were convinced the timers didn't know what they were doing.
Turns out the scoreboard system had been hit by lightning earlier in the week and neither the timers nor the school realized it until investigating after the game.

I've had that happen at a game I was working a year or two ago.
The lights and scoreboard went out all of a sudden, although I don't recall if it was due to a power outage or if there was lightning in the area. The crew suspended the game while the situation was being worked on.
Eventually the power was restored and the game was resumed.

[TxJim]

I had distracted timers more often than inexperienced ones I think. I don't know what the issue was, but over the years, I've been in games where the timers were distracted by something for periods of time or several consecutive plays, making it frustrating working the game on the field. More than a few times it seemed to occur when the air was heavy with BBQ from the booster club concession and we knew they had food up in the press box.  I have often had this thought for a game comment to the assigner, but have never sent it in...

It would be pure speculation to presume that the powerful BBQ aroma that enveloped the field had also manifested in sandwich form in the press-box and was so irresistable and so dangerously juicy that having the timers put it down to pay attention to the game would have been cruel and unusual punishment... and when the call to duty presented from the field, neither greasy thumb nor index finger could overcome the timer switch—leaving it stubbornly unmoved and unbothered by the occurrence of a snap, a signal, or an official's whistle.

[Official_21]

I had distracted timers more often than inexperienced ones I think. I don't know what the issue was, but over the years, I've been in games where the timers were distracted by something for periods of time or several consecutive plays, making it frustrating working the game on the field. More than a few times it seemed to occur when the air was heavy with BBQ from the booster club concession and we knew they had food up in the press box.  I have often had this thought for a game comment to the assigner, but have never sent it in...

It would be pure speculation to presume that the powerful BBQ aroma that enveloped the field had also manifested in sandwich form in the press-box and was so irresistable and so dangerously juicy that having the timers put it down to pay attention to the game would have been cruel and unusual punishment... and when the call to duty presented from the field, neither greasy thumb nor index finger could overcome the timer switch—leaving it stubbornly unmoved and unbothered by the occurrence of a snap, a signal, or an official's whistle.

That's a good one

[TxJim]

TASO posted a timer guide under "Football Information & Season Updates"