Defense is man down for previous foul. Time is running out in the third quarter. Lose ball push by attacking team. "Play on!" sounds and quarter ends less than a second later before play on status can be determined.

How (faceoff or possession) and where is fourth quarter started?

Report the play on at the horn. Give the ball to team that gained posession from the play on(instead of a faceoff) at midfield to start the quarter. Will cite rules for you tomorrow.

I trust you've had a hard time finding proof in the rule and case book.

Rule 4.3.1 EXCEPTION (1) "In the event of an extra-man siituation or a flag-down sit. that creates an extra-man sit. at the conclusion of any period, the next period shall be commenced by awarding possession of the ball to the team that had possession of the ball at the conclusion of the prior period in the same relative poasition on the field."

Your situation, stevesmith, is a loose ball push not a flag-down so the following period will start with a face-off. At least in my game :)

Ballen,
but the team is man down from a previous foul. Did you read the original play wrong or did I miss somthing?

Why would it not be enforced like this:

Team A is man up.
Ball is on the ground.
A1 pushes B1, play on, during the play on the horn for the period sounds.
Team B is awarded the ball where B1 got pushed, or 20 yards latterly.
Since the period ended with team B with the ball during a man down situation they will have the ball at the same relative spot to start the next period.

Basically it is what Snake~eyes had except that the ball is kept at the same relative position and not center “X”.

Agreed, my error.

Agree with Rilax and Snake~eyes. Maybe Ballen missed the original man down.

We discussed this in our chapter meeting last week and all agreed.

What am I missing? Loose ball push. When did team B gain possession? Period ends with the ball loose. Face-off. Somebody needs to find a reference in the rule book to prove me wrong.

Until then, I'm relying on 4.3.1 and beginning the 4th period with a face off and team A still man up.

7.11.H Case book

During a man-down at the close of a period, there is a loose ball, play-on push. The period ends as the whistle is to sound for the play-on. Ruling: The play-on signifies possession, so when the period ends, the offended team gets possession of the ball to start the next period.

Thanks for taking the time to look it up RILAX.

Ballen - I think what is confusing here is that you have two seperate issues that combined make the difference.

1- The play on signifies immediate possession, although actual physical possession may be delayed.

2- The man down possession rule eliminates the face-off.

In this case, possession is earned by the "play on" before the quarter ends, and with the team being a man down, they are allowed to begin the next quarter without the faceoff.

I get it now. Thanks RELAX! I needed that reference of 7.11.H. in the case book. So, Play On indicates possession; of course. It makes complete sense now that I have that piece of the puzzle.

Sure no problem.