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Is hand chop required?
During the kickoff procedure after the WH blows the whistle for 'ready for play' does the back judge (who's is on the kicking line) need to hand chop the last 5 seconds, or is that only required for scrimmage plays?
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Canadian Ruling
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We do not show a visible warning that the play clock is about to expire on any play: kickoff or scrimmage play. Some officials will verbalize, "hurry up". |
In Iowa, we have been specifically instructed by the state office to NOT have the B chop in for any plays.
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Ohio ruling
We don't chop, we do however put our hand above our head to signal 5 or less seconds remaining. I will, but have not had to yet on a kickoff.
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If your state requires you to give a visible signal for the 25 second clock and if you are allowed to call delay-of-game in the kicking team for kick-offs then you should count out the last 5 seconds of the play clock on a kick-off.
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MJT, I do not understand why Iowa will not let you chop for any play, does the offense not have the right to know how much time is left before they get hit with a d-o-g penalty? |
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In Iowa, NO signal whatsoever. The IHSAA feels that giving any kind of signal puts the offense at an advantage of knowing the 25-seconds is winding down, since the BJ is always behind the defense. It "disadvantages" the defense. I think it's stupid because if the defense knows the clock is winding down, then they can shift and show a different blitz or whatever that would force the QB to reaudible or call timeout or risk the DOG penalty. |
Our BJ does not 'chop' for any plays. He just puts his hand up at the 5 second mark. I would doubt if the QB (obviously at the LOS) could even see his 'chopping' 20 yards deep.
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We don't chop either. It's stupid. |
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I still chop even though no one has told me either way what to do. This is not really a big deal either way. I do not see a right or wrong for this situation.
Peace |
REPLY: We were told that we must chop the last 5 seconds. In fact, more and more, coaches are relying on us to serve as their 'surrogate' play clock when they're trying to run out the clock. Their QBs will look right at the BJ and snap when his chop gets to 23 or 24 seconds expired. Very effective.
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REPLY: Ref Ump Welsch...I agree. However, when there's a coach on the sideline--or both sidelines--with a watch, you're going to catch grief even if your BJ does count off the last five seconds. One coach's watch will definitely be running faster than yours; and you can bet that the other coach's watch will be running slower than yours! The best of all possible worlds is that the game clock is running when the RFP is blown and the BJ is facing the scoreboard.
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Like Ref inSoCA said, we don't chop, rarely get any comment about the 25 second clock from coaches, rarely have delay flags. Perhaps in our area, this is a solution looking for a problem that doesn't exist.
And as usual, my advise is to do what your local assoc and/or state wants you to do. |
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I know crews that manipulate the clock and give 28, 29, 30 seconds for a DOG and I suspect that is part of this thinking. I hate that and would rather have field level clocks everyone can see. I've told my BJ -- at 25 we throw a flag. They will adjust quickly. |
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