When officially is the ball ready for play?

[cos_man99]

NFHS RUles

Had this in a JV game last week. Our crew is still discussing it and I'd like your opinion, please.

4.5 seconds left in the half. Offense just picked up a first down in bounds. Clock is stopped to move the chains. Offense does a great job of not waiting for us they get set in a correct offensive formation. Our umpire moves out of the way as the chains get set. WH starts to blow the whistle to wind the clock and put the ball ready for play. During the time while the whistle is blowing A snaps the ball and spikes it to stop the clock.

So the question is when is the ball ready for play? The instant the whistle starts blowing? That is when the clock is supposed to start running. In the situation above the WH blew long enough to crank his arm around twice quickly. What does that take maybe one second? If the offense may snap the instant the ball is marked RFP then how may there be a ball in play while a whistle is still sounding?

We met in the middle of the field and discussed it for a brief time then decided to assess a delay of game for snapping before the ball was marked ready for play. We backed them up 5 yds and started the clock on the next snap. How do you think we did?

Thanks for your input.