NFHS timing mistake question

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

Nevada:

The only thing that comes to mind is when an Overtime Period starts with the incorrect length and if my memory serves me correctly it is a Case Book Play and the Ruling is exactly the opposite from the NCAA Men's and Women's Approved Rulings for the exact same Situation.

MTD, Sr.

I’ve always thought this to be a bizarre play ruling. Why not simply subtract the proper amount of time from four minutes? For example, if the timer mistakenly set the clock to 5 minutes for the OT period and thirty seconds had been played when the violation occurred and the referee was notified, just set the clock to 3:30 and continue the OT period. Yet the NFHS states not to do that???
In any event, this doesn’t tell us when it is too late to correct a normal timing mistake or game clock malfunction.

5.7.3 - Length of Extra Period Incorrect
Following a violation in the first extra period, the timer beckons the referee to the table. The timer informs the referee that by mistake the period started with: (a) more; or (b) less than four minutes on the clock.
RULING: In (a), if the mistake is discovered before the clock reaches four minutes, the clock shall be set at four minutes and play resumes. If discovered after reaching four minutes, no correction is allowed. In (b), the appropriate amount of time shall be added to reflect a four-minute period. (2-5-5)