Play clock countdown timeout
 

Curious as to how this should be handled (NFHS). HC for A informs a wing official that they want a timeout when the play clock hits :01. Do you grant that request, or do you deny the request and have the coach call the TO when the play clock shows :01?

"Stand right here, Coach." Then grant the TO when it hits :01. Same thing if it's the QB.

Hopefully the ECO will realize what's about to happen & doesn't get taken by surprise.

Last Friday night-

HC- "I'm gonna let it run down and then call timeout."
HLinNC-"ok"
HC- "Can I run it down to 1 second?"
HLinNC- "sure"

Play Clock- "1"
HLinNC- "tweeeet"

Limiting your opportunity to do ANYTHING to 1 second, is foolish and totally unnecessary.

Maybe, maybe not. But even if it is foolish and totally unnecessary, who are we to keep coaches from doing it, if they wish?

I think you let them request the timeout. I do not like to in any situation preemptively give a timeout and the coach is not giving the request at the moment. Too much tape and I do not want to be the one responsible for being late or giving a timeout that was not seen as a request.

Peace

"We" will very likely (almost guaranteed) be the target of any, and all, criticism and/or abuse that may result from trying to unnecessarily cut a line WAY too close, if things don't work out as expected. If you're willing to accept that risk, knock yourself out.

You might consider suggesting, "Let's stop it at 3 seconds to give the clock operator an opportunity to respond to my signal and avoid a lot of unnecessary confusion and problems"

(on the Microphone, if applicable): "Prior to the playclock running out, a timeout was called by $TEAM_NAME. This is their First/Second/Third charged timeout."

If no mike: "Coach, the $TEAM_NAME coach/player called timeout just before the play clock expired".

Not hard at all. Happens all the time when a team is trying to take as much time off the clock as they can in the waning moments of a game, or if they call a timeout just prior to getting a DOG penalty.