Rule 5-1-1: Bizarre state rule interpretation?

[WestCoaster]

Would appreciate it if I could get the states that you're from and what your state rules interpreters are saying about this one issue: A down played with the wrong number on the box. Also, even if we're trying to get the box changed by signaling the HL, if it looks like the snap is eminent we are supposed to shut it down if we think it won't be changed in time. Kill the clock even though we all know the box needs to be changed. Needless to say a large number of us think these ideas are silly, and not supported by th rules, NFHS interpretations or case plays.

[HLin NC]

They are mixing problems. Their "fix" is for crews who have genuinely lost or gained a down and then realize it, somehow.

The over-eager/inattentive down box operator can be easily corrected and should not be categorized in the same problem.

[Robert Goodman]

So they want to hold the game hostage to an assistant who's probably a HS kid scrounged up minutes earlier to hold the down stake?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

So they want to hold the game hostage to an assistant who's probably a HS kid scrounged up minutes earlier to hold the down stake?

At the varsity level this most probably isn't the case. Those people are generally regulars and are quite good at what they do, at least in my area.

But yours is a good point -- at the subvarsity levels, the box person is usually a kid or a volunteer parent roped in at the last minute.

I'm not holding up a play to fix a down box. No chance. We'll get it after the play.

[CT1]

Originally Posted by Rich

At the varsity level this most probably isn't the case.
I'm not holding up a play to fix a down box. No chance. We'll get it after the play.

I take the opposite view, Rich. We're not playing a down when the box is wrong. It's too easy to take ten seconds (or less) to fix it right then & there.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by CT1

I take the opposite view, Rich. We're not playing a down when the box is wrong. It's too easy to take ten seconds (or less) to fix it right then & there.

We disagree then.

No reason to disturb the rhythm of the game, stop the play clock, have the down box changed, and then reset all of it for something that can be fixed after the fact, UNLESS it matters at the time (box says 3rd down, it's 4th down, team doesn't send its punt team out, etc.).

[Altor]

Would you stop the game to correct the electronic game clock if you noticed it was incorrect and the snap was eminent or let play continue and correct it afterward? If yes, why is the down box different?

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Rich

No reason to disturb the rhythm of the game, stop the play clock, have the down box changed, and then reset all of it for something that can be fixed after the fact, UNLESS it matters at the time (box says 3rd down, it's 4th down, team doesn't send its punt team out, etc.).

Is it really necessary to reset the play clock? You can't just hold it? I could understand resetting if players said they were confused about the down, but not otherwise. Actually I can't see stopping play at all unless they're confused, but stopping & resetting would be worse than merely stopping.