Mandatory warm-up period
 

Wisconsin is saying that the mandatory 3-minute warm-up period must be held. If a team is late getting back, you penalize them, and re-set the clock to 3:00. This is in conflict with the rule that now says the 3:00 starts immediately after intermission. Please - no opinions. Does anyone have casebook, NFHS interpretations, etc. that address this point?

I don't have my casebook with me, but I'm pretty sure the "three minute warmup starting immediately after the 15 minute halftime ends" is in there somewhere.

The Minnesota interpretation is that it's the coach's responsibility to get his team back on the field with sufficient warm-up time... and if he does not do so, the liability rests with him rather then with the officiating crew. The coach will be penalized for not having his team back on the field, but the clock will not be reset to 3:00.

Iowa and Nebraska have the same ruling as Minnesota, coach must have the team back on the field before the half ends and the warm-up period starts. No resetting of the clock.

Kansas - clock does NOT reset.

Coach is responsible for team to be on the field prior to warm-up period. "On the field" has been determined to be inside the track or where the track would be.

9-8-1-g states:

No coach, substitute, athletic trainer or other team attendant shall
act in an unsportsmanlike manner once the officials assume authority for the contest.
Examples are, but not limited to:
The failure of a team to:
1. Be ready to start the first half; and
2. Be on the field following the conclusion of the halftime intermission; or
3. Be ready to start the second half at the conclusion of the mandatory
warm-up period.

Points 1, 2 & 3 are all new this year. In Table 3-1 (TABLE OF GAME CLOCK TIMES) it is stated:

Mandatory Warm-up Period Following Intermission: 3 minutes
(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.)

Hope that helps.

Related question: Can the "mandatory" 3 min. warm-up time be dropped "by the Home coaches"?? In our game Friday night, we got to the field with about 1 min. left on the intermission clock. The crew grabbed captains, and I told the rest of the guys to start the warm-up routine. One of the officials told us we didn't have the three min. because the home coach said his team was ready to go and didn't need it. Since we were up big and it was going to be running clock the whole half, we didn't fuss - but it worried me.

My understanding is that the 3 minute warm up MUST be given to the teams. It's their choice what they want to do with it, warm up their players, or not. What we are doing; is put 15 minutes on the clock (or 20 if asked to) and run it down.

If both teams are back on the field before the clock runs down, we stop it, reset it at 3:00 and run that down.

If either team is late getting back to the field, after the intermission time runs out, we reset the clock for 3:00, and hold it there until both teams are back on the field before starting it.

As for the penalty, it depends on the situation. Where the team had to go, where they are in relation to returning, as well as the instructions, or request, of the opposing coach all factor in to that decision.

What state are you in that allows that? We were told, the teams MUST be on the field prior to winding the clock for the warm-up regardless of where they were at halftime.

I'm in NYS, but what is it you have a problem with? I said, "If either team is late getting back to the field, after the intermission time runs out, we reset the clock for 3:00, and hold it there until both teams are back on the field before starting it."

No problem with it, just interesting the interpretation. We were told not to hold it for either team. That's why I was asking which state, to make sure we were ucking fit up on the interp.

Ohio has emphasized the importance of running the warm up period correctly. Don't start it until both teams are back, can't be canceled by coaches, etc. Liability concerns seem to be driving this attitude.

We're in SE WI and I ask the coach where he's going at halftime and if he'll have somebody on that clock to make sure the maority of the team is at or near the field when the 15 minutes lapse. We have yet to have to penalize anyone, but we've had a few close ones. We do it the same way as the other guy mentioned (ajmc). If they're out there and ready to start the warm-up, we'll wipe-off the remainder of halftime and start the 3 minute countdown.

WE do a lot of small schools, and most times the teams stay on the field but in the EZ. The rule states 15 and then a mandatory 3 min warm up. If both teams are on the field in 12 minutes and I meet with the coaches and captains and they are ready to go, we have not done the 3 minute additional warm up period. I personally make sure that they have had the benefit of at least 3 minutes.

Again in tough weather conditions etc. we may shorten the half time period with agreement of both benches. Regardless, they get 3 minutes someway. I tell coaches that if they are ready to go earlier, and the opposing coach wants his entire 15 minutes, plus his 3 minute warm up he will get it. Most just want to get on with the game.

Every week the time keepers tell us that the previous weeks crew did something different in this regard. Every game we start out with the notion that they get the full 15 and 3 time frames. As mentioned above we do bend a bit when conditions and tempers warrant. Jim

Al,

I'm in NY, albeit LI, and I never heard that interpretation. It's at the end of 15 start the 3 minute immediately.

Here is the phrasing from the NFHS/Referee magazine Power Point presentation given at the NC state clinic:

I agree that the 3 minute warm up should normally follow the 15 (or 20) minute intermissions, immediately, when both teams are present to partake in the warmup.

However, in as much as the emphasis is to allow all players a specific time for warmup, common sense dictates that if one of the teams has not returned to the field (which may well necessitate a foul being called), the intent appears that the players should still be afforded a full 3 minutes for warmup activities ( subject to the team's decision as to how that warm-up period may be used).

After having this happen in our second game this year, our referee emailed Wade Labecki at Stevens Point. We were directed that the three minutes are to be put on the clock immediately after halftime ends and the clock started. Flag the offending team. When they do show up, reset the clock to 3 minutes and restart it.
That's the way Wisconsin wants it done.
FYI

Wow, this could lead to some abuses by the coaches, if they knew they could get away with extending halftime. :(

That's what we've been told in VA as well. If both teams are back before the clock runs out on halftime, then halftime can be shortened, but in that case we then set the clock to 3 minutes and run that. Halftime can be shortened, but the warmup can not be eliminated.

To (kind of) get backto a previous question I didn't see answered:

Halftime can be shortened by mutual agreement of both coaches, not by one side arbitrarily.

I understand, and agree, the 3 minute warm up time should be put on the clock immediately after the conclusion of the intermission. I'm confused by starting that clock to run down before both teams are back on the field.

If one team is late, they earn a penalty, but they are still entitled to a full 3 minutes warm-up period (whether that wish to use it properly, or not). If you start the warm up before the second team comes back, and at some time thereafter, when the 2nd team does return, start another 3 minute warm up, you're throwing the timing off for the team who came back properly, on time.

If the offending team came back 5 minutes late, you'd be giving the offended team two options; warm up for 8 minutes, or cool down for an additional 5 minutes after they finished their original 3 minute warm up. If you hold the warm up clock until both teams are ready to participate, apart from the issue of who fouls, both teams get 3 full minutes to warm up immediately before starting the 2nd half.

Sounds like the FED needs to put out a ruling or tweak the wording on this rule. Many different interpretations as to when to wind the clock, holding for a team that hasn't returned, etc.

Actually, I suspect that NFHS likes it that way. Some things they intend to leave to the states.

And open us officials up to liability. :rolleyes:

Not really. We give them the 3 minute warm up period, it's up to them whether or not to use it. Your honor, the team was given the proper warm up period, however they chose to stay in the locker room. Case closed.


If both teams voluntarily step out on the field and line up for the kickoff, we reset the clock to 12 minutes whether it's still during the 15 or 3 minutes. I never bring the captains out prior to the second half. All that is necessary is to ask the team that does not have the choice which goal they wish to defend. KISS.

Maybe I am missing something here. I am seeing some of you discuss the team not being back on the field in time. Don't you send officials to the locker rooms (or whatever area the team goes to) to let the coach know it is time to come back to the field?

KISS is always an option, but only one of many. Many see bringing the Captains out at the half as a standard part of the traditional protocol of the game, which dates back generations. It provides an opportunity for the Referee to briefly summarize how either, or both, teams conducted themselves during the 1st half, and to remind them similar, or better, behavior will be expected for the rest of the game. It's also an opportunity to ask if there are any questions the Captains may have about either half, and to clear up any points of concern of either team, or the officials.

If there were problems during the 1st half, this presents an opportunity to directly mention them and caution about repeating them, or any other subject worth repeating. As for choices that are to be made, or have already been made by coaches, simply confirming those choices, for the benefit of those watching and getting all the participants on the same page, has no drawback. The meeting also serves as a clear demarcation from the intermission, and under most circumstances lasts less then a minute.

So really, how much simpler does KISS actually make things?

But the 3 min. warm-up can not be shortened - or as in the game I cited - done away with entirely...even if both coaches "agree". Correct?

The meeting itself takes less than a minute but you have to factor in the time to track down the captains and get them to the meeting spot. You are also taking them away from whatever warm-up or exercise they are doing (and probably leading if they are captains). If you had issues from the first half you need to discuss, you should have done that in the first half when they happened. We occasionally will take an official's time out during a game to have that conversation with the captains. I'm not opposed to crews having the captain's meeting but we've stopped doing it for several years now and have not had any issues.

As I suggested, "KISS is always an option, but only one of many." If you add "tracking down the Captains" you're pushing the meeting up to about 62 seconds, and any interruption to "taking them away from warm-up exercises" is likely minimal.

If you had issues during the first half, most likely they were discussed as deemed necessary at the time. Sometimes, however, teenagers have very short memories and a reminder can be helpful. You're choosing to stop having such meetings seems to fall under the category of being one, of the many, options available.

They way the Virginia interpreter explained it to us, correct. You can shorten halftime (to a minimum of 10 minutes), but the 3 minutes must be run off in its entirety.

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.

Ditto..

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.

Maybe I am missing something and coming late to this discussion. Why do we have to ensure that both teams are on the field before we start the 3 minutes? That is not what the rule change did. We run the 3 minutes right after the halftime clock runs out. It is not our job to tell the coach how to use or not how to use that time frame. But they will be penalized if they are not on the field in time.

Peace

I disagree, Brent. NFHS wants a warm up period, but I believe that they'll leave the implementation of that to the states. There's a lot of variability around half-time -- a band or two, other ceremonies, etc. -- a lot of variability about how far teams have to go between locker room and field, different facility sizes, etc. Unlike insisting on certain enforcements during the game, they'll leave this issue to the states, IMO.

What does any of that have to do with the warmup period? The NHFS allows the the intermission time to be adjusted. If there is some special ceremony or something then they can extend the halftime intermission. The warmup period is completely separate from the intermission.

Everything you are talking about relates to a longer intermission. The warmup period still will start immediately after the intermission is finished. All it comes down to in the end is that one of the team members must look at a clock or use a stopwatch to know what time they need to be back on the field.

The NFHS says specifically how to run the warmup period. I don't think that they are trying to leave it up to states to decide how to do it.

Believe me...this isn't a problem around here. Crews do flag for USC when the bands don't get off the field before the halftime clock expire, or if halftime is extended because of the inability to complete their activities before the clock expires.

And this is our problem how? The teams have some responsibities. When someone talks about variables, they start to sound like my dean, who thinks we have to bottle-feed our college students, some who are the same age as us.

Well, you're making my point. I've never heard of a slow band earning a flag around here.

I'm not trying to tell you what to do. I'm saying that NFHS picks its battles, and IMO they will let states decide how to enforce the warmup.

Thanks all for your feedback. Decided it's not a fight I'm willing to fight, so we'll just do like the state says. Though I'm sure it will be a point of discussion next year (the "interpretation" was published the last week of the regular season). Though I'll send something to the officials advisory committee.

Though I agree with many, don't understand how "immediately after the half time intermission expires" could result in so many different interpretations!!!

I'm tempted to ask a coach to stay off the field for an hour and see what happens. Heck, it's only a 15-yard penalty. :)

In Louisiana our mechanics call for the wing officials to notify their respective coaches when there is five minutes remaining in the half time period.