Question of the day

[El Macman]

B33 intercepts A11's pass, advances to the 50, and fumbles the ball. A88 recovers on the 50, and is tackled (ball declared dead) inbounds, with 6:00 in the second period.

Ruling (include status of game clock and play clock, with rule support):

PS No credit without rule support. 

[Kirby]

A 1/10, 50. (5-1-1-e-1)
Game clock: Ready. (3-3-2-d-3; 3-3-2-e-1)
Play clock: 40. (3-2-4-c - clock was stopped to award new series, not because of change of possession)

I would have started on snap with 25 sec play clock prior to looking it up. Thank you.

[Atlanta Blue]

"A-B-A, on the ready for play"

3-3-2-e-1

[Kalle]

I concur if the pass was a legal forward pass If it was an illegal one, then team B probably (but not necessarily) accepts the penalty, five yards and loss of down from the spot of the foul. Rule 7-3-2-penalty.

[El Macman]

No question the game clock starts on the 'ready.'

I also thought the play clock should be a 40, started when the ball becomes dead. But, what purpose does 3-2-4-c-6 serve, if it doesn't apply here?

Perhaps I am giving too much credit to those that write/edit the rules, but, historically, the editors, in particular, have been very careful with rule language. If 3-2-4-c-6 was to only apply to an award of a first down to B, then I think they would have said, "Team B first down." But, then, I also would have thought they'd have said, "Change of team possession" (not just change of possession - there is a difference). Strictly as written, we'd go with a 25 every time there was a simple change of player possession during the down! Obviously, that is not correct.

So, at this point, I'm not sure if an 'A-B-A' is a 25 or a 40 second play clock. From experience, I would like to see it be 25. We are going to stop the game clock to award A a first down. While that is no different than if they simply advanced for a first down, the difference in an A-B-A situation is the fact that such plays
1) tend to create a much greater intermingling of opponents when the play is over (requiring time by officials to ensure 'separation');
2) players tend to be scattered over a greater area of the field (also requiring time by officials to ensure observe and ensure there are no improprieties until they get on their respective sides of the NZ);
3) game officials have to move greater distances to handle and spot the ball;

All of these 'tendencies' almost always result in an increased amount of time needed to get the ball spotted, often pushing 20 on the play clock. Teams tend to be slower in makiing personnel changes, and getting plays called, which results in a much greater risk of a delay foul.

Such downs are not much different than a scrimmage kick down (which, by rule, is followed with a 25-second play clock, regardless of which team will next put the ball in play). Since Team A can't snap the ball until the R signals - after the ball is spotted - it would seem that it is everyone's best interest to go with a 25 every time there is a change of team possession during a down.

[jg-me]

See Bulletin #6 from 2010, play #8. Game clock on RFP, play clock at 40 sec.

[Andrew McCarthy]

There a lot of long crazy plays that don't involve a change of team possession and we don't think twice about going with a 40.  A-B-A should be 40.  If we don't get the ball down then we bump it up like any other play.

[El Macman]

See Bulletin #6 from 2010, play #8. Game clock on RFP, play clock at 40 sec.

I knew somebody would do the research so I woudn't have to! 

Seriously, thanks for digging that out. I thought there might be one somewhere, but I hadn't come across it yet.

Here is what prompted the discussion. In a normal season, you might see an A-B-A once. I saw a bowl game in which it happened TWICE in the one game. Both times the PCO set the play clock to 25, and waited for the R's RFP signal to start it for the next play. The R was certain it was supposed to be a 'natural 40,' but realized that stopping the game to correct the play clock would have been a wasteful interruption of the game, with little benefit or real difference (versus just starting both clocks on his signal when the ball was spotted - the net result would have been about the same). But, it did get him back into the rule book to review play clock protocols. As a result, 3-2-4-c-6 is revealed to be lacking in clarity. Better language might be "A Team B first down."