Whistle at first horn

[Rich]

Originally Posted by RookieDude

...I believe the exact words are, "A warning signal for the teams to PREPARE to resume play is sounded with 15 seconds remaining." (5-11-2,3)

So that would go along with your "or getting ready to, anyway" statement...

but, somewhat different than "they should be BREAKING AT 15 seconds"...IMO.

I'm not all that concerned with a few seconds here or there. I know that if the team hasn't broken the huddle on the SECOND horn, I'm going to remind the coach to move things along.

The whistle usually gets them stirring, but if it doesn't, I'm just doing what I've always done -- getting in the huddle, encouraging them to break, etc.

Not putting the ball down unless a team is really insistent on not breaking until the second horn repeatedly -- or defiant.