Loose Ball Crosses Midfield On Clear

[laxref53]

Team A has ball in their defensive half of field. A1 passes ball across midfield line.

1. Does 20-second count stop when ball touches ground/player or as it crosses midfield in the air?

2. When does 10-second count begin-- when ball touches the ground or a player-- or when possession is gained by team A?

My recollection from the NCAA clinic in Philly was:

1. When the ball crosses-- period.

2. This one is tougher-- NCAA Rule 4-14 states the 10-second count begins once the team has possession. I seem to recall that, in Philly, they wanted to have the count begin once the ball touched ground/player-- at least that is what I have in my notes.

[Sonny]

Your answer to # 1 is correct.

I don't know what the A.R. is on question # 2. Good question.

[LaxRef]

Team A has ball in their defensive half of field. A1 passes ball across midfield line.

1. Does 20-second count stop when ball touches ground/player or as it crosses midfield in the air?

2. When does 10-second count begin-- when ball touches the ground or a player-- or when possession is gained by team A?

My recollection from the NCAA clinic in Philly was:

1. When the ball crosses-- period.

2. This one is tougher-- NCAA Rule 4-14 states the 10-second count begins once the team has possession. I seem to recall that, in Philly, they wanted to have the count begin once the ball touched ground/player-- at least that is what I have in my notes.

1. Ball technically has to touch something (midline, ground in offensive end, or a player in the offensive end) to end the 20-count, but when the ball is in flight and over midfield it's a pretty tough call to make at that point. It was unofficially suggested that when that ball is in flight over midfield might be a good time to shut off your timer.

FWIW, the rules say the count continues until, among other things:

c. A loose ball touches the ground on or across the center line.

but we've been told to interpret hitting a player in the offensive end as stopping the count as well.

2. There should be a bulletin on this soon, but there is now always either a 10- or 20-count going unless the ball is in the attack area or unless it is before possession on a face-off. Thus, when a 20-count ends anew count always begins (normally a 10-count, although it could be a 20 if, say, GK B1 throws a Gilman pass intercepted by A1 in A1's defensive end; there, you end Team B's 20 and start a 20 for Team A).

[Sonny]

It was unofficially suggested that when that ball is in flight over midfield might be a good time to shut off your timer.

I think we were officially told to do just that. Didn't Warren Kimber actually tell us to turn off our buzzer once the ball is in flight toward/beyond the midfield stripe?

[LaxRef]

It was unofficially suggested that when that ball is in flight over midfield might be a good time to shut off your timer.

I think we were officially told to do just that. Didn't Warren Kimber actually tell us to turn off our buzzer once the ball is in flight toward/beyond the midfield stripe?

You are probably right. I didn't want to overstate the situation since I haven't seen it in writing. Those "word of mouth" things can get us into trouble if we aren't careful.

[Sonny]

You are probably right. I didn't want to overstate the situation since I haven't seen it in writing. Those "word of mouth" things can get us into trouble if we aren't careful.

Great point.

Hopefully, we will get some A.R.'s on this soon!

[laxfan25]

I just took the online COC test, and this was one of the questions:

The 20-second count for advancing the ball beyond the center line will continue until:
a. A loose ball touches the ground on the midfield line.
b. A loose ball touches the ground across the midfield line.
c. A loose ball breaks the plane of the midfield line.
d. Answers (a) and (b).

I had to look it up to make sure what the book said, and I answered D. By the book, the ball (or ball carrier) has to touch the ground on or over the midline, but the smart mechanic is to use the plane - youll catch a lot less grief that way. The same ruling and principle applied for teams advancing the ball into the attack area.

And I concur that the 10 count begins as soon as the 20 stops - no need for possession anymore.

[LaxRef]

The 20-second count for advancing the ball beyond the center line will continue until:
a. A loose ball touches the ground on the midfield line.
b. A loose ball touches the ground across the midfield line.
c. A loose ball breaks the plane of the midfield line.
d. Answers (a) and (b).

I wish whoever writes these questions would stop writing them like this. The question as written is flawed, since there are other things that stop the count. A corrected version without this flaw would be:

The 20-second count for advancing the ball beyond the center line will stop if:
a. A loose ball touches the ground on the midfield line.
b. A loose ball touches the ground across the midfield line.
c. A loose ball breaks the plane of the midfield line.
d. Answers (a) and (b).

The NFHS test last year was littered with errors like this.

[shrekjr]

I just took the online COC test, and this was one of the questions:

Hey, real quick if you don't mind, what did you get for the other 99 answers?

[laxfan25]

I just took the online COC test, and this was one of the questions:

Hey, real quick if you don't mind, what did you get for the other 99 answers?

100%!