I have watched a lot of games this weekend and noticed some things:
1 - There are still lots of helmets coming off
2 - Most of the players pick up the hat and head for the sidelines immediately so I guess they got the word
But watching the GT-VT game tonite I saw something that could be problematic. The GT QB lost his helmet on a run and quickly put it back on before he got up. He went to the huddle and was waiting for the play to come in with a subbing receiver when the R sent him off. The L had signalled for clock to stop, I assume to get him off the field, when he saw helmet off at the end of the play. But the 40 sec clock was running . That should not happen should it? Shouldn't we go with a 25 sec clock and start it and game clock once the sub comes in? (40 secs if it was a defender's hat).
I, too, was surprised at the number of helmets still coming off. I guess it will take someone losing a game by a 10-second subtraction to get people's full attention.
But, yes, the game and play clocks should be stopped, and the play clock will be set to 25 (in this case). That is another benefit of an announcement that the player may not participate in the next down. I.e., if the PCO isn't immediately aware to stop the play clock and reset (to either 25 or 40), then the announcement should do the job. If not, the R needs to make another announcement, directly to the PCO, to set the play clock to (25 / 40) and start it on his signal.
Suggested language for both:
"The helmet of #11, offense, came off during the play. He may not participate in the next down."
"Play clock operator: Please set the play clock to 25 seconds, and start it on my signal." (Clock gets re-set.) "Thank you."
