[BostonCard]

Starting the Clock Near the End of a Half
The rules give the referee broad authority in stopping and starting the game clock or the play clock if he feels that a team is manipulating the clock to gain an advantage. Near the end of a half, the clock rules become increasingly important. 

Under most circumstances, if the game clock is stopped because of a penalty, it starts when the referee gives the "ready-for-play" signal after completing the penalty. This year, the committee passed a rule that takes effect inside two minutes in the half. This new rule requires that the clock be started on the snap if the team ahead in the score commits a foul. Under the current rule, the clock would be started on the ready-for-play signal, allowing the fouling team the chance to gain a time advantage by running perhaps 20 or more seconds off the game clock. The new rule prevents this.

This, the clock would stop after the penalty until the next snap.  But because most penalties result in a replay of the down, the clock stoppage doesn’t actually hurt.  For example, if you have third and ten, let the clock run down to 3 seconds and run a play, if there is no play, and there is no stoppage due to out of bounds or incomplete pass, the clock keeps ticking.  If a penalty stops the clock, you replay the down, and if there is no stoppage due to out of bounds or an incomplete pass, the clock keeps ticking.

BC

[BostonCard]

Starting the Clock Near the End of a Half
The rules give the referee broad authority in stopping and starting the game clock or the play clock if he feels that a team is manipulating the clock to gain an advantage. Near the end of a half, the clock rules become increasingly important. 

Under most circumstances, if the game clock is stopped because of a penalty, it starts when the referee gives the "ready-for-play" signal after completing the penalty. This year, the committee passed a rule that takes effect inside two minutes in the half. This new rule requires that the clock be started on the snap if the team ahead in the score commits a foul. Under the current rule, the clock would be started on the ready-for-play signal, allowing the fouling team the chance to gain a time advantage by running perhaps 20 or more seconds off the game clock. The new rule prevents this.

This, the clock would stop after the penalty until the next snap.  But because most penalties result in a replay of the down, the clock stoppage doesn’t actually hurt.  For example, if you have third and ten, let the clock run down to 3 seconds and run a play, if there is no play, and there is no stoppage due to out of bounds or incomplete pass, the clock keeps ticking.  If a penalty stops the clock, you replay the down, and if there is no stoppage due to out of bounds or an incomplete pass, the clock keeps ticking.

BC