Rule 3- Periods, Time Factors, and Substitutions

Section 6- Ball Ready for Play and Delay

• Art. 1- The ball is ready for play when, after it has been placed for a down the referee gives the ready for play signal. The 25 second clock shall start..

• Art. 2- Actions or inaction which prevents promptness in putting the ball in play is delay of game.  This includes:
• Failure to snap or free-kick within 25 seconds after ready-for-play (Delay of Game)
• Unnecessarily carrying the ball after it has become dead or consuming time by failing to un-pile at the end of the down (Delay of Game)
• A coach-referee conference after all permissible charged timeouts for the coaches team have been used, and when the referee does not change his ruling (Delay of Game)
• Failure to wear required equipment when the ball is about to become live (Delay of Game and Failure to Wear Required Equipment)
• Snapping of free-kicking the ball before it is marked ready for play (Delay of Game)
• Any other conduct which unduly prolongs the game (Delay of Game)

• Art. 3- When a team attempts to conserve or consume time illegally the referee shall order the clock to start or stop.

• Art. 4- Failure of a team to play within two minutes after being ordered to do so by the referee (Forfeiture)

• Art. 5- Game management is responsible for clearing the field of play and end zones at the beginning of each half so play may begin at the scheduled time.