17. TIMEOUTS (2024)

10. [REFEREE]After one minute (or earlier if both teams indicate readiness to resume),be in the vicinity of the succeeding spot.Verbally inform both teams to get ready (e.g. "Defense, getready. Offense, get ready"), blow your whistle and give the readyfor play signal (S1).If the duration of the timeout is up, neveraskthe teams whether they are ready -tellthem.
11. If a team requests a timeout when all theirs have been used, all officialsmust ignore the request and order the team to play on.[REFEREE]In the rare circ*mstance where a timeout is granted incorrectly, blowyour whistle and signal the ready for play as soon as practicable afterthe error is detected.

17.2 – Officials' timeouts

1. [REFEREE]If a timeout is not to be charged to either team, signal timeout (S3)and then tap your chest with both hands.
2. During an injury or other timeout, carry out the normal duties for acharged timeout, andin addition:
   1. stay out of the way of the medical personnel;
   2. keep uninvolved players out of the way;
   3. ask uninvolved coaches and substitutes to return to their team area;
   4. if necessary, move the ball out of the way while noting the succeedingspot and marking it (if appropriate) with a bean bag.
3. [REFEREE]Declare the ball ready for play as soon as the reason for the timeouthas been eliminated(e.g. an injured player has left the field and is in theteam area, or well away from the field of play and not in any danger).[ON-FIELD TIMEKEEPER]Remind the Referee of whether the clock should start on the ready orsnap.
4. If an injury timeout is prolonged, or the game is suspended for someother reason, send the players to their team areas.
5. Only the Referee can stop the clock for a coach's conference.The conference will take place at or near the sideline.If you are the wing official on that side of the field, you must go withthe Referee to witness the conference.If after the conference the ruling is not altered, the team will becharged with a timeout, in which case the procedure for a chargedtimeout (including giving the team their full entitlement of time) willbe carried out.If a team asks for a timeout which is in fact intended to be a requestfor a coach's conference and the ruling is then altered, they shouldonly be charged with a timeout if they subsequently request a furthertimeout.
6. If the game is disrupted for any reason, record the down, the teamin possession, the position of the ball and the chain, and the timeremaining.In addition:[UMPIRE]record the lateral position of the ball with respect to the inboundslines;[LINESMAN]record the position of the chain clip.

Next chapter (measure)

Back to index

Editor: Jim Briggs, Editor, BAFRA Manual of Football Officiating
mechanics@bafra.org

Generated: 16/2/2016, 2057