After Two Min Warning Flashcards
FALSE START
Second-and-5 on B15. The score is tied with 15 seconds remaining in the game and the game clock running. Team
A is set at the line of scrimmage and A3 false starts. Quarterback A1 spikes the ball in front of him to stop the clock.
Team A has: (a) used its three timeouts; or (b) has one remaining timeout.
Rulings:
(a) Second-and-10 on B20. Penalize five yards and run 10 seconds off the clock, because the false start by A3
stopped the game clock prior to the action of the quarterback. The clock starts on the ready-for-play signal.
(b) Second-and-10 on B20. Penalize five yards, but if Team A chooses, it can prevent the 10-second runoff by using
its final timeout. The clock starts on the snap, if Team A takes its last timeout.
TWELVE MEN IN TEAM A HUDDLE
Second-and-5 on B15. Fifty-five seconds remain in the first half and Team A is behind in the score. Team A has
been hurrying to get off as many plays as possible during the drive, although they have been briefly huddling between
plays. Team A is flagged for 12 men in the offensive huddle. Team A has used its three timeouts.
Ruling: Second-and-10 on B20. Run 10 seconds if Team B chooses, if in the Referee’s judgment Team A was
attempting to conserve time. There could be situations in which this would not be a 10-second runoff, if the team is
not hurrying to get plays off and thereby not conserving time
NOT ALL OFFENSIVE PLAYERS SET BEFORE SNAP—CLOCK RUNNING AFTER TWO-MINUTE WARNING
Second-and-10 on B35. The score is tied, the clock is running, and: (a) 50 seconds; or (b) 1:50 remains in the game.
As Team A hurries to the line, the ball is snapped before tailback A2 gets set. A1 gets sacked at the B41. Team A
has already used its three timeouts.
Rulings:
(a) and (b) Second-and-15 on B40. False start. Run 10 seconds off the game clock, if Team B chooses, and the
clock starts on the ready-for-play signal. When all 11 offensive players do not get set simultaneously prior to the
snap, and the game clock is running after the two-minute warning of the half, the illegal shift converts to a false start,
and the play must be shut down immediately. If all 11 players get set, and then two players shift without resetting
prior to the snap, it is a live ball foul for an illegal shift, and there is no runoff.
BACK FAILS TO SET BEFORE SNAP—CLOCK STOPPED
Second-and-10 on B35. The score is tied, the clock is stopped due to an incomplete pass on the prior play. There
are 50 seconds remaining in the game. As Team A goes up to the line, the ball is snapped before tailback A2 gets
set. Team A has already used its three timeouts. A1’s pass falls incomplete
Ruling: Third-and-10 on B35 or second-and-15 on B40. Since the clock was stopped at the snap, the “conserving
time rules” are not in effect. It is an illegal shift, rather than a false start, because the clock was not running, so the
foul does not prevent the snap. The clock starts on the snap for the next play.
DELAY OF GAME BY TEAM A—AFTER TWO-MINUTE WARNING
Third-and-10 on B45. Fifty seconds remain in the game and Team A is behind in the score. A1 gets confused on
what play to call and Team A is called for delay of game.
Ruling: Third-and-15 on 50. There is no 10-second runoff, because Team A is not attempting to conserve time. The
clock starts on the snap.
ILLEGAL FORMATION—NO 10-SECOND RUNOFF
Second-and-3 on B42. Fifty seconds remain in the game. Team A is in a hurry-up offense. The ball is snapped and
the runner is downed on the B15. Team A had only six men on the line of scrimmage, but all 11 players were in close
proximity to the line of scrimmage.
Ruling: Second-and-8 on B47. No 10-second runoff since A’s penalty did not prevent the snap. The clock starts on
the snap.
ILLEGAL SHIFT/MOTION—TEAM B OFFSIDE—AFTER TWO-MINUTE WARNING
Second-and-10 on B35. With 0:50 remaining in a tied game, Team A is in a hurry-up offense and B1 is set and lined
up offside. (a) Back A2 never gets set before the ball is snapped; or (b) back A2 gets set but then goes in motion
and is moving toward the line of scrimmage at the snap. QB A1 spikes the ball.
Rulings:
(a) Second-and-15 on B40. Ten-second runoff. The illegal shift converts to a false start, and the play is blown dead
immediately after the snap. There is no foul for offside, since there was no legal snap.
(b) Second-and-10 on B35. Let the play go through, and the penalties offset.
BACKWARD PASS OUT OF BOUNDS—AFTER TWO-MINUTE WARNING
Third-and-8 on B28. A1 runs to the B20 and sees he is about to be tackled, so he throws the ball backward toward
the sideline with no teammate in position to catch the pass. The ball hits B2 and rolls out of bounds at the B15. There
was 1:20 left in the fourth quarter when the ball was snapped.
Ruling: Third-and-5 on B25. Since the ball went out of bounds (spot of the foul) in advance of the spot of the
backward pass (the basic spot), enforce from the spot of the backward pass (Rule 8-7-7). Ten seconds would also
be run off the clock, if the defense so chooses, and wind the clock. If a foul for conserving time or 10-second runoff
is declined, the game clock will start on the snap.
BACKWARD PASS OUT OF BOUNDS—AFTER TWO-MINUTE WARNING
Third-and-10 on B30. Fifty seconds remain in a tied game, and Team A is out of timeouts, A1 runs the ball to the
B14 where he throws a backward pass out of bounds. The ball goes out of bounds at the B21.
Ruling: Option for Team B: Fourth-and-1 on B21, clock starts on snap (penalty is declined, therefore no runoff), or
third-and-6 on B26 with a 10-second runoff, if B elects, and the clock starts on the ready-for-play signal. The penalty
is enforced from the out of bounds spot (the spot of the foul) because it is behind the spot of the backward pass (the
basic spot). This is a three-and-one enforcement. Rule 8-7-7.
BACKWARD PASS OUT OF BOUNDS—AFTER TWO-MINUTE WARNING
Second-and-20 on 50. With 1:30 remaining in the fourth quarter, A1 scrambles, and while at the A40, throws the ball
backward and out of bounds at the A35. Team A has already used its three timeouts.
Ruling: Option for Team B: Third-and-35 on A35. The penalty is declined, so there is no 10-second runoff, (and the
clock is on the snap); or second-and-25 on A45 with a 10-second runoff, if B elects, and wind the clock. This is a
three-and-one enforcement (Rule 8-7-7). If either the spot of the backward pass (basic spot) or the spot where the
ball went out of bounds (spot of the foul) is behind the line of scrimmage, the foul is enforced from the previous spot
(Rule 14-3-6).
INTENTIONAL GROUNDING—AFTER TWO-MINUTE WARNING
Third-and-20 on 50. There is 1:35 remaining in a tied game, and Team A is out of timeouts. A1 drops back to pass,
and at the A35 intentionally grounds the pass to avoid a sack
Ruling: Fourth-and-35 on A35. Team B has the option of accepting the foul and declining the 10-second runoff, or
accepting the foul and the 10-second runoff as would be the normal enforcement. If the runoff is declined, the game
clock starts on the snap. If it is accepted, the game clock will start on the ready-for-play signal.
INTENTIONAL GROUNDING—INSIDE OF TWO MINUTES—ADDITIONAL FOUL ON PLAY
Third-and-10 on B20. 2nd quarter 1:45. QBA1 is going to be sacked at the B31 in the pocket so he throws the ball
into the ground with no eligible receiver in the area. A3 dragged down B3 during the play (1:38).
Ruling: A’s ball, fourth-and-21 on B31. Loss of down for ING, but there is no 10-second runoff, and the game clock
will start on the snap. Because the additional foul for offensive holding would result in the clock starting on the snap
regardless of whether it is accepted or declined, there is no 10-second runoff for the intentional grounding, or any
other illegal act that conserves time.
INTENTIONAL GROUNDING—INTERCEPTION AFTER TWO-MINUTE WARNING
Third-and-10 on B45. The score is tied with 1:05 in the fourth quarter. A1 is pressured in the pocket at the A43, and
to avoid a sack, throws the ball deep down the left side. There are no eligible A players in the area, although B1
intercepts at the B2 and runs out of bounds there with 0:45 on the clock. Team A is out of timeouts.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on B2. The clock is at 0:45 and would start on the snap. Or, A’s ball, fourth-and-22 on
A43. Run 10 seconds if B chooses. Set the game clock to 0:35 and wind.
Note: To keep the ball, Team B would have to decline the penalty
ILLEGAL FORWARD PASS—AFTER TWO-MINUTE WARNING
Third-and-5 on B31. With 10 seconds remaining in the game, and Team B ahead, QB A1 scrambles to his right and
throws a pass toward end A2 who is in the end zone. The pass is deflected by B1 and falls incomplete. The ball was
thrown from the: (a) B30; (b) B32 after A1 had advanced to the B30 and returned behind the line of scrimmage; or
(c) B32 after first throwing a pass from the B36 that B3 deflected back to A1, who caught the ball at the B36 and
scrambled to the B32.
Rulings: In (a), (b), and (c), 10-second runoff; game over.
Note: After the two-minute warning of either half, an illegal pass is considered illegally conserving time, and a 10-
second runoff is an option.
FOULING INTENTIONALLY TO STOP CLOCK—AFTER TWO-MINUTE WARNING
There are twelve seconds remaining in the game, and Team A is out of timeouts and trails by one point. A1 catches
a long pass and is downed at the B12 with four seconds remaining on the clock. A1, realizing that time is about to
expire: (a) punches B2; or (b) takes his helmet off (not as part of an injury).
Rulings:
(a) Unnecessary roughness A1. Ten-second runoff. Game over.
(b) Unsportsmanlike conduct A1. Ten-second runoff. Game over.
