Expert: Vic Winnek - 11/16/2008

Question
I won't give all the details of the game I saw today (Furman vs Ga. Southern).  A player on the defense called for a timeout when his team had no timeouts left.  The referee simply stopped play and reset the play clock--no penalty.  Should there have been a penalty called?  What would the penalty be?

Answer
Fred,
Thank you for your question.  
There is no penalty for this act, it is only a violation (no yardage penalty). Therefore the play clock needed to be reset by rule because of an administatived stoppage.  Had the player called time out for a coaches conference with the referee, by rule this would have been a 5 yard Delay of Game Penalty.

Each team is permitted 3 timeouts per half.  Once they have exhausted them a Team Time out will not be granted.  If a team who has exhausted its Time outs calls one it will not be granted.  Should an official make an error and begin to grant it because he thought there were Time outs remaining, the clock will immediately started.   As a coutse of action officials ignore a team that attempts to call a Time Out when they have none less.

If a player, coach or substitute calls a Time Out for a coaches conference when there are no time outs remaining, such an act is subjext to a delay of game foul.  But as a course of of action the official will use his judgement as to whether to stop the clock and charge a penalty or ignore the request so there is no unfair clock advantage taken by such action.

If there are no time outs remaining for a team and that team violates certain equipment rules that carry a penalty of a charged time out, then the team will be penalized 5 yards for delay of game.

The follow are the Time out Rules that govern NCAA football.  I believe it may be helpful for you to review.  

Rule 3-4-2 is the infraction - Delay of Game When a team has expended its three timeouts and commits a Rule 1-4-4 [Equipment infraction/foul], 1-4-5 [Equipment infraction/foul], 1-4-6-b [Equipment infraction/foul], 3-3-4-e [A TIMEOUT CALLED BY A TEAM FOR A COACHES CONFERENCE WITH THE REFEREE WHEN THERE IS NO TIME OUT REMAINING - THIS IS A 5 YARD DELAY OF GAME FOUL] or 9-2-2-d[Equipment / illegal cleats infraction/foul]infraction.

Timeouts are governed by NCAA Rule 3-3
How Charged
ARTICLE 1. a. The referee shall declare a timeout when he suspends
play for any reason. Each timeout shall be charged to one of the teams or designated as a referee’s timeout.
b. When a team’s timeouts are exhausted and it requests a timeout, the official should not acknowledge the request.
c. During a timeout, players shall not practice with a ball on the field of play or the end zones (Exception: During the half-time intermission).

Timeout
ARTICLE 2. a. An official shall declare a referee’s timeout:
1. When there is a touchdown, field goal, touchback or safety.
2. When an injury timeout is allowed for one or more players or an
official (A.R. 3-3-2-I and A.R. 3-3-5-I-V).
3. When the clock is stopped to complete a penalty.
4. When a live ball goes out of bounds or is declared out of bounds.
5. When a forward pass becomes incomplete.
6. When Team A or Team B is awarded a first down.
7. When an inadvertent whistle is sounded.
8. When there is a possible first-down measurement.
9. When a delay is caused by both teams (A.R. 3-3-2-II and IV).
10. When a charged timeout is granted (A.R. 3-3-4-I-IV).
11. When there is a sideline infraction.
12. When the ball becomes illegal.
13. When the ball is in possession of an official.
14. When there is a mandatory equipment or an illegal equipment violation.
15. When a legal kick down ends.
16. When a return kick is made.
17. When a scrimmage kick is made beyond the neutral zone.
18. When the 40/25-second count is interrupted by circumstances
beyond the control of either team.
19. When the ball carrier’s helmet comes completely off.
b. The referee only shall declare a timeout:
1. When a head coach’s conference is requested.
2. When an unfair-noise timeout is required (Rule 9-2-1-b-5).
3. When a radio or television timeout is allowed.
4. When a discretionary timeout is declared.

The Referee’s Discretionary Timeout is granted under:
ARTICLE 3. a. The referee may suspend the game temporarily when
conditions warrant such action. The referee may declare and charge himself with a timeout for any contingency not elsewhere covered by the rules (A.R. 3-3-3-I and II).

b. When the game is stopped by actions of a person(s) not subject to the rules or for any other reasons not in the rules and cannot continue, the referee shall:
1. Suspend play and direct the players to their team areas.
2. Refer the problem to those responsible for the game’s management.
3. Resume the game when he determines conditions are satisfactory.

c. If a game is suspended under Rules 3-3-3-a and b before the end of the fourth period and cannot be resumed, conference policy shall determine whether the game will be resumed at a later date, terminated or forfeited (and the final score). If no conference policy is applicable to both teams, the directors of athletics at the participating institutions or their designees, in consultation with the coaches, shall determine whether the game will be resumed at a later date, terminated or forfeited (and the final score if the game is terminated) (Rule 8-1-2).

d. If a game is suspended under Rules 3-3-3-a and b after four periods of play and cannot be resumed, the game shall be ruled a tie. The final score shall be the score at the end of the last completed period. (Note: If a winner must be determined in a conference playoff game, conference policy shall determine when and where the game will be resumed.)

e. A suspended game, if resumed, will begin with the same time remaining and under the identical conditions of down, distance, field position and player eligibility.

f. The referee’s discretionary timeout also applies to the following
situations:
1. When there is undue delay by officials in placing the ball for the next snap (A.R. 3-3-3-I).
2. When there is a consultation with team captains.
3. When conditions warrant temporary suspension.

****  Charged Team Timeouts ******
ARTICLE 4. When timeouts are not exhausted, an official shall allow a
charged team timeout when requested by any player or head coach when the ball is dead (A.R. 3-3-4-I and II).
a. Each team is entitled to three charged team timeouts during each half.
b. After the ball is declared dead and before the snap, a legal substitute may request a timeout if he is between the nine-yard marks (A.R. 3-3-4-III and IV).
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 (A.R. 3-3-4-I and II).
d. A head coach who is in, or in the vicinity of, his 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.
3. After a head coach’s conference or challenge, the full team timeout is granted if charged by the referee.