Can this be changed?

[Jerry Baldwin]

This is one of those mistakes that we officials try to avoid because, as has been stated, the error is not correctable. Your officials tried to make up for their (table error) mistake. Actually the officials have to assume the table personel does not know when to change the arrow and be aware of this. Most officials check the table before inbounding the ball between quarters or half to avoid the PA being wrong. Once the ball is handed to a player the offficials by rule cannot correct the AP arrow. Play continues as though the AP arrow was right. Now the reality is that we make AP arrow corrections if discovered before anything major has happened and use the correctable error procedure, knowing full well we are not supported by the rules. But it is usually fair. The NF rule book leaves very little room for correcting officials mistakes see rule 2-10-1 thru 6. You got lucky and the officials did the fair thing, but the NF rule book won't support their decision. Have someone on your staff keep the AP arrow in your book at your bench and if the table gets it wrong. Go to the table before the ball is handed to a player and get the officials to correct the AP arrow before the ball becomes live (an inbound player controls).