American Football IFAF Approved Ruling 3-3-2

American Football IFAF Approved Ruling 3-3-2

I. Fourth and six. Team A’s running play, which ends inbounds, gains (a) eight yards or (b) five yards. B1 is offside during the play. RULING: (a) Team A’s ball. First and 10. The clock starts on the referee’s signal. (b) Team A’s ball. Fourth and one. The clock starts on the referee’s signal. (Rules 3-3-2-e-1 and
e-4)

II. Fourth and four. Team A’s running play, which ends inbounds, gains (a) six yards or (b) three yards. B1 is offside during the play. RULING: (a) Team A’s ball, first and 10. The clock starts on the referee’s signal. (b) Team A’s ball, first and 10 after accepting the penalty. The clock starts on the referee’s signal.

III. Third and four. Team A’s pass is intercepted by B1, who is downed inbounds. B2 was offside during the play. RULING: Team A’s ball. First and 10. The clock starts on the referee’s signal. Although the clock was stopped to award Team B a first down, Team B will not next snap the ball.

IV. Late in the second or fourth quarter, ball carrier A37 goes out of bounds. When the game clock is stopped it reads (a) 2:00, or (b) 1:59. RULING: In both (a) and (b), the game clock starts on the snap because of the two-minute warning. [Cited by 3-3-2-b]

V. Late in the second or fourth quarter, Team A has second and eight. B44 intercepts a legal forward pass and carries the ball out of bounds. B79 is in the neutral zone at the snap. When the game clock is stopped it reads (a) 2:00, or (b) 1:59. RULING: Team A accepts the penalty and retains possession of the ball. In both (a) and (b) the game clock starts on the referee’s signal, because Team B will not next snap the ball. In (b), the game clock will start on the snap because of the two-minute warning.

VI. Fourth and eight at the A-12, late in the fourth quarter. The punt is blocked and the ball does not cross the neutral zone. At the A-10, back A22 recovers the ball and throws a forward pass to eligible A88 who is tackled at the B-3. The game clock reads 0:03. RULING: Team A’s ball at the B-3, first and goal. The game clock starts on the snap because of the legal kick play. (Rules 3-3-2-d-8, 3-3-2-e-1, 3-3-2-f)

VII. Free Kick @ A-35. Team A executes an on-side kick. After the ball has traveled 10 yards, (a) B21 gives a valid fair catch signal and makes a clean catch; (b) A80 is first to touch the ball and makes a clean legal catch or recovery; (c) B21 catches or recovers the ball and immediately goes to the ground; (d) B21 makes a clean recovery with their knees on the ground. RULING: The ball is declared dead and, (a) No time will run off the clock; (b) No time will run off the clock; (c) the clock operator shall start the clock when the ball is legally touched and will stop the clock when the ball is declared dead (Rule 3-3-2-a); (d) No time will run off the clock.

VIII. Third and five at the B-15 late in the fourth quarter, with Team A trailing 10-7. Quarterback A11 rolls out and is at the B-12 when he throws a forward pass that is incomplete. When the ball is dead the game clock shows 0:13. Team B accepts the penalty for the illegal forward pass. RULING: Fourth and seven at the B-17. Team B has the option for a 10-second runoff. Assuming that Team B accepts the runoff, the game clock is set at 0:03 and starts on the referee’s signal.

IX. The score is 35-0 and a running clock session has started. It then becomes 35-6. The trailing team scores a touchdown to make the score 35-12. RULING: The clock stops when the touchdown is scored – the margin is no longer more than 24 points. Nor mal clock rules then apply unless/until the leading team increases the lead to more than 34 points again. [Cited by 3-3-2-g-2]

X. The score is 41-10 during a running clock session. The trailing team scores a touchdown to make the score 41-16. Then they kick the extra point to make the score 41-17. RULING: The clock stops when the try is scored – it is only then that the margin drops to 24 points. [Cited by 3-3-2-g-2]

XI. The score is 30-0. The leading team scores a touchdown to make the score 36-0. RULING: The clock is stopped for the touchdown and will restart when the ball is declared ready for play on the ensuing try, but will not stop again until one of the events marked * occurs. (Rule 3-3-2-g) [Cited by 3-3-2-g-1]

XII. The score is 28-0. The leading team scores a touchdown to make the score 34-0. Then they score a try touchdown to make the score 36-0. RULING: The clock was stopped for the original touchdown and will restart when the ball is declared ready for play on the ensuing free kick, and will not stop again until one of the events marked * occurs. [Cited by 3-3-2-g-1]

XIII. In a competition that forgoes the running clock rule in the first half, one team takes a 35 point lead in the second quarter. Before half time, the trailing team reduces the margin to 35-6. RULING: A running clock session does not start. No session could begin in the first half, and the conditions for one do not exist at the start of the second half. [Cited by 3-3-2 Exception 2]