Ending a period

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by BoilerUmp

That is exactly what we were seeing in the rule book, but on the way home we asked the "what if" question: what if the score was A7 - B14. Team A has the ball 4th and goal on the 2 yard line and has no time outs left and the clock running. While QB, A12 is calling his cadence, B encroaches with 1 second left. If Team A is unable to get a play off after the reset, it would seem an unfair situation that Team B COULD have used. Admittedly, one could apply the "unfair acts" rule, but we shouldn't have to use that to keep the game fair.

Three points:

1. No coach or player would ever think to do this, so it's not worth worrying about.

2. If I'm a wing in this situation, I hold my whistle 1 second before flagging the encroachment, and the game is over.

3. Why is it unfair to A if they can't get a play off before time expires? Isn't that their problem? Game's gotta end at some point.

[Big2Cat]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Three points:

1. No coach or player would ever think to do this, so it's not worth worrying about.

2. If I'm a wing in this situation, I hold my whistle 1 second before flagging the encroachment, and the game is over.

3. Why is it unfair to A if they can't get a play off before time expires? Isn't that their problem? Game's gotta end at some point.

Actually, they do think of this. That is why referees have rule 3-4-3. For an obviously unfair advantage, the referee could start that play on the snap as opposed to the ready. Why should B gain an advantage on the clock by fouling?

[Big2Cat]

Here is the rule from NCAA. The rule in high school is similar.

Unfair Clock Tactics
ARTICLE 3. The referee shall order the game clock or play clock started or
stopped whenever either team conserves or consumes playing time by tactics
obviously unfair. This includes starting the game clock on the snap if the foul is by the team ahead in the score. The game clock will start on the ready-for-play signal after Team A throws an illegal forward or backward pass to conserve time
(Rule 3-3-2-e-15) (A.R. 3-4-3-I-V).

[jaybird]

3-4-6
ART. 6 . . . When a team attempts to conserve or consume time illegally, the
referee shall order the clock started or stopped.

[NorCalRef12]

Right, if you feel that B intentionally encroached with 1 second left, the referee can order the game clock stopped and only have it start on the snap.

I have actually called delay of game on B in a similar situation.

A had just run for a second down to the B5. There were about 15 seconds to go and A was hustling up so they could spike the ball. As the last players are getting out of the pile there were about 7 seconds left, B1 slaps the ball away so that it will take longer for us to get the ball and mark it RFP. I killed the clock and flagged B for DoG. B ended up stopping A from scoring, but A was able to get one more play off.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Big2Cat

Actually, they do think of this. That is why referees have rule 3-4-3. For an obviously unfair advantage, the referee could start that play on the snap as opposed to the ready. Why should B gain an advantage on the clock by fouling?

I'm not going to apply 3-4-6 just because team B fouled. A simple encroachment isn't an obviously unfair tactic.