Ready for Play

[Scooby]

When should the ready for play be blown. Does it vary on the game situation or if a team is running a hurry uo offense the whole game or if a team is behind in the last two minutes? I would like to hear your thoughts.

[SouthGARef]

Originally Posted by Scooby

When should the ready for play be blown. Does it vary on the game situation or if a team is running a hurry uo offense the whole game or if a team is behind in the last two minutes? I would like to hear your thoughts.

It's called a "ready for play" for a reason. As an R, when me and my partners are ready... I blow the whistle. Not a minute before, not a minute after.

I absolutely hate it when crews speed up the tempo when a team is behind in the last two minutes. I'm not saying we shouldn't hustle -- but just because your team is down doesn't mean my crew is going to run around like a bunch of chickens with our heads cut off. It's not our fault you're losing.

Hustle, don't hurry.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Scooby

When should the ready for play be blown. Does it vary on the game situation or if a team is running a hurry uo offense the whole game or if a team is behind in the last two minutes? I would like to hear your thoughts.

It really doesn't matter whether it's 10 seconds, 20 seconds, whatever. The important thing is to be consistent. We don't speed up during the last two minutes. When the ball is ready and we're ready, it's blown.

[daggo66]

Be consistent, especially when one team uses the no huddle and the other doesn't. Never blow the RFP with 26 seconds on the clock!

[Scooby]

Something that I heard (it may not be true) that in the Big Ten they expect the RFP to be blown 12-14 seconds after the end on the last play are there any guidelines like that in NFHS?

[Ed Hickland]

Originally Posted by Scooby

Something that I heard (it may not be true) that in the Big Ten they expect the RFP to be blown 12-14 seconds after the end on the last play are there any guidelines like that in NFHS?

Not sure if it is a league expectation but a few years ago when he was still officiating Dick Honig stated that was his goal.

I personally like to shoot for no more than 15 seconds after the end of a running play, in fact, my crew slowed me down from an average of about 12 seconds. When you hustle and keep a consistent pace all game its enables the offense to get a tempo and you get more snaps.

[Simbio]

I say be consistent through the whole game, and echo what was said before "Hustle, don't hurry." No team should get a special priviledge.

[Sonofanump]

Originally Posted by Scooby

Something that I heard (it may not be true) that in the Big Ten they expect the RFP to be blown 12-14 seconds after the end on the last play are there any guidelines like that in NFHS?

In 2008 NCAA will be going to a 40 second deadball clock for inbound plays.

[Niner]

I don't think a team should have to wait for a crew. An experienced crew has little trouble having the ball ready for play regardless of the pace of the offense.

[jaybird]

Originally Posted by Scooby

Something that I heard (it may not be true) that in the Big Ten they expect the RFP to be blown 12-14 seconds after the end on the last play are there any guidelines like that in NFHS?

The Big XII also has it's crews strive for this time frame. They started this a few years ago and some of the smaller (D2) conferences have been using this same guide.


...but my BJ is digging the ball from somewhere on the sidleline or over on the track and relaying the ball to the U.

Not us. We will get another ball from the ball boy and then they can fetch the other one. We are paid to officiate not be ball chasers.

[Forksref]

Originally Posted by jaybird

...but my BJ is digging the ball from somewhere on the sidleline or over on the track and relaying the ball to the U.

Not us. We will get another ball from the ball boy and then they can fetch the other one. We are paid to officiate not be ball chasers.

We never have the luxury of more than one ball per team and usually the ball boys aren't very good. Also, if the ball is on the sideline or near the track, it is a situation where the clock stopped on an OOB or incomplete pass so there is no panic. We hustle and do the best we can. The reality is that we have to chase the balls frequently.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by Scooby

When should the ready for play be blown. Does it vary on the game situation or if a team is running a hurry uo offense the whole game or if a team is behind in the last two minutes? I would like to hear your thoughts.

CANADIAN MECHANIC:

Quick version...

The RFP is blown in when the R determines that the last offensive substitute has reached the huddle. The play clock is 20 seconds. If in the R's judgment teams are abusing the RFP time, the R may start the play clock before all substitutes reach the huddle.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

CANADIAN MECHANIC:

Quick version...

The RFP is blown in when the R determines that the last offensive substitute has reached the huddle.

When did the criterion become A's reaching the huddle rather than both teams' subs entering the field?

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

When did the criterion become A's reaching the huddle rather than both teams' subs entering the field?

That's why I said "quick version". In practice, it's rare that B has a sub that is later than A. I know Rs at the higher levels do a quick check for B subs. If all game B subs quickly, I can see how some Rs will be caught off-guard if B has a slow sub.

[Ed Hickland]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

That's why I said "quick version". In practice, it's rare that B has a sub that is later than A. I know Rs at the higher levels do a quick check for B subs. If all game B subs quickly, I can see how some Rs will be caught off-guard if B has a slow sub.

Know this maybe a Canadian thing but why should subs determine when to ready the ball?

NFHS in its 1997 rule change basically chastised Rs for delaying the ready late in the game following a change of possession to allow for subs then changed the rule to always start the clock on the snap to assure consistency.