Changing play clock from 25 to 35 seconds or other amount

[gsrc]

After watching a few state championship games, I noticed the pace of games varies drastically from crew to crew. Would you be in favor of a play clock that starts immediately once a player is down, much like NCAA and NFL?

[prab]

Changing the play clock to 30 or 35 seconds may be feasible where visible play clocks are set by the clock operator or remotely by an official.  For those of us who work in areas that are still in the technological dark ages, think of how many Redi-Refs would become instantaneously obsolete.

[Atlanta Blue]

Most games don't have a separate play clock operator.  The F (or B depending on crew size)  needs to keep officiating after the whistle, and can't be worried about starting his watch or Ready-Ref.

There should simply be a mechanic in the manual that says except in extraordinary circumstances, the ball should be set in 12-15 seconds from the end of the play.  If the play ends anywhere other than between the numbers on a running play, the wing or deep officials (depending on crew size) should be getting a new ball from the ball boy and have it ready to go to the U.  Too many crews I see are too reluctant to grab a new ball.  I know what the rule says about keeping the same ball for the series, but changing them out for anything other than a running play inside the numbers is faster.

[Rulesman]

The first thing that must happen is a rule for mandatory visible play clocks. That won't happen, so the rest is a moot point.

[Kalle]

We had the 40/25 clock for the first year here in Finland this season and I was surprised how well it went. We have visible play clocks in only our premier league, nowhere else. In all the lower level games I worked the teams had no problems with the play clock and running it as the referee was pretty easy, too. I would not go back to the old 25 second play clock.

[Ralph Damren]

Having seen the other side as a game clock operator in D-III NCAA, I answer a solid NO. When NCAA went to their 40-25 play clock rule, the school had to add a visible play clock (before it was kept on the field by -I believe - the SJ) @ $$$$. They then had to hire a play clock operator and paid him my game fee @ $$. From my observation , DOG fouls occurred a little less often and it was easier for a team to run out the clock. Would it be worth the expense for high schools (none in Maine have a visible play clock)?? -NO

[HLinNC]

I'm with Ralph & Rulesman- not practical at the HS level given the vagaries of facilities.  In NC, we don't even require an official game clock operator until after the first round of the playoffs and they receive full game fee [best gig in HS football ].
I can't see high schools, already suffering through tight budgets, voting to add play clocks, which would have to be mandatory.  Most of our schools have them and the "civilians" that run them are of varying skill.

[JKinGA29]

There should simply be a mechanic in the manual that says except in extraordinary circumstances, the ball should be set in 12-15 seconds from the end of the play.  If the play ends anywhere other than between the numbers on a running play, the wing or deep officials (depending on crew size) should be getting a new ball from the ball boy and have it ready to go to the U.

I agree...game pace was stressed in this year's GHSA manual and I believe overall it improved across the state.  That ball rotation mechanic is great if the play ends in the side zone near Team A's sideline.  When it's the opposite side zone, it almost takes longer to get a new ball in and send the old one out than for the wing/deep to just relay the ball back to the U.  The delays come when the F/S (in Georgia) don't come up and help get the ball relayed.

[Ralph Damren]

When changing balls, guys, don't forget ole' 3-5-7f ....."What's 3-5-7f  ?"  Ye' might ask... Officials timeout...f. TO DRY OR CHANGE THE GAME BALL

[AlUpstateNY]

I hate to keep bringing things back to the fact NFHS football is played by High School kids, but there are times when exact precision can cause more trouble than it was ever intended to avoid.  As long as the "25 second" count is in the hands of a competent field official, and moves at a constant pace (for both sides) games seem to progress smoothly, despite the fact the actual pace may not always be exactly 25 seconds.

Keeping that time interval on the fiels, CLEARLY isn't broken, and there doesn't seem to be any glaring need to fix it, especially if the fixing is entirely for fixing sake.

[Atlanta Blue]

I agree...game pace was stressed in this year's GHSA manual and I believe overall it improved across the state.

The fact that the manual was written by an NCAA official had something to do with that!

When the original came out, he was talking about 10 seconds from end of play to RFP.  I told him I thought 10 was pushing it a bit too much (actually, I said he was nuts!).  He said, don't take 10 literally, but if you can be 12-15 on EVERY play, you're doing fine.

[Magician]

I work both codes and MUCH prefer the 40/25 clock.  It helps keep the game on a more consistent pace.  It doesn't allow to milk more time off the clock in a 4th quarter blow-out, but it does guarantee a constant pace.

When we have observers they say we need to blow the RFP 3-5 seconds after the ball is spotted.  I prefer to use 12-15 seconds after the ball is dead. Otherwise you could have a very inconsistent pace.  If the play ends in the middle with a running play, I'm going to have the ball spotted fairly quickly and a RFP in 3-5 seconds would be a quick turn around for a team.  If we have to get a ball from the sideline or a deep incomplete pass or I'm dealing with a player conversation. It could be more like 12-15 seconds before the ball is spotted.  If the R then has to wait another 3-5 seconds you are under a very different pace for those plays.

When using a 40/25 clock I often look at the play clock when I spot it and it's usually between 28 and 32.

[gsrc]

I forget that I am spoiled around these parts. I haven't worked a high school field without a visible play clock or ECO in the 12 years I've been working.

I wondered about the money aspect, but not in terms of not having clocks, I wondered if it would mean schools would have to buy a different score board control unit.

Al, I know you are a big proponent of the "what is good at one level isn't always good at another level" philosophy. And I don't disagree with you. One of the reasons I thought about this is that there were a few times this year when teams were caught off guard at the pace we worked. Add that with the sloooow pace I saw other crews work, I wondered if there was a better system than the current one.

[Rulesman]

Visible play clocks have been required in Arkansas for years if the school wants to host a playoff game. I don't know of an Arkansas high school field that doesn't have them. I didn't work B for the last 9 or 10 years of my career, and my ReadyRef was obsolete long before I changed positions.

That said, most, if not all, are sponsored - bought and paid for by a soft drink distributor, local bank or car dealer, etc.

[bossman72]

I don't think the 25 sec clock will every go away for "ease of administration" reasons.  25 sec clock is simple, and NFHS likes to keep things simple/basic whenever possible

[Ralph Damren]

With the costs & complexity prompting NO votes, we should also consider that with our 4-5 man crews and rarely a good ball boy even on wet nights, the lag time from the end of play to RFP would probably be inconsistent at best. Why change what works - "Well, the 'big boys' do it that way " isn't a good enough reason.

[TampaSteve]

In as far as visible play clocks:
Money would be the issue round there parts (install expense AND ongoing expense to paying a play clock ECO).
Heck, if my area was thinking about it, I would encourage them to spend the money for 7-man crews instead of a play clock.

[HLinNC]

Speaking of play clocks- beyond operator error, do any of you feel as if they tend to have more technical problems than the game clocks do?  It seems to me that it is not uncommon for one or both play clocks to go out during the course of a game, particularly one.

[VALJ]

There should simply be a mechanic in the manual that says except in extraordinary circumstances, the ball should be set in 12-15 seconds from the end of the play.  If the play ends anywhere other than between the numbers on a running play, the wing or deep officials (depending on crew size) should be getting a new ball from the ball boy and have it ready to go to the U.  Too many crews I see are too reluctant to grab a new ball.  I know what the rule says about keeping the same ball for the series, but changing them out for anything other than a running play inside the numbers is faster.

That doesn't even have to be a state thing.  That's the goal for our association, and one of the things our observers check is the average time between the end of one play and the RFP. 

As far as bringing a new ball in, especially when we're working 7-man crews, we instruct our ballboys that if a play ends outside of the numbers on your side of the field, be ready to give the deep wing a new ball.  Regardless of whether it speeds things up - which it does - we think it looks a lot better when the U can spot his ball off the one on the H's foot.  It can be a bit harder on a 5-man crew, naturally.

[bossman72]

Guys, why are we hung up on visible play clocks?  You don't NEED them to run 40/25 any more than you need them to run the 25 only

[Bob M.]

REPLY: Too many logistical and economical considerations to consider. I'm for leaving it as it is right now.

BTW...here in the northern part of NJ, we have one (uno, ein) high school with visible play clocks and they've doing noting more than collecting dust since they were put in about 5-7 years ago

[eprov]

Don't understand the need to change. you got a crew that works together. the BJ hustles along with the wings you get into a good pace. we cover it in our pregame. the quicker we get the ball in and make it ready the more plays the teams get.  It's call hustle

[Magician]

Don't understand the need to change. you got a crew that works together. the BJ hustles along with the wings you get into a good pace. we cover it in our pregame. the quicker we get the ball in and make it ready the more plays the teams get.  It's call hustle

If you ever get to work using the 40/25 clock you'll realize how much nicer it is.  The pace is easier and more consistent.  Whether you get the ball spotted in 3 seconds or 13 seconds, the teams still have the same amount of time between plays.  Teams also can get into a more consistent rhythm rather than dealing with inconsistent crews.

In Indiana I've never worked a HS game without a visible play clock.  There are rare instances where the clock isn't working or the clock operator is poor.  There would be an expense for some schools to get a new control board, but much less than most places.