SECTION 3. Timeouts: Starting and Stopping the Clock
Helmet Comes Off - Timeout
ARTICLE 9.
a. If a player’s helmet comes completely off through play, other than as the direct result of a foul by an opponent, the player must leave the game for the next down. The game clock will stop at the end of the down. The player may remain in the game if their team is granted a charged timeout.
b. When the helmet coming off is the only reason for stopping the clock, other than due to an injury to the player or their teammate (Rule 3-3-5), the following conditions apply:
1. The play clock will be set at 25 seconds if the player is on offense and at 40 seconds if the player is on defense. With one minute or more remaining in either half, the game clock will start on the referee’s signal.
2. Ten-Second Runoff. If there is less than one minute in the half the opponent has the option of a 10-second runoff, unless the helmet comes off as the direct result of a foul by the opponent.
3. 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.
4. The 10-second runoff may be avoided by the use of a charged team timeout, if available.
Approved Ruling 3-3-9 I. After the ball is dead, A55 blocks B33 at his waist, knocking him to the ground. As B33 hits the ground his helmet comes off. RULING: Dead-ball foul by A55, 15-yard penalty from the succeeding spot. B33 must leave the game for the next down as his helmet came off through play and not due to a helmet foul. B33 may remain in the game if Team B takes a timeout.
Approved Ruling 3-3-9 II. Late in the first quarter ball carrier A22 is legally tackled, and his helmet comes off just after his back hits the ground. The game clock reads 0:00. RULING: A22 must leave the game for the next down, which will be the initial down of the second quarter. A22’s helmet came off through play and there was no helmet foul by Team B. However, A22 may remain in the game if Team A takes a timeout.
Approved Ruling 3-3-9 III. During the down A22’s helmet comes off (no helmet foul by the defense) and B77 goes down with an injury. The ball carrier is tackled inbounds. When the clock is stopped it reads 0:58 in the fourth quarter. RULING: Unless Team A takes a charged timeout, A22 must leave the game for one play. The play clock is set at 40 seconds, due to the defensive injury, rather than 25 seconds due to the helmet coming off the offensive player. There is no option for a 10-second runoff because the clock stops for both the helmet off and the injury, and these occur for opposing players.
5. There is no option for a 10-second runoff if helmets come off opposing players.
Approved Ruling 3-3-9 V. During a play running play that ends in bounds, a linebacker’s helmet comes off. When the ball becomes dead the game clock is stopped and reads 0:45 in the second quarter. RULING: The play clock is set at 40 seconds. Team A has the option for a 10-second runoff. If Team A exercises this option, unless Team B is charged with a timeout the game clock is set to 0:35 and starts on the Referee’s signal. If Team B uses a timeout to avoid the 10-second runoff, the game clock remains at 0:45, the play clock is set at 25 and starts on the Referee’s signal, and the game clock starts on the snap.
c. If the ball carrier’s helmet comes off as in paragraph a (above) the ball is dead (Rule 4-1-3q). If the player is not the ball carrier the ball remains alive, but that player must not continue to participate in the play beyond the immediate action of which they are engaged. Prolonged participation is a personal foul (Rule 9-1-17). By definition such a player is obviously out of the play (Rule 9-1-12b).
d. A player who intentionally removes their helmet during the down commits a foul for unsportsmanlike conduct (Rule 9-2-1a-1i).
Approved Ruling 3-3-9 IV. During the down A22’s helmet comes off (no helmet foul by the defense) and A45 goes down with an injury. The ball carrier is tackled inbounds. When the clock is stopped it reads 0:58 in the fourth quarter. RULING: Because the injury and the helmet off occur to players on the same team, there is an option for a 10-second runoff. Team A may keep A22 in the game and also avoid the 10-second runoff by taking one charged timeout.
