Here is a Ray Lutz “Forward Progress” post from September 1, 2008 (Edited for clarity)
In Colorado we use the NFHS procedure for resolving tied contests as written. Some State Associations have a different procedure or modify the NFHS procedure.
Overtime doesn’t happen very often, and we don’t talk about it a lot in meetings. In addition, the overtime procedure isn’t even found within the Ten Rules. You have to search around way in the back of the rule book (Page 87-90 in the 2024 Rules Book) to even find it. So it is no wonder that the OT procedure gets screwed up from time to time, especially in sub-varsity games where we often have some of our least experienced officials.
Here are some of the OT screw-ups I have seen, heard, and have been involved in over the years.
After the last play of regulation, there was a dead ball foul, and the officials did not enforce it to begin overtime.
There was a dead-ball foul after the last play of regulation, and the officials did not discuss with the coaches its implications for starting overtime. In this situation, the offending team won the toss and chose to go on defense. The officials then marched half the distance for the dead-ball foul, and the opponents began their overtime series first and goal from the 5-yard line. The offending coach claimed, and probably rightly so, that had he understood the implications, he would have chosen to go on offense.
Then there was the crew that played one offensive series at the south end and the other offensive series on the north end. As I hope we know, both series, equivalent to a baseball inning, are played at the same end of the field.
Here is an interesting one. Team A lost yardage on their first two plays and their QB was sacked for a big loss on third down. On fourth down and goal, Team A snapped from B’s 30-yard line and threw an incomplete pass. During the play Team B was guilty of roughing the passer. The officials awarded a first down to Team A and set the chains first and 10 yards to go from B’s 15-yard line. Team A penetrated the LTG and was awarded another series on which they scored. Remember, in overtime, it is always “goal to go.” A team may be awarded a new series through a penalty, but it will always be “goal to go.”
There was the crew that tossed the coin for each of the four overtime periods. We only toss the coin once in overtime, then we alternate who gets the first choice of options. Remember to record who won the coin toss.
I am sure that this has happened more than once. I heard of a crew that let B44 intercept a pass and run it all the way back for a score and the win. In another game, the same situation occurred when the officials let R return a blocked field goal for a score. Once Team B/R gets possession, the ball becomes dead.
Here is a tough situation. Team K was kicking a field goal on 4th down in overtime for the win. The kick was blocked by R66 behind the line. The holder K33 picked up the ball and ran it in for a score only to find out the officials had inadvertently blown the whistle on the block by Team R. Because of the inadvertent whistle, Team K was given another snap but missed the field goal, wide right. On a blocked field goal, wait for R to get possession before sounding the whistle.
And this is the latest one that I’ve heard about. Team A, now behind 6 to 0, fumbled the ball on first down and Team B recovered it. The officiating crew declared that Team A was required to have four plays just like Team B had, and gave them three more snaps and they won the game 8 to 6. If B recovers or intercepts a Team A fumble or pass, the series is over.
Quiz
Read the quiz stem and then choose the best answer.
Team A has used their allotted timeouts in the second half. Team A’s head coach requests (and is granted) a coach-referee conference to discuss the application of a rule. The rule is not changed.
- No foul
- Delay of game
- Unsportsmanlike conduct
Review Rule 3-6-2c