Game Timing Flashcards
BETWEEN PERIODS—COACH ON THE FIELD
During the intermission between the first and second periods, while the Referee and Umpire are preparing to move
the ball to the other end of the field, the Referee suddenly discovers Team A’s head coach in the middle of the field
arguing about the last play of the quarter.
Ruling: Penalize Team A 15 yards from the succeeding spot for the coach illegally entering the field. This is a foul
if it occurs at any point during the game. Since the coach is being penalized for being on the field, as opposed to
what he is saying to the official, (or how he is saying it), this is not the type of foul that counts toward a potential
disqualification.
COIN TOSS—CAPTAINS
At the coin toss: (a) a coach refuses to send any captains to the middle of the field to participate in the coin-toss
ceremony; or (b) a coach sends out his entire team to the middle of the field to participate in the ceremony; or (c) a
coach sends out his six team captains to the middle of the field to participate in the coin toss. Two of these captains
are injured and are not in uniform for this game.
Rulings:
(a) Loss of coin-toss option for both halves and loss of 15 yards from spot of opening kickoff. At least one captain
from each team is required to be present for the coin toss.
(b) Loss of coin-toss option for both halves and loss of 15 yards from spot of opening kickoff. Captains are limited
to six per team.
(c) Legal. A team is limited to six captains: active, inactive, or honorary.
FUMBLE—OUT OF BOUNDS
Third-and-7 on A45. A2 runs to the 50 and fumbles the ball backwards out of bounds at the A47.
Ruling: Fourth-and-5 on A47, and the game clock starts as a new ball is brought back into the field of play. (4-3-2)
FUMBLE—AFTER TWO-MINUTE WARNING
Second-and-10 on B40 with 1:30 left in the game. A1 fumbles at the B36 and the fumble is recovered by A2 at the B34 where he picks up the ball and runs with it.
Ruling: Since a teammate other than the fumbling player recovers the fumble after the two-minute warning, the play
is blown dead when A2 recovers. Unless there is a significant delay in spotting the ball at the B36, the game clock
continues to run, and the play clock begins immediately, as normal. If the ball is not in the vicinity of the B36, and a
delay in retrieving and spotting it will create a time disadvantage for either team, the game clock will be stopped, and
the play clock frozen. The Referee will re-start the clocks as soon as the ball is retrieved and is being brought back
to the B36, and he will quickly advise the quarterback that the clocks are starting.
FUMBLE FORWARD OUT OF BOUNDS—AFTER TWO-MINUTE WARNING
Second-and-10 on B40 with 1:30 left in the game. A1 fumbles at the B36 and the fumble rolls out of bounds at the
B34.
Ruling: Third-and-6 on B36. The game clock will stop when the ball rolls out of bounds. It should be restarted by the
Referee as the ball is being brought back into the field before it is spotted at the hash mark. (The Referee should
advise the quarterback that the game clock will start.) The play clock starts when the play is blown dead and
continues to run.
FUMBLE AFTER TWO-MINUTE WARNING—END ZONE INVOLVEMENT
Second-and-goal on B6. Thirty seconds remain in the game. A2 takes a handoff behind the line. A2 is tackled at the
B4 and fumbles with the ball going into the end zone. A3 recovers the ball in the end zone.
Ruling: Third-and-goal on B4. The clock will stop upon the recovery. It should be restarted by the Referee as the
ball is being brought back into the field before it is spotted at the hash mark. (The Referee should advise the
quarterback that the game clock will start.) The play clock starts when the play is blown dead and continues to run.
If this same scenario occurs, but the ball is recovered in Team A’s end zone, the play is blown dead immediately
and results in a safety
BACKWARD PASS OUT OF BOUNDS—BEFORE TWO-MINUTE WARNING
Second-and-5 on A35. Quarterback A1 throws a backward pass to A3 who muffs the ball at the A32 and the ball
goes out of bounds there. Four minutes remain in the second half.
Ruling: Third-and-8 on A32. The game clock is stopped when the ball goes out of bounds, but it is restarted by the
Referee, before it is spotted, when the new ball is being brought back into the field. (Advise the quarterback that the
clock is being started).
BACKWARD PASS OUT OF BOUNDS—AFTER TWO-MINUTE WARNING
Third-and-8 on A30. A1 pitches back to A2 at the A25. A2 muffs the pitch and the ball goes forwards out of bounds at the A35
with 30 seconds left to play in the second quarter
Ruling: Third-and-13 on A25 (Illegal Action to Conserve Time), or Fourth-and-3 on A35 (decline penalty). If the
penalty is accepted, run 10 seconds (0:20) and wind the clock. Team B can accept the penalty yardage and decline
the runoff. If the runoff is declined, or Team A uses a timeout to avoid the runoff, the clock will start on the snap. If
Team B declines the penalty, then there is no runoff and the clock starts on the snap.
RUNNER OUT OF BOUNDS—FIVE MINUTES OR MORE IN FOURTH QUARTER
Third-and-6 on A21. Runner A2 goes out of bounds at the A31 with exactly five minutes (or more) remaining in the
fourth quarter.
Ruling: A’s ball, first-and-10 on A31. The game clock is started when an official spots the ball at the inbounds spot,
and the Referee gives the signal to start the game clock. If the game clock was at 4:59 when the runner went out of
bounds, it would start on the next snap.
RUNNER IS TACKLED INBOUNDS - DELAY BY THE DEFENSE—TIME EXPIRES IN PERIOD
Third-and-10 on B15 with 13 seconds left in the second quarter. A2 catches a pass near the sideline but is tackled
inbounds at the B8 with eight seconds left. B1 and B2 lie on A2 not allowing him to get up (0:05). Time runs out in
the period.
Ruling: A’s ball, first-and-goal on B4. Delay of game. Reset the clock to 0:05 and start on the snap.
PLAY CLOCK INTERRUPTED INSIDE 10 SECONDS—INJURED PLAYER
Fourth-and-1 on B35 with 3:33 remaining in the game and the game clock running as quarterback A1 is under center
and calling signals, B2 suddenly collapses, apparently injured. The play clock is at seven seconds when the game
is stopped for the injured player.
Ruling: Fourth-and-1 on B35. B2 must leave the game (or call a timeout). After B2 leaves the game, and after the
Referee has advised both teams and given them a reasonable opportunity to get ready, the Referee resets the play
clock to 10 seconds and winds both clocks on the ready-for-play signal. If a timeout was taken, the play clock would
be set to 25 seconds and started on the ready-for-play signal.
PLAY CLOCK INTERRUPTED INSIDE 10 SECONDS—INJURED PLAYER—REFEREE DISCRETION
Second-and-8 on A35 with 2:45 remaining in the 4th quarter. The game clock is running with Team B out of timeouts
and Team A leading 21-20. As Quarterback A1 is under center and calling signals, A2 suddenly collapses, apparently
injured. The play clock is at :04 and the game clock is at 2:09 when the game is stopped for the injured player.
Ruling: Second-and-8 on A35. Both play clock and game clock will remain at the same time as when the game was
stopped. A2 must leave the game (or call a timeout). After A2 leaves the game, and after the Referee has advised
both teams and given them reasonable opportunity to get ready, the Referee winds both clocks on the ready-forplay signal. This prevents time from being added to the play clock that would allow Team A to run the game clock to
the two-minute warning. If no such timing advantage exists, the play clock will be set to 10 seconds.
CLOCK STATUS AFTER BLOCKED FIELD GOAL
Third-and-5 on B10. With eight seconds remaining in a tied game, Team A attempts a field goal from the B18. The
attempt is blocked, and A1 recovers and is tackled at the B12. Team A has used all of its timeouts.
Ruling: Fourth-and-7 on B12. The clock continues to run and will likely expire, as there has been no change of
possession.
CLOCK STATUS AFTER PUNT—PENALTY TEAM A
Fourth-and-10 on 50. Team A is in an illegal formation. A1’s punt, at 10:00 of the first quarter, rolls dead untouched
at the B1.
Ruling: Fourth-and-15 on A45, or B’s ball, first-and-10 on B6. The clock will start on the snap because it was stopped
for the change of possession.
CLOCK STATUS AFTER CHANGE OF POSSESSION—FOUL ON PLAY
Second-and-10 on A35. With 8:30 remaining in the third quarter, A1 fumbles the ball at the A30, where it is recovered
and downed by B1. B1 was offside on the play.
Ruling: A’s ball, second-and-5 on A40. The clock starts on the snap, because it was stopped for the change of
possession. If there is a change of possession during the down, the game clock will start on the snap, regardless of
whether the change of possession is negated by a penalty.
