All too often I hear people refer to the try as an “untimed down.” While it is true the game clock does not run, by rule, the try is not an “untimed down.” An untimed down is one during which, unlike a try down, the game clock would run, under ordinary circumstances, but, will be played during the extension of a period, therefore the game clock will not run.
Playing the try, or any other down, in the extension of a period is intended to ensure neither team is aided or hindered by changing ends of the field to play the down. Otherwise, in some circumstances, Team A might deliberately foul, to force a repeat of the down with the benefit of wind in the opposite direction from the original down. Or Team B might deliberately foul to force a repeat of a down with the wind hindering Team A.
Also, many, many years ago, before the requirement to provide referee field microphones, to aid clock operators in understanding that the period is being extended and the game clock is not to run, the “untimed down” signal (S1*) was created, in case the GCO couldn’t figure out that the game clock shouldn’t run on the next down (even though the teams were not changing ends of the field). While it is helpful for that purpose, sadly, I see some referees incorrectly using that signal on try downs. No. That signal is only for downs that would normally be timed, but are being played in the extension of a period. No game clock.
