Is there a quirk in the rule book?

[quinnearlysghost88]

So this is unrelated to Sunday's game, more of an overall football rules question.

 

Scenario: you're out of timeouts and it's the final 20 seconds of the game. You throw a long pass down the middle of the field. The clock is running and your team isn't going to make it in time to spike the ball.

 

Can you: have all of your players standstill, while the two players closet to the ball serve as the center and QB. snap and spike the ball to stop the clock? It would be illegal formation and there isn't a 10 second run off for that. Five yard penalty and the clock stops to set up another play/fg.

 

Is this possible?

[NoSaint]

So this is unrelated to Sunday's game, more of an overall football rules question.

 

Scenario: you're out of timeouts and it's the final 20 seconds of the game. You throw a long pass down the middle of the field. The clock is running and your team isn't going to make it in time to spike the ball.

 

Can you: have all of your players standstill, while the two players closet to the ball serve as the center and QB. snap and spike the ball to stop the clock? It would be illegal formation and there isn't a 10 second run off for that. Five yard penalty and the clock stops to set up another play/fg.

 

Is this possible?

 

im guessing the ref wouldnt even set the ball until you were atleast close to a play. im also surprised to hear there isnt a runoff for that.

[Captain Caveman]

Section 7 Actions to Conserve Time

ILLEGAL ACTS

Article 1 A team is not permitted to conserve time inside of one minute of either half by committing any of the following acts:

(a) a foul by either team that prevents the snap (i.e., false start, encroachment, etc.)

(b) intentional grounding;

© an illegal forward pass thrown from beyond the line of scrimmage;

(d) throwing a backward pass out of bounds;

(e) spiking or throwing the ball in the field of play after a down has ended, except after a touchdown; or

(f) any other intentional foul that causes the clock to stop.

Penalty: For Illegally Conserving Time: Loss of five yards unless a larger distance penalty is applicable.

When actions referred to above are committed by the offensive team while time is in, officials will run 10 seconds off the game

clock before permitting the ball to be put in play on the ready-for-play signal. The game clock will start on the ready-forplay signal. If the offensive team has timeouts remaining, it will have the option of using a timeout in lieu of a 10-second

runoff, in which case the game clock will start on the snap after the timeout. The defense always has the option to decline

the 10-second run

[The Wiz]

Section 7 Actions to Conserve Time

ILLEGAL ACTS

Article 1 A team is not permitted to conserve time inside of one minute of either half by committing any of the following acts:

(a) a foul by either team that prevents the snap (i.e., false start, encroachment, etc.)

(b) intentional grounding;

© an illegal forward pass thrown from beyond the line of scrimmage;

(d) throwing a backward pass out of bounds;

(e) spiking or throwing the ball in the field of play after a down has ended, except after a touchdown; or

(f) any other intentional foul that causes the clock to stop.

Penalty: For Illegally Conserving Time: Loss of five yards unless a larger distance penalty is applicable.

When actions referred to above are committed by the offensive team while time is in, officials will run 10 seconds off the game

clock before permitting the ball to be put in play on the ready-for-play signal. The game clock will start on the ready-forplay signal. If the offensive team has timeouts remaining, it will have the option of using a timeout in lieu of a 10-second

runoff, in which case the game clock will start on the snap after the timeout. The defense always has the option to decline

the 10-second run

So maybe I'm reading that wrong but isn't spiking the ball a penalty??? Therefore a 10 second runoff should occur when an offense does it? Because I'm pretty sure I've never seen them runoff time when the ball was spiked.

Edited September 10, 2013 by The Wiz

[KD in CA]

You need at least 6 (7?) men on the LOS or it's an illegal formation

[Captain Caveman]

So maybe I'm reading that wrong but isn't spiking the ball a penalty??? Therefore a 10 second runoff should occur when an offense does it? Because I'm pretty sure I've never seen them runoff time when the ball was spiked.

Spiking the ball is not illegal.

[The Wiz]

Spiking the ball is not illegal.

I understand that. I just misread number E.

Edited September 10, 2013 by The Wiz

[djp14150]

The problem is the Referees arent going to set the ball until officials are down the field.

 

In theory if the official set the ball and teams could do a quick snap then you could get offsides and illegal formation.

 

This is why I would actually like it if they adopted college rules that if a first down is made the clock is stopped until everything is set then restarts on the referees whistle.

 

With 20 seconds left anda long downfield play the receiver instead of going down throws the ball as a lateral out of bounds which would be a penalty (unsure if its 5 or 15 or 10 second run off) but if he was to do this with 15 seconds uit may be a way to get the clock to stop.