40 Second Clock After A TD

[theride]

Would you favor a rule change in 2027 to go to a 40 second clock after a TD prior to the try down?  Not sure why it is still 25 seconds now.

[NVFOA_Ump]

No need since the play clock does not start until the RFP following a TD.  See NFHS 2026 Rules - Rule 3, Section 6, Article 1

[bama_stripes]

Solution looking for a problem in HS.  NCAA has this rule to try to shorten games for TV scheduling purposes.

[ElvisLives]

Would you favor a rule change in 2027 to go to a 40 second clock after a TD prior to the try down?  Not sure why it is still 25 seconds now.

For what it is worth, the NCAA uses the ‘automatic’ 40-second for tries, but the snap isn’t permitted until the Replay Official “clears” the touchdown, which quite often takes the play clock down under 25. The R has to ‘pump it up’ to 25, and re-start it, anyway.
Texas used the ‘automatic’ 40-second clock on tries for two seasons, then went back to the 25, started by the R. High school coaches just didn’t want the pressure of having to get their special team out and the ball snapped in 40 seconds. Compounding the difficulty in getting the ball snapped in 40-seconds is not having a full complement of competent ball persons like they have in NCAA games.
And, by the way, Texas also abandoned the 40-second clock following a free kick, as well, for the same reasons.
Since the whole reason for the 40, to begin with, was to satisfy Television’s constant pressure to steal game time, so they can add commercial time, yet keep total ‘program’ time, per game, to a maximum of 3-hours, the 40 is not really needed for high school games.
Think about those things before you make the leap.

[bossman72]

Since the whole reason for the 40, to begin with, was to satisfy Television’s constant pressure to steal game time, so they can add commercial time, yet keep total ‘program’ time, per game, to a maximum of 3-hours, the 40 is not really needed for high school games.

While that may have been a small factor, I think the main reason for the 40 sec clock change was consistency.  Some Rs would verify the down with every official before they chopped it in.  Others would wind it almost immediately.  40 sec takes that inconsistency away.

I agree the 40 sec clock after a TD and after a KO are not needed in HS.  They were meant to reduce celebration time after a TD and prevent teams from huddling on the sideline forever after a kickoff.  Not necessarily a huge problem in HS.

[ncwingman]

No need since the play clock does not start until the RFP following a TD.  See NFHS 2026 Rules - Rule 3, Section 6, Article 1

That's the whole point of the question here. Would you support 40 seconds after the ball becomes dead on the touchdown, rather than 25 seconds after the RFP?

Personally, I agree with bama here - solution looking for a problem. I wouldn't think it would be a problem if it changed, but it's not needed other than "Well, that's what they do on TV!"

Actually, for some of the games I do (especially JV) it might be a problem. Teams getting their special teams/field goal units out is often.... challenging, let's say.

[ElvisLives]

While that may have been a small factor, I think the main reason for the 40 sec clock change was consistency.  Some Rs would verify the down with every official before they chopped it in.  Others would wind it almost immediately.  40 sec takes that inconsistency away.

I agree the 40 sec clock after a TD and after a KO are not needed in HS.  They were meant to reduce celebration time after a TD and prevent teams from huddling on the sideline forever after a kickoff.  Not necessarily a huge problem in HS.

Sorry, I meant for the Try and the first scrimmage down after a free kick. Yes, the 40-seconds first arrived in 2008, and was, as you said, a mechanism to provide greater consistency in the RFP period (which it has done). 40 on the Try and first scrimmage down following a free kick were added 10-years later (2018), in response to TV whining about how long it took to get those downs played.
For what it is worth, average total NCAA game time in 2018 was 3:24. In 2025, 3:26. And not stopping the clock on first downs, was added a couple of years ago. Sorry, TV, long games are YOUR fault, not the game rules.

[lawdog]

There was no need for the 40 anywhere in high school ball, except I guess where some R's were no good (which if that is the case the clock is probably the least of the problems in their games).

Regardless. we don't need to mindlessly adopt another NCAA rule.

[zebrastripes]

Using :40 after a TD/the first down following a free kick only meets its intended purpose (getting teams out faster) if you have a visible play clock, which a lot of schools don’t. I would also imagine that when you’re dealing with volunteer clock operators, eliminating the amount of “pumps” needed by the R is probably a good idea.

Solution in search of a problem at the HS level.

[bama_stripes]

Is it common to have non-official PCOs?  Our state allows it, but we have only one contracted school that uses one, and he’s a retired former official.

[zebrastripes]

It’s very common in my area for schools with visible play clocks to ask the assigner to provide a game clock operator but use their “own” play clock operator. I guess the idea is that if the non-official PCO keeps screwing up, it’s easier to keep the PC on the field than the GC.

[SCline]

No