Play Clock Operator

The Play Clock Operator (“PCO”) will properly operate and manage the play clock at the direction of the game officials in order to ensure accuracy of officiating and regulation of the game. The PCO will sit in the Press Box for the entirety of the game and pay close attention to the start and end to each play and the game officials’ signals. Part of the PCO’s responsibilities include determining when a play is called dead by signal from the referee, knowing when to set the play clock to :25 and when to set it to :40, and having a strong understanding of the rules of the game. Must possess the ability to set, start, stop, and correct the play clock by using the controller provided by the stadium. The PCO must be aware of the events of the game and able to work under high pressure. 

Timeline 

3:00 before kickoff 

• Arrive at the stadium and clock in. 
• Go to press box for pregame equipment test. 
• Test of the equipment: 
  • Resets at 40 and 25 
  • Run clock to zero 
  • Manually reset the clock to various times (example: 17, 23, 32) 
  • If any issues arise, notify the NFL Supervisor and on-site Game Operations representative to give plenty of time to get the equipment fixed before kickoff
• Review “Play Clock Operator Card Guidelines” (see below) 

2:30 before kickoff 

• Go the officials locker room from the clock booth to conduct a face-to-face meeting with the Back Judge. 
• Review the play clock guidelines with the back judge (attached here) 
• Be ready for the back judge to ask you about your mechanics. Have an orderly sequence of events in mind to cover the key game situations that we may encounter:
  • What happens if the ball falls off the kicking tee?
  • If there is a reset under 10 seconds, confirm with the Back Judge whether you should reset on his signal or wait for the Referee signal.
  • Cover the Back Judge’s movement in a potential delay of game situation, so that we know what to look for. 
  • Resetting the play clock to 40 on flag pickups. 
  • Discuss the Referee's cadence to reset the play clock. This can happen at any time but is most common on 4th down when the k-ball is coming onto the field. Some referees will request a reset numerous times in this situation while others rarely do. 
  • Review what should be done if the clocks malfunction or go down during the game. 
• After meeting with officials, go back to the clock booth to run through the equipment tests and/or scenarios with the Back Judge. (Give them time to get to the field stations for testing. Make sure you are ready and in position when the Back Judge calls and is ready to test.) 

2:00 before kickoff 

• Back Judge will test equipment from the field. BJ will call the clock booth from the sideline phone. 
• Inform the Back Judge of your location in the stadium. Make special note if there are any audio or visual challenges based on your placement. 

0:30 before kickoff 

• Be in the press box at the play clock position, ready for kickoff. 
• Do a final check of your equipment. 

Game Time 

• It is crucial to be focused during the game on every play. 
• Play Clock Operators should not wait a few seconds before starting the Play Clock. Play Clock Operators should always start the clock when officials raise their hand or otherwise signal the end of the play. Delaying the start of the play clock gives more than the :40 allotted time. Per Rule 4 Section 6 of the rulebook “The play clock operator shall time the interval between plays upon signals from game officials. The 40-second interval starts when a play ends, unless Article 2 applies.” 
• Note any unusual situations to record later in your game report. 
• Know when the play clock is under 5 seconds and have a heightened awareness of the back judge and the ball: - No flag = promptly reset to 40 - Flag = hold at 0 until the referee makes the penalty announcement 
• Watch for the Back Judge giving a signal to pump up (reset) the clock. Depending on your instructions, you will either reset on his signal or look for the Referee’s signal. 
• When the Referee announces that the previous play is under review, reset the play clock to 0:25 except during Replay Official challenges under 2:00 of either half. For Replay Official challenges after the two-minute warning, freeze the play clock and only reset to 0:25 if the ruling is reversed. If it is under 0:10 and not reset, then reset the play clock to 0:10. 

Pace of Play Timing Procedures

After a Touchdown:

• After official lowers arms signaling TD, start the :40 second clock. 
• Watch for R to give RFP signal to allow the play clock to continue to run. 
• Stop play clock at :20 if R has not given RFP. 
• Restart play clock from :20 when R gives RFP. 
• If the play is challenged, set to :25 and start on the RFP following instant replay review. 

When there is no TV timeout after a Try or successful Field Goal: 

• R signals good and his hands come down, start the :40 play clock 
• R signals no good and his hands come down to his side, start the :40 play clock. 
• When the play clock reaches :00, reset play clock to :25 seconds immediately and start on the BJ signal. 

NOTE: If TV takes a TO, set clock to :25 and start on BJ signal. 

After a Safety: 

• Set the play clock to :40 and run it. 

Post-Game

• Be sure the play clock is at zero. Do not leave until you are 100% positive that the game is over. Even if the players are leaving the field there can be scenarios where replay is involved, and the game may be extended. 
• Clock out before leaving the stadium. 
• Submit game reports in GMS no later than 12:00 p.m. ET on the day after your game. 

Contingency Plan 

In the case of a major issue or emergency with the Game Clock, Play Clock, or C2P Operators on gameday at the stadium please see the following contingency plan: 

• Contact the league office immediately to notify them of the issue. 
• If there is an issue with the C2P Operator, the Play Clock Operator will take over both roles. 
• If there is an issue with the Play Clock Operator, the C2P Operator will take over both roles. 
• If there is an issue with the Game Clock Operator, the C2P Operator will take over both roles. 

This contingency plan is to be used in the worst-case scenario. All clock crew members should review the position mechanics that they might cover in the case of an emergency. 

PLAY CLOCK GUIDELINES

1) Set to: 40 – The covering official designates when to start the clock. 

1. Dead ball inbounds – official raises one arm 
2. After a Safety 
3. Incomplete pass – incomplete pass signal 
4. Dead ball O/B – stop clock signal 
5. Dead ball near sideline – wind signal 
6. QB sack – R/U raises one arm or gives a wind signal. Start immediately unless T/O or penalty 
7. If an official throws his flag, and it is then picked up 
8. R or BJ pumps two arms – start immediately unless there is a penalty 
9. After a TD signal from any official. Start clock when official lowers his arms from TD signal. (Reminder – if the Referee doesn’t chop by :20, stop the play clock) 
10. After any Try or successful field goal – after R drops his arms from good/no good signal (if no TV break is taken). 
11. Replay Reversal - When there is a stoppage for an Instant Replay review that results in a reversal the PC will be set to :40 regardless of the time. 

• Non-reversal outside 2 min - If there is non-reversal and we are outside of 2 mins PC goes to :25 for a coach review and freeze for a booth review. 
• Non-reversal under 2 min - Under 2 min and no reversal freeze it. (Unless it is under :10 then set to :10) this is at the Referee’s discretion) 

2) Set to: 25 – Start on R’s ready for play signal after: 

1. Penalty enforcement 
2. Injury caused by a foul 
3. Charged team timeout 
4. Two-minute warning 
5. Expiration of a period 
6. Change of possession 
7. On expiration of 40 second clock following a try/field goal. Set to :25 immediately and start on BJ’s signal 
8. Unusual delay (pile-up or getting a new ball) 
9. Excess timeout by the offense 
10. All instant replay non-reversals outside 2 minutes 
11. R pumps one arm – Start immediately or when R gives the ready for play- usually going from 3rd to 4th down. 

3) Reset Signal 

a. :25 seconds – R or BJ pumps one arm, key off R, BJ will keep pumping until play clock is reset 

b. :40 seconds – R or BJ will pump both arms 

4) Special Situations 

1. If the play clock is stopped prior to the snap for any reason while time is in: after the stoppage has concluded, the time remaining on the play clock shall be the same as when it was stopped, except for the above stoppages in #2 above, or there are fewer than 10 seconds remaining on the play clock, in which case it shall be reset to 10 seconds. Example: If the play clock is stopped for: an injury, measurement, the play clock should freeze, if under :10, reset to :10 (except Referees discretion). 
2. If the play clock is stopped to correct tangled chains – freeze the clock. 
3. Outside of two minutes for an injured player, that player leaves with no timeout – freeze the clock. 
4. If a coach throws a flag for a challenge and it is determined they can’t – freeze the clock (reset to :10 if under 10). 
5. Request for a new ball – if inside of :25 – freeze the clock. 
6. For a 10 second run-off – reset to :25 and start on R’s signal 
7. Replay Review under 2 exception - If a replay review after the 2MW of either half results in the on-field ruling being reversed and the correct ruling would not have stopped the clock: We will run :10 and reset the PC to :30 (Team B cannot decline the runoff, but either team can use a timeout to prevent the :10 RO). 
8. Excess timeout by the defense with the game clock under two minutes – set to :40. If the game clock is at :40 or under, game is over if B does not have any timeouts left. 
9. For a delay of game – if BJ throws a flag – leave at :00 until after penalty enforcement 
10. Play clock hits :00 and BJ does not throw for delay of game – reset to :40 immediately 
11. If play clocks are not synchronized – turn clocks off – BJ will be responsible until fixed 
12. All KO’s, Safety Kicks and Fair Catch Kicks – set to :25 
13. Request for a new ball – if outside of :25 set to :25, if inside of :25 – freeze the clock 
14. Excess timeout by the defense with the game clock under two minutes – set to :40. If the game clock is at :40 or under, game is over if B does not have any timeouts left. 
15. If the play clock is stopped for: an injury, measurement, or instant replay, the play clock should freeze, if under :10, reset to :10. 
16. If the play clock is stopped to correct tangled chains – freeze the clock 
17. Outside of two minutes for an injured player, that player leaves with no timeout – freeze the clock 
18. If a coach throws a flag for a challenge and it is determined, they can’t – freeze the clock (reset to :10 if under 10) 
19. Inside of two minutes, there is an instant replay review, and the ruling is not reversed – freeze the clock (reset to :10 if under 10) 
20. If there is a flag pick-up throughout the game – set to :40 
21. Replay Assist and PC is less than :25 – reset to :25 

5) Touchdowns 

1. After official lowers arms signaling TD, start the :40 second clock. 
2. On a Try, Stop play clock at :20 if R has not given RFP. 
3. Stop play clock at :20 if R has not given RFP. 
4. Restart play clock from :20 when R gives RFP. 
5. If the play is challenged, set to :25 and start on the RFP following instant replay review. 

6) Kick-Offs 

A. When there’s no TV timeout after any Try or successful Field Goal: 

• R signals good and/or no good his hands come down, start the :40 play clock 
• R signals no good and his hands come down to his side, start the :40 play clock. 
• BJ takes the ball from ball boy and goes directly down the middle of the field and waits for the 40 second play clock to reach :00 – Reset play clock to :25 seconds immediately: 
  • If the kicker is there, see that the play clock is reset to :25, start the :25 play clock on BJ signal. 
  • If no kicker when :40 play clock expires, see that the play clock is reset to :25, BJ will place the ball on the ground at the 36 yd. line, turn and start the :25 play clock. 
  • If both teams are in position and ready, wait for the :40 play clock to expire, see that the play clock is reset to :25, hand ball to the kicker, start the :25 play clock. 

B. If TV takes a time out: 

• If TV takes a TO, set clock to :25 and start on BJ signal. 

7) Play Clock Malfunction Mechanics 

1. If the play clock malfunctions and goes down, the BJ will take over the timing on the field. 
2. The BJ will raise his arm straight up at 15 seconds as this will indicate to the Coach QB operator to shut down their communication. 
3. The BJ will keep his hand straight up and then at 5 seconds, in a similar motion as to a touchback signal, he will move one arm out to the side in an up-and-down motion indicating a 5-seond countdown on the play clock. This will allow the QB to have a visual of 5 seconds or less on the play clock. At the end of those final five seconds, if the ball is not snapped, then the offense is subject to a Delay of Game penalty. 
4. The BJ should set his wrist clock in the countdown mode and start at :40 seconds. 
5. If one play clock goes down the other will be turned off.