Proper Enforcement

[sczeebra]

We (In South Carolina) have like everyone else had a lot of discussion about the 40-second clock rule. This is just a reminder on a play that could happen with some frequency early on. In a play where A has reached the line to gain and the down ends in-bounds. If the snapper fails to wait until the game official (umpire) has stepped away to position as in 3-6-1a(2) snaps the ball we have a delay of game. Remember the chains move also on this one (not 1st and 15). Just a little more preseason thought. Have a great year!

[Magician]

We (In South Carolina) have like everyone else had a lot of discussion about the 40-second clock rule. This is just a reminder on a play that could happen with some frequency early on. In a play where A has reached the line to gain and the down ends in-bounds. If the snapper fails to wait until the game official (umpire) has stepped away to position as in 3-6-1a(2) snaps the ball we have a delay of game. Remember the chains move also on this one (not 1st and 15). Just a little more preseason thought. Have a great year!

The good news is with 6 or 7 years of NCAA and 3 years of HS experiment, this has NEVER happened. The offense is rarely ready to go that fast except MAYBE at the end of a close game. If you stand over the ball so the snapper can't get on it until after you move, you have plenty of time to get back at least away from harm's way. You may not be stopped and set before the snap, but that's OK.

[NVFOA_Ump]

We (In South Carolina) have like everyone else had a lot of discussion about the 40-second clock rule. This is just a reminder on a play that could happen with some frequency early on. In a play where A has reached the line to gain and the down ends in-bounds. If the snapper fails to wait until the game official (umpire) has stepped away to position as in 3-6-1a(2) snaps the ball we have a delay of game. Remember the chains move also on this one (not 1st and 15). Just a little more preseason thought. Have a great year!

Don't see how this can happen.  1st snaps of the game the snappers are cautioned not to touch the ball while the U is still there and the U does not move away until at least the box is down in place AND the crew is ready for play.  A bit of preventive officiating solves the potential problem.  You can't be flagging the offense for a DOG if the ball is down and you are not standing over it.  By the new rules in that case it is actually ready for play and free for A to snap.

[ncwingman]

In that situation, the game clock has stopped to allow the chains to reset -- when they are ready (even if it's just the box and you let the chains catch up later), then R does a silent wind, and U moves from the ball.

You are correct if A snaps the ball prior to the U moving, *then the game clock is also still stopped* which would be a DOG foul. However, it should also be obvious that A can't snap the ball while the U is standing in the neutral zone. This is fundamentally no different than last year, just that the 40 second play clock is running -- and if that dips below 25 before the silent wind, then we reset to 25 at the RFP and then it's *exactly* like it was last year.

[Ralph Damren]

IF this should occur ,as SCzeebra mentioned, remember that the DOG hadn't been signaled/sounded and the chains would reset to 1/10. This has occurred a couple of times up here that I'm aware of and it's first occurrence the chains were left at 1/15. In 2015, the authority to correct the number of the next down prior to the ball becoming live after a new series is awarded. This open up a lobster crate of "WHAT IFs" and became the major challenge of the year. There was also a similar proposal that would allow correction of the line-to-gain. I relayed the above 1/15 saga with : "So if it became 4/4 and a lite-bulb went on it the white hat's head, he should go...'FIRST DOWN !!'" The majority felt that should be left alone.

[NVFOA_Ump]

In that situation, the game clock has stopped to allow the chains to reset -- when they are ready (even if it's just the box and you let the chains catch up later), then R does a silent wind, and U moves from the ball.

You are correct if A snaps the ball prior to the U moving, *then the game clock is also still stopped* which would be a DOG foul. However, it should also be obvious that A can't snap the ball while the U is standing in the neutral zone. This is fundamentally no different than last year, just that the 40 second play clock is running -- and if that dips below 25 before the silent wind, then we reset to 25 at the RFP and then it's *exactly* like it was last year.

Agree with what's here but the "silent wind" is a useless gesture to team A.  It's no different than previous years except we now have no audible signal when the clock is wound.  The U simply needs to be over the ball, reminding the snapper as often as needed, not to touch the ball until he moves away.  This should not be an issue and we should NEVER have a penalty here.

[Morningrise]

Agree with what's here but the "silent wind" is a useless gesture to team A.  It's no different than previous years except we now have no audible signal when the clock is wound.

Is this accurate for 2019 NFHS? In NCAA I never used a silent wind; my guidance was to sound the RFP whistle when the RFP starts either clock.

But I haven't been able to peruse any printed mechanics guides for 2019 NFHS yet.

[NVFOA_Ump]

Is this accurate for 2019 NFHS? In NCAA I never used a silent wind; my guidance was to sound the RFP whistle when the RFP starts either clock.

But I haven't been able to peruse any printed mechanics guides for 2019 NFHS yet.

The NFHS has posted clock operators guidance that when we will have a 40 sec play clock, that there be no whistle when the R restarts the game clock, just the standard wind signal (the "silent wind").  A whistle with a wind signal would only be used when the game clock and 25 second play clock are started simultaneously.  We're being told that the whistle & wind is the indication to both teams (and us) that we'll be on a 25 second play clock.  The guidance could be worded a bit clearer IMHO to state exactly wind only or whistle & wind where applicable.

[AlUpstateNY]

Is this accurate for 2019 NFHS? In NCAA I never used a silent wind; my guidance was to sound the RFP whistle when the RFP starts either clock.

But I haven't been able to pcurrently has a "NFHS General Instructions for Football Game & Play Clock Operatorseruse any printed mechanics guides for 2019 NFHS yet.

Is there any (really) logical or practical reason NOT to KEEP a whistle & wind together?  It seems to have worked fairly well for a long LONG time to alert EVERYBODY of what was happening (and hopefully avoid unnecessary confusion and error).

NFHS now has a "NFHS General Instructions for Football Game & Play Clock Operators" on the NFHS.org site (First go to "Football").
E-6 "Note to Play Clock Operators" lists different situations for RTP/Whistle situations.

[FLAHL]

Is there any (really) logical or practical reason NOT to KEEP a whistle & wind together? 

When A is tackled in bounds after making it past the line to gain.  The 40 second clock will run but the game clock will stop.  We need a "silent wind" to start the game clock.  We've been told that the RFP whistle is used to let everybody know "you have 25 seconds to snap" and to signal the BJ to start the 25 second clock.  A whistle & wind when the 40 second clock is already running could cause confusion rather than avoid it.

[AlUpstateNY]

When A is tackled in bounds after making it past the line to gain.  The 40 second clock will run but the game clock will stop.  We need a "silent wind" to start the game clock.  We've been told that the RFP whistle is used to let everybody know "you have 25 seconds to snap" and to signal the BJ to start the 25 second clock.  A whistle & wind when the 40 second clock is already running could cause confusion rather than avoid it.

Thank you, in that ONE situation, a silent R wind makes sense, as it's directed specifically to the game clock operator. In other, multiple situations, where the game clock is running, is an inaudible wind signal alone the best way to alert EVERYONE that the ball is RFP?

[Magician]

Thank you, in that ONE situation, a silent R wind makes sense, as it's directed specifically to the game clock operator. In other, multiple situations, where the game clock is running, is an inaudible wind signal alone the best way to alert EVERYONE that the ball is RFP?

It's the only situation where the silent wind is done. If the clock is already running there is no reason to wind it. If the game clock is stopped because a runner went out of bounds the game clock won't start until the snap so you don't wind then either. I'm fine with a quick tweet when the R winds the game clock but for now the NFHS mechanics say no. NCAA went back and forth on it and I believe the guidance now is it's a personal preference by the R.

One reason to NOT whistle it is because during most of the game you'll probably get the game going a little quicker than the ball being set. When time is more critical then you'll be more diligent about waiting for the ball to be down to start it.

[NVFOA_Ump]

Thank you, in that ONE situation, a silent R wind makes sense, as it's directed specifically to the game clock operator. In other, multiple situations, where the game clock is running, is an inaudible wind signal alone the best way to alert EVERYONE that the ball is RFP?

Per our instructions for this year, the U stays over the ball until we're ready for play with the 40 second play clock running.  Then the U moving away from the ball to his position is the RFP.  On the majority, if not all, of the 40 second play clock downs we're being instructed, and the written guidance seems to confirm, that there will be no whistle.