SECTION 3. Timeouts: Starting and Stopping the Clock
Charged Team Timeouts
ARTICLE 4. When timeouts are not exhausted and are available, an official shall allow a charged team timeout when requested by any player or head coach when the ball is dead. Consecutive charged team timeouts are not allowed by the same team in any individual dead ball period.
a. Each team is entitled to three charged team timeouts during each half, with no more than one charged team timeout available per team, per individual dead ball period.
b. After the ball is declared dead and before the snap, a legal substitute may request a timeout if that player is between the nine-yard marks.
c. A player who participated during the previous down may request a timeout between the time the ball is declared dead and the snap without being between the nine-yard marks.
Approved Ruling 3-3-4 I. Before the snap, a legal substitute of either team running from the bench requests a timeout before being within the nine-yard marks. He then requests a timeout again after being within the nine-yard marks. RULING: Initial timeout request not granted. Second request granted (Rule 7-1-3b).
Approved Ruling 3-3-4 II. 3rd and 10 @ B40. Early in the 2nd quarter, Team A has all 3 timeouts remaining. A12 throws to A88 but the pass is ruled incomplete. The Team A head coach calls timeout to challenge the ruling on the field of an incomplete pass. Replay overturns the ruling on the field to a catch at the B31. After the ball is ready at the B31, Team A breaks the huddle late in the play clock, and the Team A head coach attempts to call a timeout just before the play clock displays zero. Ruling: Dead ball foul, delay of game by Team A. Team A had 4th and 1 @ B31 after the overturn in replay, and then following the penalty for delay of game, Team A will have 4th and 6 @ B36. The officials will not honor the request by the Team A coach. Team A retains their challenge which may be used only once more during the game, and they retain their timeout and have 3 timeouts remaining in the 1st half.
d. A head coach who is in, or in the vicinity of, their team area or coaching box may request a timeout between the time the ball is declared dead and the next snap.
e. A player, incoming substitute or head coach may request a head coach’s conference with the referee, if the coach believes a rule has been enforced improperly. If the rule enforcement is not changed, the coach’s team will be charged a timeout, or a delay penalty if all timeouts have been used.
1. Only the referee may stop the clock for a head coach’s conference.
2. A request for a head coach’s conference or challenge must be made before the ball is snapped or free-kicked for the next play and before the end of the second or fourth period (Rule 5-2-9).
3. After a head coach’s conference or challenge, the full team timeout is granted if charged by the referee.
