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College Football/pee-wee football question

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Expert: - 10/13/2009


Question
Its 3rd and 10, with 1:10 sec left in 4th quarter. The other team runs the ball and get 6 yards. When they lined up on line of scrimmage, it was :44 sec left in the game. Well, the referee let the play clock run out without calling a delay of game. And when the coach ask him he said " I have to let clock run for 25 sec before I blow my whistle". How is this possible?

Answer
Kendall
If I understand correctly, based on your question's fact pattern this does not sound correct, it sounds like an error by the referee or the official timing the play clock.  The referee was correct that the play clock runs for 25 seconds and when 25 seconds laps he blows his whistle to to signal there is a dead ball delay of game foul and the clock stops.

If the offensive team was lined up for 4th down and 4 yards to go and the referee had marked the ball ready for play [he does this by blowing his whistle and using a chopping motion with his arm] the 25 second clock should start.  If the referee had not chopped in the ball [ marked it ready for play] with 44 seconds, that was an error on his part, if he had chopped it in anytime between 44 seconds and 26 seconds on the game clock, there should have been a play run with time on the clock.

It sounds to me as though there was an error by the crew and for this I am sorry. we as officials strive to work perfectly flawless games, although an impossible standard we do not like to have error that affect the game and this sounds as though such an error occurred.

Please also understand PeeWee football is where younger officials [officials with less experience] gain experience, It serves as a training ground in part.  There are also veteran officials that work this level and help train the less experienced officials.  PeeWee football is a level that in reality is fraught with inexperienced players, official and coaches.  As each moves up to the next level they gain experience, skills, knowledge and become more sophisticated and make fewer errors.  As adults we sometimes forget that this is only a game and it is supposed to be fun play time for kids.  Keeping that perspective helps.  

I have not seen the play you question nor have I spoken to the officials, players or coaches so my response is purely based on your fact pattern.  If there was an injured player, or some administrative issue, problem with the chains, etc. these too may have caused the Referee to delay his chop.  But delaying a chop/ready for play 44 seconds sounds to me more of an error than anything else.

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