Clock Question After Timeout and Penalty on Subsequent Play

[ATL Bear]

Georgia HS Association rules (GHSA).

At the end of prior play a timeout is called by the defense. Offense runs the next play which is a run and the runner is tackled on the field, however the offense is called for illegal formation. If the penalty is taken, does the clock start when the ball is set, or at snap?

Question is relevant as we were managing the clock at end of game, so had to take the down instead of the penalty.

EDIT - GHSA follows NFHS rules.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by ATL Bear

Georgia HS Association rules (GHSA).

At the end of prior play a timeout is called by the defense. Offense runs the next play which is a run and the runner is tackled on the field, however the offense is called for illegal formation. If the penalty is taken, does the clock start when the ball is set, or at snap?

Question is relevant as we were managing the clock at end of game, so had to take the down instead of the penalty.

EDIT - GHSA follows NFHS rules.

Ready for play. The previous play and the timeout are irrelevant. Why did the clock stop? To enforce the foul only. Start on the ready.

[ATL Bear]

Originally Posted by Rich

Ready for play. The previous play and the timeout are irrelevant. Why did the clock stop? To enforce the foul only. Start on the ready.

Thank you for your reply.

It just seems punitive to the defense in that situation, particularly when you're managing clock. No loss of down means in order to get the penalty yardage enforced you have to use multiple timeouts on the same down.

[HLin NC]

No loss of down means in order to get the penalty yardage enforced you have to use multiple timeouts on the same down.

Huh

It just seems punitive to the defense in that situation, particularly when you're managing clock.

The clock was only stopped for the penalty assessment. Defense got to choose the yardage or the down. That is the extent of their options. Decline the penalty and you are one down closer to getting the ball back in your clock management. You don't get a choice of all 3. How badly do you want to punish the offense for a foul at the snap?

[Reffing Rev.]

:When the clock counts...the referee is authorized to start the clock on the snap in the case you mentioned. Under normal circumstances the clock would start on the ready when the down ended in bounds and the clock was then stopped to administer a foul. When it is possible a team fouls to run the clock the referee may hold the clock until the snap.

[maven]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

How badly do you want to punish the offense for a foul at the snap?

That's what I was wondering. Why would the penalty on the offense suddenly become worse because the defense needs to conserve time?

[ATL Bear]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

Huh

Clock is stopped on 2nd down with your initial timeout. In order to stop the clock again and gain the penalty yards, you have to initiate a timeout on the same down.

The clock was only stopped for the penalty assessment. Defense got to choose the yardage or the down. That is the extent of their options. Decline the penalty and you are one down closer to getting the ball back in your clock management. You don't get a choice of all 3. How badly do you want to punish the offense for a foul at the snap?

Well, how is it punishing them any worse when the clock was stopped prior to the play running? Since no loss of down, and the recognition of an illegal play run by the offense thanks to an infraction, why should the offense be entitled to those aspects of the result of the play when the penalty is accepted? Why not simply assess the penalty yardage, while keeping the down and clock status the same as it was at the end of the prior play? Especially when you're talking about a LOS penalty as opposed to a downfield or play action penalty.

[HLin NC]

This isn't some new revelation. Decline the penalty and the down counts. Your defense is now one down closer to getting off the field and getting the ball back.
It isn't the rules committee's job to just totally bail out your defense and save your TO's

Pretty basic timing rule. I don't know too many teams that commit an intentional IF.