Preliminary Signals

[jg-me]

While there is no guideline that is going to cover every scenario, I think the following advice works for most NF/youth penalty situations.
If the timing of the prelim signal and the final signal would occur virtually consecutively, pass on the prelim. It looks smoother and more professional this way. If the timing is such that there will be some pause between the two signals, by all means give both.

[Ralph Damren]

Back in 1996, when NFHS changed COP timing rules to start on snap, there became a loud  uproar that games were now taking WAY TOO LONG.Armed with clipboard, stop watch and coffee jug, I went to a local game to find out for myself why the games were WAY TOO LONG. My discovery was : (1) Elapsed time between TD and ensuing kickoff was approx 4 :30. Typical scenario : (a) Bubba scores a TD; (b) teammates slap him on back,cheerleaders prance,band plays school song; (b) Hans is on for the PAT; (c) Hans kicks the ball into the pucker brush; (d) U  is sent in to retrieve ball ; (e) Band plays again as players huddle on sidelines ; (f) U gives ball to BJ and Zebras assume their positions; (g) L & U need to remind sidelines there some more game to play.  Six TDs in a game will lengthen it by 30 minutes. (2) The COP rule change added approx 10 minutes to the game - remember that incomplete passes or OOB on 4th down as well as fair catches always had started the clock on the snap, anyhow; and rarely did the new team on offense use their full :25. Moral of story : An extra signal here and there won't shorten the game much, but moving quickly from TD to kickoff will . l/color]

[TampaSteve]

Back in 1996, when NFHS changed COP timing rules to start on snap, there became a loud  uproar that games were now taking WAY TOO LONG.Armed with clipboard, stop watch and coffee jug, I went to a local game to find out for myself why the games were WAY TOO LONG. My discovery was : (1) Elapsed time between TD and ensuing kickoff was approx 4 :30. Typical scenario : (a) Bubba scores a TD; (b) teammates slap him on back,cheerleaders prance,band plays school song; (b) Hans is on for the PAT; (c) Hans kicks the ball into the pucker brush; (d) U  is sent in to retrieve ball ; (e) Band plays again as players huddle on sidelines ; (f) U gives ball to BJ and Zebras assume their positions; (g) L & U need to remind sidelines there some more game to play.  Six TDs in a game will lengthen it by 30 minutes. (2) The COP rule change added approx 10 minutes to the game - remember that incomplete passes or OOB on 4th down as well as fair catches always had started the clock on the snap, anyhow; and rarely did the new team on offense use their full :25. Moral of story : An extra signal here and there won't shorten the game much, but moving quickly from TD to kickoff will . l/color]

...not to mention too the increase of passing attempts and these going incomplete at a rate of +/-70% for some.

[VALJ]

Tuesday Trivia Tester  : There are 2 fouls that require three signals, who can name 'em the quickest .. start the clock .......

One of them is a 15-yard sideline interference...  Dead-ball signal for a nonplayer foul, then sideline interference signal, then USC signal. 

Is the other one a USC for improper or missing equipment?

[Ralph Damren]

One of them is a 15-yard sideline interference...  Dead-ball signal for a nonplayer foul, then sideline interference signal, then USC signal. 

Is the other one a USC for improper or missing equipment?

Very close, VALJ, The "had enough" sideline interference call (3rd or more) and the failure to wear proper equipment PRIOR to the snap,where it's :dead ball - delay of game - failure to wear... . If big ole' Bubba spits out his mouthpiece that protects his one remaining tooth = failure to wear..during the down = noncontact foul - failure to wear... . "Prior to.." is in the delay of game family so that clock will always start on the snap , preventing a player from spitting out mouthpiece or popping chinstrap and another : 25 to run off the clock. "...during the down" is treated as a penalty to be enforced at succeeding spot. Nats & Sox in  the WS?

[bama_stripes]

Tuesday Trivia Tester  : There are 2 fouls that require three signals, who can name 'em the quickest .. start the clock .......

One is:  Delay of game for equipment violation.

[VALJ]

:dead ball - delay of game - failure to wear

You know, I should have remembered that one.  That was the very first penalty I ever had to signal in a game as a white hat, in an 8th grade game.  I botched the signal, though - signalled dead ball - delay of game - illegal helmet contact.  Oops...

Worst part for me was that my umpire threw the flag, came in and told me what he had, and then walked away before I could ask him if he knew the signal.  I think he was trying to test me...

[prab]

Some odds & ends...... (1) a delay of game foul late in a period may be declined so the clock can start on the RFP if the previous play allowed; (2) Signal #7 - dead ball - will advise the coaches, press box, fans and the such that the foul occured after the play finished so the down wouldn't be replayed . Tuesday Trivia Tester  : There are 2 fouls that require three signals, who can name 'em the quickest .. start the clock .......

Ralph,

I think that there are more than two fouls which require three signals.  Any foul by B, after a touchdown by A and before the ready for play signal for the try, for which A chooses enforcement on the kick off, would require the dead ball signal, the signal for the actual foul and the signal indicating that the enforcement would be on the kick off. 

[Atlanta Blue]

There are plenty of others:

3 and 4, defense encroaches.

1.  Encroachment
2.  Against the defense
3.  First down

[Ralph Damren]

Prab & AB : Good points. I wasn't counting either the pointing or the indication of down, but merely using the signal listings under the Penalty Summary in last year's RB p.93. I should have been more clear.