Lee Grace| Wichita
Show Caption
A few years ago, NCAA and Texas high school football introduced the 40-second play clock. This change was made to help standardize the time between the end of a play and the start of the next play.
Only for certain administrative situations will the play clock be set to 25 seconds. New exceptions this season for are after kickoffs and after touchdowns, when the play clock is set to 40 seconds and starts immediately when the ball is declared dead. Here are situations to test your rules knowledge.
Play One – On fourth down, the offense lines up and punts the football. The kicked football is caught at the opposite 30-yard line and returned to the 38-yard line. Is the play clock set to 40 seconds and started immediately after the tackle or set to 25 seconds and started with the referee’s ready-for-play signal?
Answer – Following a punt, the referee will declare the football ready to play and blow his whistle. The play clock then starts counting down from 25 seconds.
Play Two – To start the third quarter, the home team kicks off from the 40-yard line to the visitors. The visiting team receiver signals for a fair catch and completes the catch at the 10-yard line. Where is the football next put into play? Is the play clock set to 40or 25 seconds and when does it start?
Answer – If the fair catch is inside of the 25-yard line, the result is the same as a touchback. The football is placed at the 25-yard line. After any kickoff, the play clock is set at 40 seconds and immediately starts when the kickoff is whistled dead.
Play Three – On a kickoff, the football is returned to the receiving team’s 35-yard line. During the return, the receiving team is flagged for a block below the waist at the 42-yard line. Where will the next play begin and when does the play clock start?
Answer – In the described situation, the 15-yard penalty for blocking below the waist will be marked off from the end of the return at the 35-yard line. It will be first and 10 from the 20-yard line. After the penalty has been marked off, the referee will declare the ball ready for play. The play clock will be set at 25 seconds and start on the referee’s signal.
Play Four –During a kickoff return, one of the kicking team players is legally blocked and his helmet comes off. He does not participate in the remainder of the play. Is the play clock set to 25 or 40 seconds and when does the play clock start?
Answer – When a defensive player’s helmet comes off from a legal block, the officials will send the player off for one play. The play clock will be set to 40 seconds and start on the referee’s ready-for-play signal. If an offensive player’s helmet comes off, the play clock will be set to 25 seconds.
Grace is a member of the North Texas Chapter of the Texas Association of Sports Officials. Email your rules questions to him atlee@955espn.com. Listen to his “You Make the Call” weekdays at 9:57 a.m. and 3:27 p.m. on 95.5 FM ESPN.
