[Maverick]

Originally posted by Jurassic Referee

So let's review what the rule actually says. When A1 subs out, he is not allowed to re-enter the game until two things happen:

1) There is another opportunity to substitute; and
2) The clock has properly started.

That's it. Those are the necessary conditions for re-entry to the game. As I keep saying, it's unambiguous. There's no case play that lets us interpret (2) as "The clock has or should have been properly started". There just isn't. There probably should be, but there isn't.

I just don't see any rules-based way to allow the sub in the situation that we're talking about.

[/B]

For the record, I agree completely with the above. [/B][/QUOTE]

I would also agree that the rule is unambiguous. However, it would appear to me that the game situation IS ambiguous. If I'm officiating, I have no way to tell if the timer actually started the clock or not without directly asking him/her. (In the original post it is stated that it was "not started" but how do we know???) As Dan said, it is possible to start and stop the clock without time running off the display. In that case, it would meet the second requirement (already having met the first). Since the clock should have started, I wouldn't go looking for an arguement. I'd leave the clock where it is, assume that it did start and stop as directed and allow the sub.