- Watch the guy in the white hat, not the play.
- Know the difference between the white hat's ready-for-play signal, and start the clock signal.
- Thanks for stepping up and helping out and wanting to do it right
http://www.nfhs.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=4993
From above:
Game Procedures:
1. The clock operator is an integral member of the officiating crew and game administration. Unfair advantages occur when the game clock is not started or stopped correctly by rule. Great care must be exercised to see that no time lag occurs in starting or stopping the clock.
2. On all free kicks, the nearest game official(s) will signal the legal touching of the ball by indicating that the clock should start.
3. Any game official may signal a time-out; therefore, the operator should be alert to stop the clock.
4. The incompletion signal will stop the clock.
5. The clock operator will automatically stop the clock following a touchdown, field goal, touchback or safety after the appropriate scoring signal has been made.
6. After the clock has been stopped, the referee will start it again on the referee’s start-the-clock signal and if no such signal is given, the operator will start the clock on the snap without the signal from the referee.
7. The referee may start the clock again in certain instances before the ready-for-play signal.
8. The try is not a timed down.
9. There are instances when a period shall be extended by an untimed down. During these extensions, leave the clock at :00. Do not reset the clock for the next period until the referee declares the period over by facing the press box and holding the ball overhead.
10. Each state association may decide whether or not to utilize a running clock in certain situations, and the procedures for those situations.