a. In the event of an injured player(s):
1. An official will declare a timeout and the player(s) must leave the game. That player must remain out of the game for at least one down, even if that team is granted a team timeout. When in question, officials will take a timeout for an injured player.
2. The player(s) may not return to the game until receiving approval of professional medical personnel designated by their institution.
3. Medical personnel shall give special attention to players who exhibit signs of a concussion. (See Appendix C).
4. Whenever a participant (player or game official) is bleeding, has blood saturated on the uniform, or has blood on exposed skin, the player or game official shall go to the team area and be given appropriate medical treatment. The player may not return to the game without approval of medical personnel (A.R. 3-3-5-I-VII).
b. Feigning an injury for any reason is unethical. An injured player must be given full protection under the rules, but feigning an injury is dishonest, unsportsmanlike and contrary to the spirit of the rules. For questionable game action, an institution or conference has the option to consult the national coordinator of football officials who would then facilitate a video review. After the review, the national coordinator will communicate any findings to the conference office for further action. Attention is directed to the statement in The Football Code (Coaching Ethics, Section g).
c. An injury timeout may follow a charged team timeout.
d. The referee will declare a timeout for an injured official.
e. Following a timeout for an injured player of the defensive team, the play clock shall be set at 40 seconds.
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 3-3-9) with less than one minute in the half, the opponent has the option of a 10-second runoff.
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 3-2-4-c-4).
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. (A.R. 3-3-5-VIII and IX)