In an Illinois High School championship game a team was penalized for delay of game beginning the second halh. They were penalized 15 yards. A referee friend of mine said it should have been 5 yards. What's the correct call?

Well, that could be correct. Did one of the teams refuse to enter the field "first"?? or was one of the teams just not ready to play? See 9-8-1-g

If they returned to the field late, it's unsportsmanlike conduct charged to the head coach- 15 yards.

If the team failed to return to the field prior to the 3-minute warm up, it is a 15 yard penalty. I am assuming this is probably what happened.

They were not on the field for the 3 minute warm up prior to the start of the second half. I didn't realize that it was unsportsmanlike conduct on the coach, it was hard to hear the ref's call and someone told me it was a delay of game penalty. Thanks for the info.

REPLY: Technically, it is not USC for the team not to be on the field for the mandatory three minute warmup, BUT once they get there, you MUST give them that three minute warm-up period, and that will cause <i>"...The failure of a team to be ready to start either half."</i> [NF 9-8-1g] The foul (USC against the coach) is not for being late for the warm-up period but rather for the "domino effect" failure for them to be ready to start the second half.