SECTION 3. Timeouts: Starting and Stopping the Clock
Injury Timeout
ARTICLE 6.
f. Ten-Second Runoff. If the player injury is the only reason for stopping the clock (other than that player’s helmet or a teammate’s helmet coming off, Rule 3-3-10) any time after the Two-Minute Timeout in the 2nd or 4th quarters, with less than one minute in the half, the opponent has the option of a 10-second runoff. (Exception: If a player injury occurs on a play where there is a temporary stoppage of the clock for a first down, and the clock is stopped with 10 seconds or less remaining in the 2nd or 4th quarters, the opponent has the option of a 10-second runoff. The 10-second runoff may be avoided by the use of a charged team timeout if available)
Approved Ruling 3-3-6 XIII. 3/10 @ B-30. Late in the 4th quarter, Team A completes a pass over the middle and A88 is tackled inbounds at the B-15 for a first down. A88 remains on the ground and the Referee declares an official's timeout for injury. There is (a) 0:05 on the game clock; (b) 0:15 on the game clock. RULING: In (a), Team B has the option of a 10-second runoff. Team A can avoid the runoff if it has a charged timeout remaining. The game is over if the 10-second runoff option is exercised. In (b), there is no option for a 10-second runoff. The clock will start on the Referee's signal following the injury timeout
Approved Ruling 3-3-6 XIV. 3/10 @ B-30. Late in the 4th quarter, Team A completes a pass over the middle and A88 is tackled inbounds at the B-15 for a first down. At the snap, (a) Team B had 12 players on the field; (b) Team A's formation was not legal (c) A77’s helmet came off during the play (not a direct result of a foul by an opponent). A88 remains on the ground and the Referee declares an official's timeout for injury. There is 0:05 remaining on the game clock RULING: In (a) there is no option for a 10-second runoff since the official's timeout includes addressing the Illegal Substitution by Team B; (b) there is no option for a 10-second runoff since the official's timeout includes addressing the Illegal Formation by Team A; (c) Team B has the option of a 10-second runoff. Team A can avoid the runoff if it has a charged timeout remaining. The game is over if the 10-second runoff option is exercised.
Approved Ruling 3-3-6 XV. 3/10 @ B-30. Late in the 4th quarter, Team A's pass is (a) complete and A88 runs out of bounds at the B-15 for a first down; (b) is incomplete. A88 remains on the ground and the Referee declares an official's timeout for injury. There is 0:05 remaining on the game clock. RULING: There is no option for a 10-second runoff since (a) the runner is out of bounds stopping the game clock; (b) the pass is incomplete stopping the game clock.
Approved Ruling 3-3-6 XVI. 3/10 @ B-30. Late in the 4th quarter, Team A completes a pass over the middle and A88 is tackled inbounds at the B-15 for a first down. B27 remains on the ground and the Referee declares an official's timeout for injury. There is (a) 0:05 on the game clock; (b) 0:15 on the game clock. RULING: In (a), Team A has the option of a 10-second runoff, which they may decline and the clock will start on the snap. In (b), there is no option for a 10-second runoff. The clock will start on the Referee's signal following the injury timeout.
1. The play clock will be set at 40 seconds for an injury to a player of the defensive team and at 25 seconds for an injury to a player of the offensive team (Rule 3-2-4c-5).
2. If there is a 10-second runoff the game clock will start on the referee’s signal. If there is no 10-second runoff the game clock will start on the snap.
3. The 10-second runoff may be avoided by the use of a charged team timeout if available.
4. There is no option of a 10-second runoff if there are injuries to opposing players.
Approved Ruling 3-3-6 VIII. Late in the half ball carrier A35 is tackled. B79 goes to the ground with an injury and the officials stop the game clock, which shows (a) 12 seconds; (b) eight seconds. RULING: Team A has the option of a 10-second runoff. If there is no 10-second runoff the game clock starts on the snap. If Team A accepts the option, (a) there will be two seconds on the game clock which will start on the referee’s signal; (b) time in the half has expired.
Approved Ruling 3-3-6 IX. Late in the half ball carrier A35 is tackled beyond the line to gain. B79 goes to the ground with an injury. RULING: There is no option for a 10-second runoff because the game clock stops on the first down as well as the injury. The game clock starts on the referee’s signal.
