Another Blockbuster

[sczeebra]

Here is another case play for discussion from our former league commissioner here in SC..
With 38 seconds remaining in the 2nd period, Team A has the ball 1st and 10 at B's 31 yard line. A1 runs for seven yards and is tackled inbounds by the facemask. Team A accepts the penalty, moving the ball to B's 12 yard line with 31 seconds remaining. Team A elects to have the clock started on the ready-for-play. A1 runs the ball again for no gain because an official inadvertently sounds his whistle. Team A chooses to replay the down but requests that the clock start on the snap since that was an option on the original down. Ruling:??

[Stinterp]

Just to be precise, Team A does not elect to start the clock on the ready for play, they elect NOT to start the clock on the snap.
I'm not allowing it,  the rule sates "when a penalty is accepted", it doesn't say you go back to the previous down.  The reason for the clock stoppage is the IW not a penalty.  Once Team A chooses not to start the clock on the snap, then this doesn't change until the next accepted penalty. Why would Team A not want the clock on the snap after the penalty in the first place?

[ElvisLives]

Just to be precise, Team A does not elect to start the clock on the ready for play, they elect NOT to start the clock on the snap.
I'm not allowing it,  the rule sates "when a penalty is accepted", it doesn't say you go back to the previous down.  The reason for the clock stoppage is the IW not a penalty.  Once Team A chooses not to start the clock on the snap, then this doesn't change until the next accepted penalty. Why would Team A not want the clock on the snap after the penalty in the first place?

We don’t know the score. Team A may have been playing for a last minute field goal to, perhaps, safely extend their lead, while leaving no time on the clock for Team B.  But, the unplanned penalty suddenly made a TD more of a possibility, so they need the time to run several downs, hoping to score a TD.
Could be.

[bossman72]

This is definitely a brain teaser and I can see why you would think that way.  For instance, Home team fair catches a punt.  On the first play from scrimmage, the Visitors commit DPI.  You enforce 15 yards and replay the down.  The Home team can now elect to do a fair-catch free kick, since we are replaying the previous down, and that option existed prior to that down.  There is a case play on this.

However, I think the clock is different.  You always go with what happened on the last play that was run, even if the down is repeated. Therefore, I would not give Team A the option.  You have to go with what happened when the last down ended to determine the clock.

[bama_stripes]

I’d make them stay with their original decision.  A “do-over” after an IW puts things back to the same state as if there had never been a snap.

[Ralph Damren]

IMHO, by electing to replay the down after the eager tweeter tweeted, would allow A all the choices available prior to the replay. I base this on a case or dream that once stated a team could change their election to snap/free kick after a fair catch if there was a foul during the play.

OBTW, in my journey to phoning friends from Z to A in my phone book, I'm now down to the D's. I don't feel I should call myself.

[Curious]

Quoting Reddings...

'An IW is a special case (3-4-2c): WHENEVER (my emphasis) the clock is stopped for an errant toot and the down is replayed, it will start on the ready" ...UNLESS (my emphasis) Team B or R is in possession at the time of the IW and chooses to accept the result of the play" (2019, pgs 74 & 173).

[bjfb]

I am in agreement with Mr. Damren. The options are available to Team A if the down is replayed. I too remember reading it somewhere, just can’t find it at the moment.

[bossman72]

...now you guys made me look it up.  (Sorry for the bad OCR in the PDF).  This was highlighted in gray, so interested to see what the verbiage was last year if anybody has an old book.

4.3.7 SITUATION: With the score tied near the end of the fourth period, R1
signals for a fair catch and catches the kick at K's 40. After a time-out, the captain
of R advises the referee that he wishes to put the ball in play by snap. 41 throws a
pass intended for A2. 81 interferes with A2 and the pass is incomplete. Following
administration of the penalty, the captain of R decides to put the ball in play by
free kick from K's 25 as a field goal attempt. RULING: This is permissible and the
game clock will not start until the kick is touched, other than first touching by K.  This
is one of the.times a field,goal may be scored by a free kick. The captain may
request.a time'out prior to making.the decision on whether to snap or free kick. ln
putting the ball in play in this situation, the captain of R is privileged to designate
the point on K's 25, anywhere between the hash mark he wishes ball to be
p!ace{, {.t-4-1, 5-2-4, 6-54)

[GA Umpire]

...now you guys made me look it up.  (Sorry for the bad OCR in the PDF).  This was highlighted in gray, so interested to see what the verbiage was last year if anybody has an old book.

As bad as my proof reading skills are:  The play appears to be word-for-word as in the 2018 case book.
Maybe Ralph can add more background as to why it was shaded in the 2019 book.

[sczeebra]

On our exam this was case play example ruled that A indeed did have that option. IMHO I tend to agree with Stinterp's reasoning irregardless of why A decided not to have the clock start on the snap or not. Rule 4-3-7 deals with the spot and does and should not cover timing rules. Let me take this a bit further. Let's say the foul on the first down play is an unsportsmanlike conduct call with ejection on the coach of either team and that coach was the one who was calling timeouts. So A or B installs a new designee for their team. An IW happens now they change their minds on the coach?? Or on first down A1 gets absolutely blown up with a personal foul on B and the score is out of hand, B is just drilling A so the coaches come together and shorten the game. Same scenario takes place and A's coach changes his mind, you see what I'm getting at. This should be governed by 3-4-2c and start the game clock on the ready-for-play.

[east louis]

there is no option for offended team to start clk on ready for play.only option is SNAP

[KWH]

As bad as my proof reading skills are:  The play appears to be word-for-word as in the 2018 case book.
Maybe Ralph can add more background as to why it was shaded in the 2019 book.

Please don't shoot the messenger boyz, the NFHS simply updated anywhere the Case Book read "clock" to now read either:
play clock or game clock  (Another example is 4.3.3 SITUATION B)

So...The answer to this weeks mystery is...

2018 4.3.7 SITUATION
RULING: This is permissible and the clock will not start until the kick is touched...

2019 4.3.7 SITUATION
RULING: This is permissible and the game clock will not start until the kick is touched...

[Ralph Damren]

I agree with KWH, that the word "game" was felt necessary with so much of discussion about the play clock. Other references of a clock........

Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley and the Comets -cira 1955

Clock watcher - employee or student eager for work or school to end.

...the mouse ran up the clock - a possible response to a coach questioning timing.

Biological clock - baby-making time may be running out.

The clock is ticking....until we can all live normal lives again !

  (5 man crew)

[east louis]

offended team clock option is SNAP 3-4-7

[Mississippi H]

The original question with the IW.  If the team takes the do-over.  The clock starts on the ready.