start of play

Question
Is an official required to spot the ball and signal play can begin in a timely way? The reason I'm asking is that, in a no-huddle offense, it seems that the official has a great deal of control over the tempo of the offense through the spot and "play can begin" signal.

Answer
Robert
Thank you for this question. This is one of the best questions I have had asked in a long time.  You are obviously very astute and have a sophistication and understanding of the game and timing rules.

The simple answer is yes, official are to spot the ball and signal ready for play in a timely fashion.  However there is no specific rule that states this.  It is an industry practice.

You are correct that the Referee has a great deal of control over the tempo of the game.  Under the college rules this is true to some extent but since there is a 40 second play clock, this tempo issue is vitiated for the most part.  Under the high school rules the Referee has more subjective control as to when to make the ball ready for play (chop it in or use the "play can begin signal" as you indicate).

In the NCAA rules recall there is a 40 second play clock that starts from the time the last play becomes dead [i.e. when "an official signals that the ball is dead, the play clock shall begin a 40-second count"]

NCAA RULE 3-2-4
ARTICLE 4.
a. Game Clock. Playing time shall be kept with a game clock that may be either a stop watch operated by the line judge, back judge, field judge or side judge, or a game clock operated by an assistant under the direction of the appropriate judge. The type of game clock shall be determined by the game management.

b. 40-Second Clock.
1. When an official signals that the ball is dead, the play clock shall begin a 40-second count.
2. If the 40-second clock does not start or the count is interrupted for reasons beyond the control of the officials or the play-clock operator (e.g., clock malfunction), the referee shall stop the game clock and signal (both palms open in an over-the-head pumping motion) that the
play clock should be reset at 40 seconds and started immediately.
3. In the event that the 40-second clock is running and the ball is not ready to be snapped after 20 seconds into the count, the referee shall declare a timeout and signal that the play clock be set at 25 seconds.  When play is to be resumed, the referee will give the ready-for-play
signal [S1] and the play clock shall begin the 25-second count. The game clock will start on the snap unless it had been running when the referee declared a timeout; in that case, it will start on the referees signal (Rule 3-3-2-f).

c. 25-Second Clock. If the officials signal the game clock to be stopped for any of the following reasons, the referee shall signal (one open palm in an over-the-head pumping motion) that the clock should be set at 25 seconds:
1. Penalty administration.
2. Charged team timeout.
3. Media timeout.
4. Injury timeout for a Team A player only. The play clock is set to 40 seconds for an injury to a player of Team B.
5. Measurement.
6. Change of possession.
7. After a kick down.
8. Score.
9. Start of each period.
10. Start of a team抯 possession series in an extra period.
11. Instant replay review.
12. Other administrative stoppage.
When play is to be resumed, the referee will give the ready-for-play signal [S1] and the play clock will begin the 25-second count.

d. Device Malfunction. If a visual 40/25-second timing device becomes inoperative, both coaches shall be notified by the referee immediately and both clocks shall be turned off.

In no huddle offensive situations the officials have a duty to make sure the defense is not placed at an unfair advantaged and must make sure the defense has an opportunity to substitute and has an opportunity to match up or line up personnel.  In these cases the Referee may appear to slow down the offense, but infact the referee should be keeping his same tempo before allowing the ball to be snapped.  In these situations the Umpire will stand over the ball or communicate with the snapper and tell him not to snap until he is authorized by the umpire.  In hurry up situations where time is of the essence, the officials are keenly aware and have to balance the fairness of the game tempo, the game clock, the offensive teams right to execute their plays and the defense's right to substitute.  If neither the offense or defense is substituting then the play can begin [ball snapped] quicker than if there were offensive sustitutions taking place.  The Officials will not slow down the tempo if sole to let the defense substitute if the offense is not substituting players.