When officially is the ball ready for play?

[cos_man99]

Yeah, well exactly. Then we are back to the original question. When is the ball officially ready for play?

[waltjp]

Stop over thinking things. The whistle sounds the ready for play. You're really looking for trouble if you're going to start defining the length of the whistle's sound. Some refs give a quick toot. Others give a long blast. It doesn't matter. As soon as you hear the whistle it's okay to snap the ball.

Using the argument that the whistle didn't stop blowing will lead coaches to instruct their players to play until the whistle stops!

[mbyron]

How many angels fit on the head of a pin?

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by mbyron

How many angels fit on the head of a pin?

Straight pin or bowling pin?

[jontheref]

I've been through this play where the team was set awaiting us with one second left. There is nothing by rule that stipulates the team must be set after the whistle....only that they all be set prior to the snap. In our play, they got off the play with one second, through a fade to the end zone--saw a flag for dpi....where they got another play...and a score for a tie game. No controversey there, eh? But, yes, the play was a legal play.