[just another ref]

At least, if I understand correctly, if this accidentally works out the way I consider to be right, everything is okay. If the first touch on the court is a kick, the official chopping the clock, even if done, which many times it would not be, would be a blur mixed in with the signal for the violation. And whether the timer is watching for the chop or watching for the touch on the court to start the clock, the whistle will follow so closely that I'm guessing many times the clock will not start. None of this is terribly significant unless it all happens at the end of a period with a very small amount of time, and then I guess each of us will have to decide at that time how to proceed.