Anyone hear anymore rumors on...

[Joe Stack]

...Texas HS going to the 40 second clock next year? Coop said in a regional clinic it might happen.

Would it work much differently in games (mostly SV) that don't use a clock (or at least not a hard one)?

[WABill]

Great, just great.  Homer on the clock cant do 25 seconds correctly.  Now he has to think 25 or 40?  Huge charlie foxtrot.

[Hank]

Homer?  Heck, we had officials that couldn't do a very good job of running either a play or game clock this year.  I've not heard that rumor and think it could really cause more harm than good if true.

[Arbitrator]

 

I just cannot quite see  Manor Road conscripting all of the Supes to go out and invest in an upgrade to their existing "shot clocks" taking into exception that there are still some of those poorer school districts that simply can't afford to even have the basic equipment; exception being, of course, that  Manor Road ardently feels that all of the Texas school districts are busy churning out UIL-type revenue!   

[TexDoc]

What I can see happening is that we utilize a 40 sec clock in those stadiums where they are installed and revert to the old 25 sec clock in those stadiums that don't have the 40 sec clock yet.  This could go on for a few years.  If you remember, it took quite a while for most stadiums to get a visible 25 second clock and we just adjusted to the situation.

The question will be, when the play clock goes out or when there isn't one, are we going to use the 40 second clock?

[Joe Stack]

If they do that, the back judge belt timers will get a bit more sophisticated. Not sure how you can switch from 25 to 40 on a watch -- some have multi settings, but screwing around with that pre-snap is a prescription for disaster.

Regardless of going to the 40, I hope HS will adopt the out of bounds rule as written -- start on the ready except when under 2.

[TXMike]

You can forget about starting on the ready.  Texas HS coaches are not going to go for anything that cuts the game time down any further.

[Coby]

Come on guys you are all thinking like coaches.

You can get a Ipad app that does the shot clock game clock etc. for 99 cents
You can project it on each end of the end zone. (Just borrow 2 LED projectors from the library on game day)
Get 2 screens and you are set.  You could even run commercials on the screens during timeouts and before the game.  The days of a traditional "Clock" are going the way of the dodo bird.


Coby

[TexDoc]

Coby, 

Believe it or not, there are small towns in Texas where they still have not heard the work "IPad."  This isn't a solution.  Schools are strapped for money right now and no way people are going to go for this type of expenditure in most communities.  And like Mike said, anything that shortens the game, the coaches will not be for.

[Etref]

I went to a clinic with Cooper as the instructor earlier in the summer. He told us then that the THSCA and UIL wanted to go to the 40 sec clock for this past year but due to lack of time to train it did not happen.

Probably the most frequent coach complaint is lack of consistency from crew to crew in making the ball ready. They want a pattern to be established and go from game to game. The 40 sec. clock will do that.

But like I have said before ( and told Cooper) there is no way we can do it with 7 year old ball boys. The five man crew will make it more difficult also because if that wing official will be more concerned about getting a ball in play than watching dead ball action as he should.


Just my $.02

[TXMike]

Maybe this is another chip we can use in the selling of 7 man crews.   If you want a 40 second play clock, you have to agree to a 7 man crew, understanding there are some chapters where this is just not possible. 

[TexDoc]

Rick,

I think that is very much wishful thinking on Coop's part.  I don't know anyone that represents high school coaches or AD's that has come out with that statement.  In fact, what I've heard is to the contrary, most coaches do not like it.  But then again, most coaches don't like any kind of changes.

It would be interesting to see what DW and the THSCA thinks about it.

Personally, I would really like to see it.  It would mean better consistency in preventing teams from taking too long between plays and help move the games along.

[Hank]

What I've noticed is that coaches want more time when they're on offense and less time when they're on defense.  Little surprise there.  They want what benefits them.  A 40 second clock would standardize everything but is unlikely soon IMO due to the expense and training needed. 

Right now, how often do you have a 25 second clock for a SV game?  I don't think I've had one yet after 10+ years.  What do you do?  I generally look at the clock and blow the ready on some multiple of 5 if it's running.  If not, I use my watch.  Then, I give the teams 30 seconds to get a play off.  Why the extra 5?  Because they can't SEE a clock.

So, what do you do if we're on a 40 second clock?  It's a logistical nightmare without an actual clock.

[TexDoc]

I have never had a 25 sec clock in a SV.  Had a game once where the timer wanted to run it, but we quickly nixed that idea!  Usually in SV I take an extra few seconds before blowing the RFP, and give them about as much time as they need, if the clock is running.  Of course, you can't give them too much without causing problems.  Those 7th graders are lucking to line up on the right side of the ball, much less do it in 40 seconds or less.

[Birddog]

As mentioned already with the five man limitations, and ball boys we will also have to be very alert to offensive subs which means the defense shall have opportunity to match.  If we do  go to 40 sec clock some of the spread type offenses will be wanting to snap pretty quickly.  In 7 man the deep wings are pretty good at helping out by watching for subs and alerting the crew via the arms extended straight out signal. We already try our best to watch for subs and hold up the D if necessary, but with 40 sec clock it will be imperative that we know if the offense sub in.

[mccormicw]

As I watching a few playoff games, I noticed that some referees were taking at least 20 seconds to blow the ready and sometimes longer than 25 seconds.  Our crew tried to get the ball ready somewhere around 10 seconds.  What should be the standard?

[Hank]

I've always been told and aim for 12 - 15 seconds.  If you do maintain a 15 second pace, that plus the 25 gets 40 seconds between plays.

[texref]

As I watching a few playoff games, I noticed that some referees were taking at least 20 seconds to blow the ready and sometimes longer than 25 seconds.  Our crew tried to get the ball ready somewhere around 10 seconds.  What should be the standard?

We work what I call an up tempo game. I base mine off of the Umpire spotting the ball. Generally 3 seconds after he spots the the ball I blow it ready for play (as long as my crewmates are in position). I cover that with Coaches in pre game. We rarely have a DOG.

[TexDoc]

We work what I call an up tempo game. I base mine off of the Umpire spotting the ball. Generally 3 seconds after he spots the the ball I blow it ready for play (as long as my crewmates are in position). I cover that with Coaches in pre game. We rarely have a DOG.

Agree, about 15 seconds from dead ball to RFP.

[Arbitrator]

 

Same here! If a DOG ever comes about, then with rare exception, it's going to be the offense deliberately just letting the shot clock run itself down!   

[TXMike]

12 - 15 and it is written in a mechanics manual somewhere

[Hank]

We work what I call an up tempo game. I base mine off of the Umpire spotting the ball. Generally 3 seconds after he spots the the ball I blow it ready for play (as long as my crewmates are in position). I cover that with Coaches in pre game. We rarely have a DOG.

WOW!  3 seconds!  I've watched some other crews and thought they work fast also (not sure I've ever seen one that worked quite that fast though).  I'm not criticizing, if it works for your crew it works.  I've watched games by the crew that worked the 3A championship game last weekend, it seems like they work fast but it works for them.  The coaches know what's going on and they don't complain.  Many seem to like it because they get picked for LOTS of games.  I suppose some of the coaches want an UP tempo game.

[TexDoc]

WOW!  3 seconds!  I've watched some other crews and thought they work fast also (not sure I've ever seen one that worked quite that fast though).  I'm not criticizing, if it works for your crew it works.  I've watched games by the crew that worked the 3A championship game last weekend, it seems like they work fast but it works for them.  The coaches know what's going on and they don't complain.  Many seem to like it because they get picked for LOTS of games.  I suppose some of the coaches want an UP tempo game.

One thing to point out, we should all stick with the 12 to 15 seconds, but never slow a team down.  If they want to get up there and run as soon as you put the ball down, don't wait to give the ready (not talking about a situation with subs).  Team A has a series of predefined plays and wants to run them quickly, no reason for the officials to slow that tempo.  The 12 to 15 seconds is a guideline for a normal pace.

[texref]

WOW!  3 seconds!  I've watched some other crews and thought they work fast also (not sure I've ever seen one that worked quite that fast though).  I'm not criticizing, if it works for your crew it works.  I've watched games by the crew that worked the 3A championship game last weekend, it seems like they work fast but it works for them.  The coaches know what's going on and they don't complain.  Many seem to like it because they get picked for LOTS of games.  I suppose some of the coaches want an UP tempo game.

Hank, keep in mind that I am talking about 3 seconds after the ball is spotted. It takes some time (hopefully not long) to get the ball into him and for him to spot it. 12-15 seconds is probably a fair assessment between deadball and RFP. As Doc mentioned we are very aware of substitutions and cover the ball if necessary to prevent snapping before the Defense has time to react. As I tell the Coach's, we are not in a hurry but we don't waste any time either. Have never had a complaint. Our crew works hard at being consistant with our ball mechanics (no drops, no bad passes).

[Hank]

Hank, keep in mind that I am talking about 3 seconds after the ball is spotted. It takes some time (hopefully not long) to get the ball into him and for him to spot it. 12-15 seconds is probably a fair assessment between deadball and RFP. As Doc mentioned we are very aware of substitutions and cover the ball if necessary to prevent snapping before the Defense has time to react. As I tell the Coach's, we are not in a hurry but we don't waste any time either. Have never had a complaint. Our crew works hard at being consistant with our ball mechanics (no drops, no bad passes).

OK, thanks.  Sorry, I read that wrong.  I thought you meant 3 seconds after a play is dead, you blow RFP.

I've had plays where players are still on the ground 3 seconds after the ball is dead.