40/25 Clock Coming to Texas HS Football

[Ump62]

Tweet from Corbett Smith ‏@corbettsmithDMN
Big change for #txhsfb: UIL will move to current NCAA 40-second play clock for the 2014 season, moving away from 25-second clock.

[ETXZebra]

It's been talked for a couple years, maybe it's going happen. In some places the 25 second clock has been terrible, but the 40/25 could be a train wreck.

[Ump62]

Sounds like a done deal, Smith was reporting from the UIL meetings in Austin today.

[Cowman52]

If it came out of UIL meeting, then some how some one figured a way to make money off of it.

[Joe Stack]

The legislative council and athletics committee met today. The LC heard from TASO's Fitch and the various coaches association's bigwigs. Everyone short of Tom Landry's ghost. I didn't see the football coaches association listed but DW Rutledge spoke for one group -- is he a football guy?

Anyway, I think we've discussed this on here. Generally favorable move but there will be some implementation issues, particularly at the subvarsity level. The only thing is, there won't be much of a fudge factor here. Several years ago, I was the R in a blowout game and I took a LOT of time between plays to blow the ready. The losing team's QB would go halfway to the bench for the play and I waited until he got to the huddle to blow the ready. Clock was running, of course, and we were darn near a minute between plays. With that said, we probably had spotted the ball within 5-6 seconds, so running 34-35 seconds after that wouldn't have been much different than what I did.

[Arbitrator]

 

Had heard some time ago that their plan was to first implement it at the Class 5A-4A level as a test run, and then move it on to the lower classifications accordingly, within a year or two!   

[TxSkyBolt]

From an officials standpoint, this is an easy migration...especially since the timing rules will not change (no starting the game clock after an OOB play, no difference in 2:00 or 1:00 in a half, no 10-second zaps).

[Kalle]

We used the 40/25 for the first season here in Finland this year. I was pretty sceptic about using it on the lower levels where we never have visible play clocks, but it was surprisingly easy to adopt, even for the referee (who has the play clock).

[TxSkyBolt]

I think maybe the only slight challenge is for the crew to learn when the 25/40 is used (ie injuries, helmets off, penalty enforcments, etc)

[DallasLJ]

Saw an article today on the Dallas Morning News that this is going to be "optional" by the home team to use the new play clock.  If this is so, there could be much confusion.  Some districts with the 40/25, some not, what about non-district.  Maybe a district uses the 40/25 for Varsity, but the usual 25 second clock for subvarsity.

  This could be another cluster @!%$&!.  Either in or out -- but please not sometimes.

[Welpe]

Optional?! I pray that is just bad reporting. Good grief that's going to be a goat rodeo.

[Arbitrator]

 

I could well see  Manor Road  allowing each 5A and 4A district the option of using it for all of their district games, and for allowing each team the option of using it on their home field for their non-district games. But I think the tradeoff is going to be the UIL's adoption of it for all upper level playoff games.

I'm sure that they will worry about the 3A through 1A classifications going to the new 40 second shot clock, probably sometime in the next realignment process.   

[Joe Stack]

There's no chance it will used only at the 5A/4A level and not at others. How would you deal with games between 4A and lower classification schools? Also, what was meant by not using it means the play clock would essentially be ignored like it currently is in most subvarsity games. If one team tries to abuse it, the officials can have one guy time it but for the most part, it won't be a part of the game.

[TXMike]

Apparently the statement made by Mark Cousins at the LC meeting was just an informational thing and not made with any great detail.  Since it is a playing rule change, they (LC) is not involved.  It will have to be written and implemented by the Football Rules Committee when they meet in the Spring.   Since it is still optional for stadiums to even have a visible 25 second clock, then it will likely still be optional they have a VISIBLE 40 second clock.  Does not mean it will be optional whether they want to go with 25 second play clock or 40 second play clock, just means that actually having the visible play clock is optional.  Whatever the UIL decides to go with, 25 or 40 , should be the rule for all classifications.  I understand there may be a sentiment to keep that at the varsity level but hopefully they will just adopt it for all levels of play. As for "running the clock", I think we will still be able to handle that "informally" between the crew and the timer by handling in pregame.  (Assuming UIL does not act and implement a "mercy rule" after the 91-0 game this season).  Once we get to "blowout" , the timer could hold the start of the 40 second clock until the R gives a RFP.