Rule 4, Section 5, Article 1
Item 4: Unsportsmanlike Conduct. An attempt to call an excess team timeout or to call a second timeout in the same dead-ball period by Team B in an attempt to "freeze" a kicker, will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct and will subject the offending team to a 15-yard penalty (See 12-3). This will apply to field goals or Try attempts.
Note: If an attempt is made to call a timeout in such a situation, the officials shall not grant a timeout; instead, play will continue, and a penalty will be called, with customary enforcement. If a timeout is inadvertently granted, the penalty shall also be enforced. See 12-3-1-v.
Rule 12, Section 3
Article 1 There shall be no unsportsmanlike conduct. This applies to any act which is contrary to the
generally understood principles of sportsmanship. Such acts specifically include, among others:
FREEZING THE KICKER
(v) An attempt to call an excess or illegal timeout to freeze a kicker prior to a field-goal attempt or a Try
attempt, when:
(i) a team has already been charged a timeout during the same dead ball period; or
(ii) a team has exhausted the three charged team timeouts that are permitted in a half.
If an attempt is made to call a timeout in these situations, the officials shall not grant a timeout, play will continue, and a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be enforced. If a timeout is inadvertently granted, the penalty shall also be enforced.
Note: The Referee (or another official) will notify the Head Coach (i) that two charged timeouts by the same team in the same dead ball period are not permitted, and (ii) when he has exhausted his three charged team timeouts in a half.
