I understand when we sub players, we have to allow the defense a chance, but how long? Watching that referee hold up the snap with the clock running drove me nuts. The clock was all the way down to 9 seconds before he got out of the way.
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- Thread starter AikenGameFan
- Start date
My interpretation of the rule book is that when a substitute enters the game, the departing player must start to leave within 3 seconds. There is no set time allowed for getting off the field. If the offense substitutes, the defense is allowed an opportunity to make their own substitutes and are supposed to "react promptly" (ie get off the field). The ball is not permitted to be snapped until the subs are on the field and departing players have left the field. If it's deemed that the defense doesn't react promptly, the first offense is a 5 yard delay of game penalty. Any subsequent penalties for this is a 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty. The amount of time to react promptly is up to the discretion of the officials. Basically, as long as the defense isn't lollygagging around, the officials will allow a suitable amount of time to make substitutions.