Game Clock Rule

[SCFLDad]

Originally Posted by Blue37

I see this as a difference in semantics. The clock either starts on the snap or when declared ready by the referee, regardless of the signal(s) he uses. I like the wording in the NCAA rule better, but I understand the UIL/HS rule means the same, even if it does not say it the same way...

(FYI, my interest in clarification is for our little league play which follows NCAA and UIL for Texas. Our players dads run the clock, not an official.)

First, the 2008 NCAA book very clearly includes "[S2]" in rule (3-2-5a). There should be no confusion in my opinion since they are two distinctly different (S1 and S2) signals. My instinct tells me that ready for play means that the neutral zone has been established and the offense has a limited amount of time to put the ball in play - both teams to respect the neutral zone until the ball is in play. Winding the clock simply means "start the clock".

Second, it is not a UIL rule per se, but UIL makes an exception to the 2008 NCAA rule (3-2) for timing and instead uses the 2005 NCAA rule (3-2) for timing. These are both NCAA rules. Why would NCAA change the rule to say use [S2] (in 2008) from saying start with ready-to-play (in 2005) if they mean the same thing? It seems that ready-for-play doesn't always mean start the GAME clock, but according to the 2005 NCAA rule, it may.

Under UIL in Texas, if the game clock and the play clock are to both start at the same time, then the only signal we are to give is the "winding" signal and both the play clock and game clock will start on that signal.

Our refs normally only give the ready-for-play signal after a first down (for example) and don't always give us the wind signal. This is why its confusing. (The refs have the play clock, so we are only concerned with the game clock.)