Author Topic: time clock  (Read 894 times)

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coachholmes

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time clock
« on: October 11, 2016, 08:11:31 am »
my question is regarding the game clock. in our game this past weekend we found the game clock running at times it should not. for example, our defense was holding, we wanted a few plays before the end of the first half. at the 19 second mark we called a time out. referee acknowledged our request but the clock continued to run. it ran down to 12 seconds. we asked for time to be put back on the clock. it was not. next play ran, that play ended in a tackle at the 4 second mark. that play was fourth down. instead of stopping the clock for change of possession the clock was allowed to run to 0 ending the first half. next play was the opening kickoff to start the second half. we onside the kick. a player on the front line for their team smothered the ball. now I understand a few seconds need to run off but 34 seconds were run off the clock before it was stopped. 34 seconds may not seem like much but when you are playing 4x8 minute quarters and its a close game, every second counts. and these are just examples. as we asked for time to be put back on the clock we were told by the sideline ref that the referee's have no control over the game clock. now we as a team had our chances to tie and win the game. 1st and goal with 4 plays and we couldn't get the ball across the line. so I don't want this to sound like sour grapes but we have played two games this year with what seems like a running clock at times. we have 21 kids on our team and getting all 13 plays in can be a struggle in a tight contest. especially with a running clock. so, is it true that the referee's do not have any say on the clock operation? also, kids running the clock, against the rules isn't it?
Assistant Coach Bixby White

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Director of Officials

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Re: time clock
« Reply #1 on: October 11, 2016, 08:26:23 am »
Officials can add time back to the clock.  Clock keepers can screw the whole game up for everyone involved though. 
Unfortunately at this level a lot of times it is one of the player's parents or big brother up there running the clock and they don't know the correct time to start or stop the clock and they are playing on their phone and that makes it tough.   

coachholmes

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Re: time clock
« Reply #2 on: October 11, 2016, 10:10:51 am »
agreed. that's what we found with the clock operator at our game. the frustration comes from the referee's not working to correct the problem and stating that they have could not add time because it was out of their hands.
Assistant Coach Bixby White

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Re: time clock
« Reply #3 on: October 11, 2016, 10:32:35 am »
Understood. In a close game they should work with you on that. 
Where was this game played? 

SpartanStrong

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Re: time clock
« Reply #4 on: October 11, 2016, 11:44:49 am »
JTA field in Jenks - Jenks Maroon & Bixby Blue 3rd grade - the clock issues were not limited to those incidents cited by coachholmes; those were, however, some critical ones. We understand that it takes volunteers to make this organization operate, and we appreciate the fact these are third graders; however, these kids put in there time just like the guys they look up to on Friday night, and it's a disservice to them when a referee either doesn't know that he can engage the clock operator and direct time appropriately, or doesn't care to take the time to do it. IF the official doesn't know he can control the clock from the field, that's one thing; frankly, in the case of not caring, that's an indictment on the official, not the clock operator.

The clock was an issue throughout the game, and as coachholmes stated, the responsibility to score rests with our team. Time management impacts coaching decisions and play calling, and when the coaching staff has to plan for the opponent AND the mismanaged clock, it changes the dynamic of the game.

Director of Officials

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Re: time clock
« Reply #5 on: October 11, 2016, 12:45:01 pm »
As I said above, the officials can fix the clock if they think it needs to be fixed.  Pretty sure every official knows this but I will add it to my newsletter to them for this weekend. 
This is the 3rd different week people have complained about the clock at JTA so it sounds like something needs to change there.  I will forward on to the league office. 

BigBlue

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Re: time clock
« Reply #6 on: October 12, 2016, 10:54:58 am »
This weekend at Glenpool the official stopped the game and put some time back on the clock! Sometimes from when the coach calls the timeout to the officials killing the play to the clock operator paying attention and seeing it can be 5-15 seconds. However I also understand that these clock operators aren't getting paid a penny and our volunteering their time every Saturday so it's very hard to blame them! I will tell you running the clock is harder than it looks and requires someone who is paying attention all game long! When your there for 7 games on a Saturday running the clock all weekend its easy to slip up! Most of the time if the game is close and the time is valuable its been my experience that the officials will put time back on the clock! If the game is close then time should have been put back on the clock! Still to this day I haven't seen an outcome determined by a clock operator!
Glenpool 2nd Grade HC
Proud dad of #2 2nd grade & #21 4th Grade!

CEverett

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Re: time clock
« Reply #7 on: October 12, 2016, 01:11:33 pm »
We have had the same incident this year and the refs would do nothing about it.  I would bet we lost a full 2 minutes over the course of the entire game from the clock still running when it wasn't supposed to be.  I understand its part of it.  Just like in any sport - there are refs that do an awesome job and have fun with it, and then there are some that are there to get the game finished as soon as possible so they can collect that money.  That's what youth sports are about these days - MONEY!
Assistant Coach

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Re: time clock
« Reply #8 on: October 12, 2016, 02:04:10 pm »
That would make perfect sense except the games are set for every 90 minutes and we don't normally start early so I guess there must be some other reason, it's not like they get done early and get to leave.  And those officials that start officiating because of the money only - don't normally last very long because you don't get rich doing it..
I have been at sites this year where the clock didn't stop as well but you know what else happened, the clock didn't start on time either (sometimes an entire play) so it kind of evened out.   

As I stated above, in a close game, if the officials know the clock is wrong, they should correct it either way. 

guest2992

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Re: time clock
« Reply #9 on: October 12, 2016, 03:30:39 pm »
Why not pay someone a few bucks to run the clock?  I mean we have to pay for announcers, and I would much rather that money go to a clock operator who knows how to run the clock, and will pay attention.  We played a game in Owasso earlier in the year, and the clock management was so bad, the ref was getting mad at the clock operator for not paying attention.  I was told by an INFC official that we should have gotten the field representative involved.  My response was how in the world can I get the field representative involved if we are in the middle of the game?  Why is the field representative not making his/her rounds to each field and making sure that things are working properly?  Just tired of all the excuses.

buffdad

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Re: time clock
« Reply #10 on: October 13, 2016, 10:00:23 am »
From my understanding it is totally up to each individual league to pay or not pay a person to run the clock.  That decision rests upon each team organization not the INFC.  I may be wrong but that is how I understand it to be.

CoachEmUp"

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Re: time clock
« Reply #11 on: October 13, 2016, 11:05:33 am »
Correct. Glenpool is volunteer.
Coach & Official

guest1447

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Re: time clock
« Reply #12 on: October 16, 2016, 01:29:54 pm »
Tried to PM BobStoops and I guess he has been deleted?  Be careful saying anything bad I guess.  ???

BigBlue

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Re: time clock
« Reply #13 on: October 19, 2016, 10:48:54 am »
Bob Stoops is probably getting ready for Texas Tech this week! No time for 1st-6th grade football
Glenpool 2nd Grade HC
Proud dad of #2 2nd grade & #21 4th Grade!

guest3970

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Re: time clock
« Reply #14 on: October 30, 2016, 11:19:45 am »
Yeah Bob got deleted due to the reason "Always derogatory"   ;D    I think Bob had some excellent points. Pay a few bucks to have a score keeper who can run the clock properly.  I think most people would rather pay for score keepers than the announcers.