AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2007 > October > 10 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTime for a play clock, some say
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Watching Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning orchestrate his offense each week by changing plays and moving players around until the play clock winds down can be mesmerizing. But without an electronic play clock for Manning to monitor, it would be impossible to execute.
High school offenses in Georgia may not be that complex, but they are limited by not having a play clock. And coaches and officials have differing views on whether Georgia should take a step similar to the one taken by a neighboring state.
Alabama has made the 25-second clock optional for home teams, and several schools are using the play clock this season. Ralph Swearngin, executive director of the Georgia High School Association, is against the idea. He mentions problems of cost and consistency.
“I’d be very much opposed to it [because] if you can’t do it everywhere, you shouldn’t do it anywhere,” Swearngin said. “We think it would be an imposition on schools to do that. Where the smaller schools have discretionary income, we’d like for them to be able to use it on other things. The only time we hear about it is when a team gets a new scoreboard that has capabilities for a play clock.”
But area coaches say adding the play clock might be a good idea.
Marist coach Alan Chadwick: “I think that [a play clock] would take a lot of the guesswork out of it from an officiating standpoint. I see a lot of inconsistencies right now with the way it’s done. I think I would want it mandated, though, if we did it. It would be tough to have it one week, then not have it the next.”
Tucker coach Franklin Stephens: “I would love to have play clocks because you can run into a situation where you misjudge when the referee spots the ball. As a football coach, if you can see time is running down, you can run a play in quickly. I don’t think cost is a big factor. I think if they want to do it, they’d do it. Whatever you mandate, teams will have no choice.”
Banks County coach Blair Armstrong: “I wouldn’t be against it. The biggest thing that would be prohibitive would be the cost for some of the smaller schools. I would be surprised if it got implemented at the lower classifications. Just the logistics of installing it would be tough. Fifty to 60 percent of the stadiums have a track, so you’d have to tunnel under that. You have to have it on both sides of the field. You need to find someplace for the operator to sit.”
Grady coach Ronnie Millen: “If you could see it, it would make it easier. I think definitely some officials start the whistle quicker than others. Some give you a little more time than others. Having a clock up there would take all that away. A lot of time, with the crowd and the band and everything, you really don’t hear the whistle to set the ball. It would definitely be something that I would support.”
St. Pius coach Paul Standard: “I’d be all for it. I think if you had a 25-second play clock, that takes out another human-error possibility. It’s something [officials] don’t have to worry about. I think it allows the coaches and players to be fully informed of the time to get the play in. I would rather it be something mandated, like anything else they come in with.”
Report back: Is it time for the GHSA to give home teams the option of using a play clock? Tell us. (You have more than 25 seconds to respond, of course.)
Permalink | Comments (7) | Post your comment | Categories: Football Report
Comments
By For Real though
October 11, 2007 3:27 PM | Link to this
I think the play clock is an excellent idea. Yes you would want it in all stadiums, but if boosters can’t foot the bill, enable GHSA to fund it. If thatdon’t work, allow it in the stadiums that can afford it. It does not have to be all or nothing. If you can do something to put more objectivity in the management of the game, why not? Why have everyone suffer the fate of a good or bad ref clock versus a standard time that can be viewed by all. I say get them installed in as many stadiums that can afford it and make sure it gets used.
By RightOnPeachtree
October 11, 2007 3:43 PM | Link to this
Okay, I’m confused. I thought there was a play clock.
Is there any limit to how long an offense can take? Is there no such thing as a “delay of game” call? Or is it just up to the ref to decide when a team has taken too long? What would prevent a team that’s ahead from running out the clock later in the game by just taking their time between plays?
By The Teller of Truths
October 11, 2007 4:04 PM | Link to this
Dr. Swearngin is right.
If School A gets to play its games with a play clock, and School B doesn’t, School A has an advantage over School B.
Thus, in a manner of speaking, School A and School B are playing by different rules.
And playing by different rules is a bad idea when teams are competing for the same goals, i.e., playoff berths, championships, etc.
By GA Buckeye
October 11, 2007 4:15 PM | Link to this
In a perfect world, yes, I am all for a play clock, but there are many schools out there that are having to make difficult trade-offs to get many of the things they have now for football, so I say, let’s not invest in this one, and work with what we currently use (referees tracking a play clock). It’s not perfect, but I think it is good enough.
By A Blackmon
October 11, 2007 5:44 PM | Link to this
you have the play clock in college,and pro football,so the high school kids that are good enough to make it, to the next level,need to go on and get started with it now? It just makes sense? The small schools will have to hold some fund raisers,get the 50 yard club behind them,and ask for financial support from the GHSA?
By Brian
October 12, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this
Yes, there is a play clock in high school football. The Back Judge is responsible for the play clock. He/she will start their timer or stop watch when the Referee “puts the ball in play”.
As an official, I can tell you that there is a different angle regarding the cost if electronic play clocks were utilized. In order to maintain independence and objectivity, an official would be required to operate the play clock. The game clock operator cannot operate both clocks. This adds cost to each school for every home game.
That being said, there is a shortage of football officials in Georgia. Every year, additional schools are being established; therefore, more football teams need officials.
One would then say that we need to recruit more officials. How can more officials be recruited and retained? The answer is simply to raise the game fees. With higher travel costs, time commitments for meetings, training and travel, it becomes difficult to retain good officials. Raising game fees now adds a higher cost to every team. I do not see the electronic play clock being implemented in Georgia, unless some changes are made by the GHSA.
One of the coaches quoted in this column states that they cannot hear the whistle when the ball is set for play. I would counter that comment by saying that there is an army of coaches and attendants on the sidelines during the game. Someone on the coaching staff should always be aware when the ready for play is given.
By Robert
October 13, 2007 4:30 PM | Link to this
If Ralph Swearngin say anything about the cost for the play clock. I need to ask how much money is the Dome charging the GHSA for the playoff round. I agree with one of the comments, have the boosters pay half and GHSA pay the other. It will not cost that much to shop around for one.