Clock Operators

[ElvisLives]

Finally. Finally. Finally.
Had a truly PERFECT experience with clock operators last night. Both visited with us prior to the game. Had a very good discussion. They seemed to already know everything correctly, except that it doesn't matter which team will next snap the ball following a free kick, i.e., unless there is some administrative interruption, the play clock is set to 40 and started automatically. The PCO was very thankful to get that information. Which is exactly the point of having a pre-game conference with the clock operators.
Then, during the game, they operated the clock perfectly. Perfectly. No errors or issues whatsoever. Haven't had that since my FBS day. Sweet.

It can be done. We must do our part and 1) know the clock rules perfectly and 2) talk to the clock operators prior to every game. Every game.

[Official_21]

I had a bad experience at my game last Friday, although it has nothing to do with my fellow clock operator on the game clock.

Here is a list of events that happened.

Get to the stadium early, like I usually do.
Go to the officials (locker) room to have some dinner (The school I was at actually had some raising canes for the officiating crew)
Had a quick pre-game with the R, it was quick because I had worked for this R at the same school last year
Go up to the pressbox to do my pre-game checks (Make sure the play clock is working)...ran the play clock three time and it was working fine before kickoff

Fast forward to the start of the game...set the play clock to twenty five seconds and started it on the R's signal. I look over and see the play clock stopping and then skipping three to four seconds.
I then look at the GC operator and ask him if he saw the same thing I was seeing, just to double check and he said yes (although it did take a little while, I knew he had to focus on his job too). Eventually the R noticed and had me shutdown the play clock and had the BJ keep it on the field.
Then there I was, out of a job for the night 

I decided to stay and watch the game and get paid for it, since I did show up and sign the pay sheet. In addition, by good fortune, the home team had scored at the start of the third quarter, which put the home team up by more than 40 points which meant running clock for the duration of the game (This was TAPPS game, don't know if the UIL has a mercy rule or not).
I was home right at 9.30pm.

The scoreboard and play clock were new, as part of the school's field renovation. Just goes to show you how haywire modern technology is sometimes 

[Official_21]

Next time, check with management on how old new the equipment is, and if they had had any issues with it. Then check it yourself, for several cycles of both durations, before headin' off to the buffet.
If the clocks don't work right - not your fault. Take the money and run. But, do your due diligence.

I didn't even think about doing that because I have never had a problem with the clocks before, but that is something I will have to add to my pre game routine.
With that being said, I have learned to never assume anything when it comes to electronics.

And as always, it's always good to learn something along the way.

[Official_21]

Might have got deleted by mistake, I accidentally double posted and may have reported your post by accident as well.

Sorry about that 

[ElvisLives]

Well, if that’s what it was, no problem.
Hope you have a great game this week.

[TxJim]

Finally. Finally. Finally.
Had a truly PERFECT experience with clock operators last night. Both visited with us prior to the game. Had a very good discussion. They seemed to already know everything correctly, except that it doesn't matter which team will next snap the ball following a free kick, i.e., unless there is some administrative interruption, the play clock is set to 40 and started automatically. The PCO was very thankful to get that information. Which is exactly the point of having a pre-game conference with the clock operators.
Then, during the game, they operated the clock perfectly. Perfectly. No errors or issues whatsoever. Haven't had that since my FBS day. Sweet.

It can be done. We must do our part and 1) know the clock rules perfectly and 2) talk to the clock operators prior to every game. Every game.

In a game a few weeks back, the PCO let the clock run to zero during plays in which there was no delay foul. I found this odd.
This caused a delay in the PCO getting the clock reset and restarted after a dead ball for several seconds. 

Recently, I found what appears to be a discrepancy between the 5 & 7-official mechanics manual and the Chain-Clock manual.

5-official page 19, 7-official page 20: "4. To reset the displays immediately to 40 seconds when the ball is put in play if there is no delay foul."
Chain Clock Mechanics page 18: "The play clock will be automatically set to 40 seconds at the end of each play, with the covering official’s signal marking the end of the play and designating the start of the play clock."

[Etref]

Might have got deleted by mistake, I accidentally double posted and may have reported your post by accident as well.

Sorry about that 

I think this is what happened. Carroll and backjudge85 moved a post, possibly about the same time and may have picked up an additional

[ElvisLives]

I think this is what happened. Carroll and backjudge85 moved a post, possibly about the same time and may have picked up an additional

No sweat. Thanks.

[bama_stripes]

Several years ago, a couple of schools in our area installed new-fangled wireless scoreboards.  They tested them extensively, and they worked flawlessly during our pregame checks as well. When it came time for the first play after kickoff, both the game clock and the play clocks began to skip, even though the digital display on the box was functioning properly.

Schools called the manufacturer, technicians came out on Tuesday to observe during subvarsity games.  Clocks worked flawlessly.  Next varsity game, same problems.

They finally figured it out — the large number of cell phones in use during varsity games combined with the signals from the coaches wireless headsets was causing enough interference to screw up the clocks.

They ended up having to hard-wire the scoreboards.  We haven’t had any problems since.

[ElvisLives]

In a game a few weeks back, the PCO let the clock run to zero during plays in which there was no delay foul. I found this odd.
This caused a delay in the PCO getting the clock reset and restarted after a dead ball for several seconds. 

Recently, I found what appears to be a discrepancy between the 5 & 7-official mechanics manual and the Chain-Clock manual.

5-official page 19, 7-official page 20: "4. To reset the displays immediately to 40 seconds when the ball is put in play if there is no delay foul."
Chain Clock Mechanics page 18: "The play clock will be automatically set to 40 seconds at the end of each play, with the covering official’s signal marking the end of the play and designating the start of the play clock."

Yeah, by pure language, that sounds like a conflict (purely unintentional). The Chain-Clock manual language actually means that, when the ball is dead at the end of a down, the play clock is to be a 40-second clock, and started automatically by the PCO when he see a signal by an official that indicates that the ball has become dead (i.e., dead-ball signal, time out signal, or incomplete pass signal). More correctly - and, perhaps the Chain-Clock manual should be edited - during scrimmage play, the play clock should be set to 40 seconds immediately after the ball is legally put into play, and held there until the ball next becomes dead, when it should again be started for the succeeding scrimmage down (if there is no other interruption to the game).

[Official_21]

Well, if that’s what it was, no problem.
Hope you have a great game this week.

Thanks and I know I will.
Game I am working tomorrow is at a stadium I worked at last year and where one of the schools in the district I graduated from many many many moons ago