Timing Issue

[mikesears]

Originally Posted by svm1010

The way I look at it is this. If the foul had not occurred what would the clock be doing? If it would still be running then it should start on the RFP if not then it would start on the snap.

Granted there are a couple of exceptions, such as a delay penalty that you have to be aware of, but that summary has served me well over the years.

So in this situation, if you ignore the illegal shift, the play ended inbounds so the clock would still be running. So after the enforcement the clock would be started at the RFP. The preceding incomplete pass has no bearing on the clock status once the ball is legaly snapped.

We need to be careful using the status of the clock absent the foul. It works most of the time, but consider this play.

4/10 at the K-30. Team K is flagged for only having six men on the line of scrimmage. K1 punts the ball and it is touched by R1 at the R-40. R2 recovers the muff at the R-15 where he is downed. R accepts the penalty which forces K to rekick.

Q: When does the clock start?

If we used what would have happened absent the foul, it would have started on the snap because R would have been awarded a new series following a legal kick.

Correct Answer is on the ready for play. Neither team was awarded a new series following a legal kick.

[Theisey]

"Correct Answer is on the ready for play. Neither team was awarded a new series following a legal kick."

certainly for NFHS, not so for NCAA.. which makes it no brainer to figure out.

[svm1010]

Originally Posted by mikesears

We need to be careful using the status of the clock absent the foul. It works most of the time, but consider this play.

True,which is why I mentioned that there are exceptions. Rules of thumb are no substitue for real rules knowlegde.