My longest game ever.

[NorCalMike]

Our association has really be pushing us to keep the game moving. They say we are taking to long to get the fame finished. I wonder what they are going to say about this one.

My varsity game was the longest game I have ever had. 3 hours and 20 minutes. I think both QB's were threw about 60 passes but only completed 20. During one stretch we had 3 back to back turn over on downs with the ball not moving from the same yard line. At one point I asked both teams if they had any running plays.

On top of the length of the game, I was blind sided by a defensive player and now have a huge bruise on my shoulder blade.

[Rulesman]

The only way we are going to get the length of the high school game back down to a more reasonable length is with help from the rules makers, and I just don't see that happening. 20 years ago 2 hour games were the norm. I've observed 2 Friday nights this year. Week 1 lasted 2:56. Last night lasted 2:43, and the mercy rule (running clock) kicked in with 7 minutes left in the 4th quarter. It could have easily lasted 3 hours under normal timing rules.

[AlUpstateNY]

The only way we are going to get the length of the high school game back down to a more reasonable length is with help from the rules makers, and I just don't see that happening.

The game itself has been changing, more emphasis on passing, more complicated patterns, developing pass defenses, off season Flag Football leagues for HS players,focusing on passing skills.  Far more balanced attacks is where the game is going, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of interest in changing that direction.

Although it's not always the best thing, HS football interests follows what's happening at upper levels and more and more emphasis is directed at the passing game at those levels.  For better, or worse, it simply, "is what it is".

[NorCalMike]

I think we could speed it up a little of we could convince the teams to have multiple balls. A lot of our time was spent retrieving the long incomplete passes. If we could have just got a new ball from the sideline, we would be able to blow the ball ready in 8-10 seconds.

[Tom.OH]

I think we could speed it up a little of we could convince the teams to have multiple balls. A lot of our time was spent retrieving the long incomplete passes. If we could have just got a new ball from the sideline, we would be able to blow the ball ready in 8-10 seconds.

We get a new ball for the next play and relay the incomplete pass ball to the sideline. Our ball boys/girl's are told to be ready for it.

[HLinNC]

I think we could speed it up a little of we could convince the teams to have multiple balls.

Wow.  I understand MS ball where either a coach hangs on to the spare or the 7 year old little brother ball boy has it playing behind the bench but no ball boys with extras in HS??

[NorCalMike]

The stats were just posted for this game.

Sac High 91 plays QB was 23 for 57. 17 penalties for 153 yds.
Vista 101 plays 20 for 49. 5 penalties for 60 yards.

If I flagged every holding call we would still be on the field.

[TampaSteve]

The stats were just posted for this game.

Sac High 91 plays QB was 23 for 57. 17 penalties for 153 yds.
Vista 101 plays 20 for 49. 5 penalties for 60 yards.

If I flagged every holding call we would still be on the field.

Combined +/-40% completions...and I bet the majority of the attempts were >20yds.
I bet too any time a runner neared the sideline they just ran OOB. - just like we see on sat/sun....but on sat/sun they roll the clock on OOB plays...
We've talked about this before on the board here that in places HS games, -25% the game length (12min quarters) of NCAA/NFL games, are on or about the same length of time as NCAA/NFL games.
Maybe NFHS will examine this sooner than later and review a few clock-related rules.

[ECILLJ]

We are also seeing longer games in Illinois. My observations are: 1) More passing than ever. 2) the no-huddle offense seems to take more time than the traditional huddle. 3) Most schools now have the 25 second clock on the field and have a better awareness of squeezing every second between downs. 4) Coaches using all of their time-outs. 5) More injury awareness on our part, when we see a kid that might be hurt we are erring to safety and getting them off the field for a replacement. 6) Chasing incomplete passes, when all five of us take part in the relay of the long incomplete pass down the middle of the field, it still requires time for us to get back in position before we can blow the RFP. 7) We are seeing much higher scoring games than in previous eras. 8) 20 minute half times for events other than homecoming. 9) lightning / thunder delays.

[bama_stripes]

All of ECILLJ's observations are valid.  My average time before the timing rule change was 1:45.  In the three years after, it went to 2:10.  Now, it's about 2:30.

Honestly, we and the media are probably the only ones who care about the length of games.

[bossman72]

There's nothing we or the rules makers can do about incomplete passes.  When these terrible teams try to run the spread and can't throw, you'll be there forever.

What we can fix is efficiency in penalty enforcement and reducing the amount of time between the try and subsequent kickoff. 

[riffraft]

There's nothing we or the rules makers can do about incomplete passes.  When these terrible teams try to run the spread and can't throw, you'll be there forever.

What we can fix is efficiency in penalty enforcement and reducing the amount of time between the try and subsequent kickoff.

Change the rule so that the clock starts on the ready after an incomplete pass, just like for a first down.

[Rulesman]

Change the rule so that the clock starts on the ready after an incomplete pass, just like for a first down.

+1

[VALJ]

Change the rule so that the clock starts on the ready after an incomplete pass, just like for a first down.

+1 Million

Ping: Ralph... 

[Rulesman]

Especially since we are so concerned about "player safety." The longer the game, the more snaps, the greater potential for injury. Kind of a no-brainer. Then again, nobody ever said this was simple.   

[TampaSteve]

Change the rule so that the clock starts on the ready after an incomplete pass, just like for a first down.

That will solve things but I dont think anything like that will ever pass.
Heck, (this would never pass too but) make the quarters/halves a running clock like soccer and it only stops for timeouts.

[Ralph Damren]

Change the rule so that the clock starts on the ready after an incomplete pass, just like for a first down.

The more moderate change would be adopting the NCAA OOB rule where plays that end OOB start the clock on RFP. This did make it to the floor for a final vote this year, but failed. IMHO, the controversial portion was the acceptance of reverting to the current rule at a set time nearing the end of a half.

[bama_stripes]

The more moderate change would be adopting the NCAA OOB rule where plays that end OOB start the clock on RFP. This did make it to the floor for a final vote this year, but failed. IMHO, the controversial portion was the acceptance of reverting to the current rule at a set time nearing the end of a half.

And that's the same problem that would arise if we started the clock after an INC.  Coaches want to be able to stop the clock in their 2-minute offense.

[Ralph Damren]

Over the years several states have ran an experimental rule of OOB-RFP with approval from both coaches and officials - BUT - coaches wanted old rule for last couple of minutes in half....officials didn't want any timing rule change based on time left.....so far, no change. Starting the clock on all RFPs (that's our version of modified running time ) would reduce the half's to 30-35 minutes, so we shouldn't get too carried away.

[HLinNC]

Small thing and I have mentioned this before- run the clock after the TD on into the try as a regular scrimmage play.  While I've performed no formal study, I would estimate it takes a minumum of 45 seconds to a minute to get the XP team on the field, lined up, and the kick completed- then we go into a 1 min. intermission prior to the subsequent kickoff.
 
A low scoring game, no biggie, but how many of those are there now.  In your usual 56-14 blowout, that is about 10 minutes.

[Ralph Damren]

Small thing and I have mentioned this before- run the clock after the TD on into the try as a regular scrimmage play.  While I've performed no formal study, I would estimate it takes a minimum of 45 seconds to a minute to get the XP team on the field, lined up, and the kick completed- then we go into a 1 min. intermission prior to the subsequent kickoff.
 
A low scoring game, no biggie, but how many of those are there now.  In your usual 56-14 blowout, that is about 10 minutes.

Many years ago; armed with stop watch, clip board and hot coco; I timed the "down time" that the 1996 COP timing rule change had caused. Without digging into my files, the COP change added around 15 minutes. The MAJOR culprit was down time from TD to ensuing kickoff = around 4:30 minutes = 35 to 21 game = 10 TDs = 43 minutes added.

[bama_stripes]

The MAJOR culprit was down time from TD to ensuing kickoff = around 4:30 minutes = 35 to 21 game = 10 TDs = 43 minutes added.

But that's been going on forever. There's been no rules change that has added to that time.

[Ralph Damren]

But that's been going on forever. There's been no rules change that has added to that time.

Agreed ,the complaint back then was the COP change was causing games to last much longer. IMHO, the games "lasting much longer" was the increasing passing game = increasing scoring + increasing of incomplete passes.

[Magician]

The MAJOR culprit was down time from TD to ensuing kickoff = around 4:30 minutes

That is excessive. I can see 1:30 to 2:00 if a crew was slow, but over 4 minutes is ridiculous. What are they doing? The try shouldn't be any more than 30-45 seconds.

[TampaSteve]

I think changing the COP back to where it was would certainly help speed things up.