NFHS Rules 2010
Timing
Scott M. Aronowitz
nfoarules@gmail.com
(904) 718-1317
Starting and Stopping the Clock
On free kick downs, the clock stars when the ball
is legally touched.
It does not start on first touching by Team K.
On scrimmage downs, the clock starts either on
the ready or snap, depending on what caused the
clock to stop.
Major clock stopper: clock starts on snap.
Minor clock stopper: clock starts on ready.
If there are both major and minor clock stoppers
on the same play, the major clock stopper
supersedes the minor.
Major Clock Stoppers
Period ends.
Charged timeout.
TV timeout.
Ball goes out of bounds.
Incomplete forward pass (legal or illegal).
Team B awarded new series.
Either team awarded new series after legal kick.
Score or touchback.
Attempt to consume time illegally.
Accepted delay of game penalty.
Minor Clock Stoppers
First down or measurement for first down.
Injured player.
Dry or change game ball.
Heat/humidity timeout.
Coach/referee conference.
Attempt to conserve time illegally.
Sideline warning.
Official’s timeout.
Dead ball following any penalty (except accepted delay
of game foul).
Equipment repair.
Example
With the clock running, Team A is flagged for
holding on a down that ends on a) incomplete
pass or b) inbounds run.
RULING: In a), the clock starts on the snap; an in
complete pass is a major clock stopper. In b),
the clock starts on the ready. The only reason it
was stopped was for the penalty enforcement
(minor).
Example
On 4th down, Team K punts and is flagged for
holding. The kick is caught by R2 who is tackled
inbounds.
RULING: If the penalty is accepted, the clock
starts on the ready, since it was stopped for the
penalty. If the penalty is declined, the clock
starts on the snap, since a new series is awarded
to Team B.
Inadvertent Whistle (3-4-2c)
Whenever the clock is stopped for an
inadvertent whistle AND the down is replayed, it
will start on the ready.
First Downs
When Team A is awarded a first down and a kick is not
involved, the clock starts on the ready (3-4-2a), as long
as no other major clock stopper has occurred.
Change of possession is not a factor in determining
when the clock starts.
The team awarded a new series is the factor.
Teams A and B retain their designation throughout the
down (2-43-4).
When either team is awarded a new series following a
legal kick, the clock starts on the snap (3-4-3c).
Example
Team B intercepts Team A’s forward pass and
fumbles on the return. Team A recovers and
downs the ball.
RULING: Even though Team A is awarded a first
down on the break in continuity of downs, the
clock starts on the ready. Possession change is
irrelevant.
Example
Team K’s punt is blocked. K23 recovers behind
the neutral zone and carries beyond the line to
gain for a first down.
RULING: First down for K, clock starts on snap.
Example
R27 muffs Team K’s punt beyond the neutral
zone and K23 recovers.
RULING: Team K’s ball, 1st and 10. Clock starts
on the snap.
Example
4th and 10 on K’s 20 yard line. A27 punts as
Team A is flagged for illegal formation. The ball
is declared dead inbounds and the penalty is
accepted (5 yards from previous spot).
RULING: K’s ball, 4th and 15 from their 15. The
clock starts on the ready because neither team
was awarded a new series.
Penalties
The clock should start just as it would if the
foul had not occurred.
Exception: accepted penalty for delay of game.
After 4th down, a new series is not awarded to
Team B until all acts that occurred during the
down are considered (5-1-2b).
Example
On 4th and 2, A12 is stopped inbounds short of
the line to gain and B76 committed a
substitution infraction.
RULING: Team A accepts the penalty, resulting in
a first down. Without the foul the clock would
have stopped to award Team B a first down, but
since Team A was awarded a first down, the
clock starts on the ready.
Example
4th and 1 at Team B’s 30 yard line. At the 28, A12
illegally hands the ball forward to A35, who is
tackled at B’s 25 yard line with one second on the
clock. Team B accepts the penalty (5 yards from the
spot of the foul and loss of down).
RULING: Team B’s ball, 1st and 10 at their 33 yard
line. The clock was stopped to administer a penalty
and since Team B was awarded a new series after
the enforcement, the clock starts on the snap.
Kickoff
Clock always starts on the snap following a
kickoff, unless the free kick is replayed.
Fourth Down
The clock always stops after a fourth down
play.
The clock almost always stops after a legal kick
down and starts on the snap (3-4-3c), with
some exceptions.
Example
3rd and 10 on Team A’s 20 yard line. A7 in shotgun
decides to quick kick. The kick is blocked and a)
recovered and downed by A64 on Team A’s 18 yard
line or b) recovered and advanced by A64 to his 33
yard line.
RULING: In a) the clock does not stop; it is Team A’s
ball, 4th and 12 from the 18. In b) the clock is
stopped to award Team A a new series and it starts
on the snap since a new series was awarded
following a legal kick.
Timeouts
Each team is allowed three per half (one minute in
length).
No carryover from first to second half, nor from second
half to overtime.
Each team is allowed one in each overtime period.
No carryover to each subsequent overtime period.
When penalty decisions are pending, a timeout cannot
be granted until the captain makes his choice (3-5-2a).
Head coach may request charged timeout from the
sideline OR designate a coach to request timeouts (3-52a).
Any player or substitute may request a timeout.
Charged Timeouts
During a charged timeout there are two types of
authorized conferences (2-6):
One coach on the field with 11 players in the huddle;
or
Near the sideline in front of the team box between
the sideline and the 9-yard marks.
No limit on the number of coaches or players (as long as a
coach is not on the field for a conference).
Team may use phones and/or headsets.
Only one type of conference may be used.
Holding
an
unauthorized
unsportsmanlike conduct (9-8-1f)
conference
is
Authorized Conferences
It is legal for players to go near the sideline to communicate
with coaches as long as coaching box restrictions are not
violated, the players remain on the field, and the game is
not delayed (9-8-1f Note).
Authorized conferences can be held without a charged
timeout.
TV/radio timeout.
Heat/humidity.
Between periods.
Following safety, field goal or try (NOT after touchdown and
before try).
Up to three attendants – no coaches – may enter the field.
Exception: injured player, with permission of referee.
Charged Timeouts Other Than
Requested
Following
coach-referee
conference
for
misapplication/misinterpretation where a ruling
is not reversed (3-5-11).
Team has no timeouts: 5-yard penalty for delay of
game (3-6-2c).
Clock is stopped for repair of player equipment
that requires the assistance of team attendant or
delays the ready for more than 25 seconds (3-52b).
Referee can give choice between removing player or
taking timeout. No delay of game penalty assessed if
no timeouts remain (player is removed).
Injury Timeouts
Player must be replaced for at least one down
unless halftime or overtime intermission occurs.
He may not remain in the game if the team takes a
timeout.
If he participates, player is charged with live-ball foul for
illegal participation (15 yards, previous spot).
Bleeding/excessive blood on uniform = injured.
Excessive blood: an amount of blood sufficient to
saturate the uniform, or is likely to be easily
transferred to another player.
Timing Adjustment
Timing errors on the game clock may be
corrected if discovered prior to the second live
ball following the error, unless the period has
ended (3-3-5, 3-4-7).
FHSAA point differential: 35+ point spread.
Up to and including 3rd quarter: discretionary.
4th quarter: mandatory.
Extending the Period
If the situation calls for replaying the down,
the period is extended.
Accepted penalties for live-ball fouls, double fouls,
and inadvertent whistles.
Time need not expire during the down; these
events need only occur during the last timed
down of any period.
It does not matter which team fouls, only that the
down is replayed.
Example
Team A is out of timeouts with 1st and goal on the 8
yard line. A87 catches a pass and is tackled
inbounds on B’s one yard line. During the down,
A68 was flagged for being downfield illegally. The
penalty is accepted and marked off to Team B’s 13.
The referee starts the clock on the ready and time
expires before the snap.
RULING: Period must be extended for an untimed
down because the foul occurred during the last
timed down and was accepted.
Extending the Period
Period is normally
touchdown for the try.
extended
after
a
If the TD is scored as time expires in the 4th
quarter, the try must be attempted unless the
game has been decided.
Accepted penalties for dead-ball fouls or
nonplayer or unsportsmanlike fouls do not
extend the period.
Extending the Period
The period can be extended where the down
is not replayed.
Accepted penalty that results in a first down for
Team A.
Safety by penalty.
If a foul occurs that includes a loss of down
penalty, any score is canceled and the period
is not extended (3-3-4b).
Example
1st and goal on B’s 10 yard line. A88 catches a
pass and is tackled inbounds on B’s one yard line
but is flagged for pass interference. The penalty
is accepted and marked off to B’s 25. The
referee starts the clock on the ready and time
expires before the snap.
RULING: Period is not extended because OPI
includes a loss of down.
Extending the Period
Period is not extended when the defense fouls during a
successful try or field goal and the offended team
accepts the result of the play with enforcement from
the succeeding spot.
Penalty will carry over to the first play of the next period or
overtime.
If there is an accepted penalty for a foul by the nonscoring team during a play that ends in a touchdown as
time expires in the quarter, the period is not extended
for the kickoff.
Penalty carries over to the try (period extended) or kickoff
in the next quarter.
Untimed Down
If a foul occurs before or during an untimed
down, it is treated the same as if it occurred
during the last timed down of the period.
As such, there could be multiple untimed
downs.
Delay of Game-5 Yard Penalty
25-second clock.
Deliberately advancing a dead ball.
Unnecessary delay in unpiling after a down.
Snapping or free kicking before the ready.
Failure to property wear legal or required
equipment when the ball is about to become
live.
Delay to Start a Half (9-8-1g)
If a team is not ready to play at the beginning
of a half, the delay foul carries a 15-yard
unsportsmanlike conduct penalty (head
coach).
If both teams refuse to enter, the home team
must enter first.
If the field is not cleared by the home team
management so that a half may start, it is a
delay foul with a 5-yard penalty (3-6-4).