Rule 3 – Section 3 – Article 5 – Injury Timeout
a. In the event of an injured player(s):
- An official will declare a timeout and the player(s) must leave the game. He must remain out of the game for at least one down, even if his team is granted a team timeout. When in question, officials will take a timeout for an injured player.
- The player(s) may not return to the game until he receives approval of medical personnel designated by his team.
- Officials, coaches and trainers shall give special attention to players who exhibit signs of a concussion. (See Appendix C.)
- 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. He may not return to the game without approval of medical personnel. (A.R. 3-3-5:I-VII)
b. To curtail a possible time-gaining advantage by feigning injuries, attention is directed to the strongly worded statement in “The Football Code” (Coaching Ethics).
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 his 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.
- 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).
- Rule 3-4-5 applies. (A.R. 3-3-5:VIII and IX)