Mandatory warm-up period

Originally Posted by InsideTheStripe

I don't understand the confusion over this. Table 3-1 was changed this year to address the confusion over whether or not the clock should be run if one or both teams were not on the field.

The game officials are responsible for ensuring that there is a three-minute warm-up period posted on the clock and the clock immediately started for use by the coaches immediately after the halftime intermission expires. The head coach is responsible for his team being on the field for mandatory warm-up time at the end of the scheduled halftime intermission.

What would you tweak?

Post the three minutes and run it - that's the NFHS position.

It doesn't say post the 3 minutes at the end of the intermission, ensure both teams are present and start the clock. It says post the 3 minutes at the end of intermission and immediately start the clock. If your state wants to do something else, that's their prerogative, but let's not pretend there is ambiguity in what the NFHS wants done.

I didn't have my book with me when I typed my posting, but reading what you posted and reading it in my book, I don't understand the many interpretations on when the clock is supposed to start even with the FED's clear mandate. You're letting the coaches run the game when you're holding the clock till both teams arrive on the field for the warm-up period, even if you have to penalize one or both for not being on the field at the time it's supposed to start. If this keeps up, then all I can say is...watch out a few years down the road, the FED will have a point of emphasis on this.