Injury Timeout

Rule 3-5-10a says, “An official’s time-out (which is not charged to either team) occurs, and the player shall be replaced for at least one down, unless halftime intermission or an overtime intermission occurs when an apparently injured player is discovered by a game official while the ball is dead and the game clock is stopped and for whom the game clock is stopped and for whom the ready-for-play is delayed, or for whom the game or play clock is stopped.”

If a player is slow to get up following a play, keep your eyes on that player and stop the clock if he cannot return to the huddle or leave the field. The rule book has no timing interval, but it is usually apparent when a player cannot continue.

Take an official’s time-out if a player is laboring to get off the field. Safety is paramount; we want to protect the players. Don’t make the injured defensive player hurry to get off the field before the snap or an injured offensive player hurry to depart because the 40-second play clock is running.

If the opposing team’s coach complains we stopped the clock to facilitate an injured player’s departure, I usually don’t respond. I have a bad habit of being snarky when coaches complain about ridiculous events, so I typically leave it alone. If I do reply, I’ll say something like, “They have an injured player. We need to help him get off the field. We’ll do the same for you.”

Yes, a coach could try to “game the system” by telling a player to lie on the ground to stop the clock. I haven’t seen that in 17 years of officiating. Err on the side of being cautious.

Rule 9-8-2 says, “During a time-out for injury, the coach and/or such attendants as may be deemed necessary by the refer may, with permission, enter to attend the injured player(s).”

When a player is injured, allow as many attendants as needed to enter the field. They don’t have to first play “Mother, may I?” When you stop the clock, the trainers, and sometimes the head coach, will immediately enter the field.

If the player will be down for an extended period, have the players go to their sidelines. The coaches can coach the players.

If the player gets up after a short period, the wings should facilitate immediately getting the teams out of their sideline huddles and back onto the field. This is an official’s timeout, so teams cannot linger on the sideline.

Step away from the injured player. The umpire can drop a beanbag to mark the spot of the ball. Be careful not to joke around, laugh, or make a funny comment the attendants could possibly hear. The coaches, players, and fans don’t know an official is laughing about something unrelated to the injury; it’s a bad optic if the officials look amused during an injury.

Don’t tolerate the coach(es) berating the officiating crew while on the field to attend to an injured player. Because you’ve stepped away from the injured player, the coach must move away from the player to confront the officials. In a calm tone, tell the coach he is authorized to be on the field to attend to his player, not to complain to the officials. If the coach continues criticizing the officials, tell the coach his behavior is unsportsmanlike. If that doesn’t grab his attention and he continues to berate the officials, flag him for USC.

Remind the referee of the clock’s status when it was stopped for the official’s time-out. If the clock was running, the referee will wind the clock on the ready-for-play.

The referee must ensure the injured player and attendants are off the field and the officiating crew is in position before blowing the RFP.

If the clock was stopped for a defensive player injury, the play clock will be set to 40 seconds (3-6-1a(2)).


Quiz

Read the quiz stem and then choose the best answer.

Read the quiz stem and then choose the best answer(s). (Choose all that apply.)

2/5 from the A-35. A12 throws the ball toward the sideline. B35 accidentally steps out of bounds at the A-45, jumps in the air, and bats the pass to B30, who is standing inbounds. B30 is downed at midfield.

  1. 1/10 for Team B at midfield
  2. 3/5 for Team A from the A-35
  3. B35 is guilty of illegal participation
  4. B35 is guilty of illegal batting

Review Rules 2-29-1, 2-29-3, 7-5-6c, 9-6-1, 9-6-2, 9-7-3

Click below to reveal the Quiz answer and accompanying explanations.