Rule 3- Periods, Time Factors, and Substitutions

Section 4- Starting and Stopping the Clock

• Art. 1- The clock shall start for a period:
• If a period begins with a free kick is touched, other than first touching by K.
• If a period begins with a snap, when the ball is legally snapped.

• Art. 2- The clock shall start with the ready-for-play signal for other than a free kick if the clock was stopped:
• For an officials time-out, other than when B is awarded a new series or either team is awarded a new series following a legal kick.
• Because of an inadvertent whistle
• Because the ball became dead following any foul provided in either (a) or (b):
• There has been no charged time-out during the dead-ball interval.
• The down is not an extension of a period or a try.
• The action which caused the down to end did not also cause the clock to be stopped.

• Art. 3- The clock shall start with the snap or when any free kick is touched, other than first touching by K, if the clock was stopped because:
• The ball goes out of bounds
• B is awarded a new series
• Either team is awarded a new series following a legal kick
• The ball becomes dead behind the goal line
• A legal or illegal forward pass is incomplete
• A request for a charged or TV/radio time-out is granted
• A period ends
• A team attempts to consume time illegally
• The penalty for a delay of game is accepted.

• Art. 4- The clock shall be stopped when:
• The down ends following a foul
• An officials time-out is taken
• A charged or TV/radio time-out is granted
• The period ends
• The ball is out of bounds
• A legal or illegal forward pass is incomplete
• A score or touchback occurs
• A fair catch is made
• An inadvertent whistle is sounded

• Art. 5- The clock shall not start on first touching by K.

• Art. 6- The referee shall have authority to correct obvious errors in timing if discovery is prior to the second live ball following the error, unless the period has officially ended as in 3-3-4.