NFHS interpretation # 8

[oc]

While alot of you are discussing your disagreement with interp. # 7-I personally don't like number 8.

SITUATION 8: At the completion of the first half, the head coaches of the competing teams request that the officials allow a continuous clock starting with the second half alternating-possession throw-in. RULING: This is not legal. The officials should deny the request. By rule, only the state association can establish a running clock. (5-5 Note)


--I understand why this one is there, and I guess I will follow it for V league games. But when I ref a non-league game I think I might ignore this rule if it comes up. Situation last year: Reffing 2 MS games. V team is much stronger that H. When I get to the gym AD says they want to speed the games up and squeeze in a third game between the Visiting team's MS A team and the home school's freshman team. But the visiting team can't stay too long because it is a school night so they want to do running clock for all the games-and later if things are going quick enough the 3rd game might be regular or running clock. Or it might even switch at halftime depending on how much time they have. AD says he will pay for 3 full games regardless of if they are running clock or not. Since both teams agreed I let them do whatever they want with the clock. I also got paid more than I expected.

In fact I might even ignore this one in a Varsity league game depending on the situation.- Traffic holds up the start of the game (As you might guess we get terrible traffic here in Tokyo)one team has a huge lead, it is late at night on a school night, both coaches and AD says they understand the rules but kids need to get home on time or parents/principal will complain. (And if I don't get home on time my wife will complain.)

What do you guys think of this interp? I think it was probably meant for bigger more important games than the ones I am reffing.

[Edited by oc on Oct 23rd, 2003 at 08:01 PM]