NFL Timeout Rules

In an NFL game, a timeout allows a team to stop the game clock temporarily--to preserve time, for example, or to avoid a penalty, discuss strategy with the coach, or even try to "freeze" the opposing team's kicker by giving him extra time to worry about a big kick. Each team gets three timeouts per half. Unused timeouts from the first half don't carry over into the second.

  1. Calling a Timeout

    • Timeouts can be called only by head coaches and by players on the field. Assistant coaches, players on the sidelines and other team personnel cannot call timeout.

    Length

    • A timeout normally lasts two minutes--the length of a standard TV commercial break. However, the league sets a limit to how many commercial breaks there can be in each quarter. If that limit has been reached, or if the broadcaster chooses not to run commercials, the referee can limit the timeout to 30 seconds. Broadcasters have a "sideline liaison" on the field for each game; he wears bright orange gloves that he uses to signal to the referee when the broadcaster doesn't plan to run a commercial, or when it is coming out of a commercial.

    Consecutive Timeouts

    • A team cannot call two timeouts, one right after the other, without a play being run between them. If a team tries to call a second timeout, officials are to simply ignore the request. However, trying to take a second straight timeout to further freeze the opposing team's kicker is unsportsmanlike conduct, punishable by a 15-yard penalty.

    Officials' Timeouts

    • The referee can call an officials' timeout at his discretion, such as to hold an on-field conference, spot the ball, measure for a first down or determine who recovered a fumble. Such timeouts are not charged to either team.

    Injuries

    • If a player is injured during the game and has to be helped by training staff, the officials will call an injury timeout. The injured player's team is not charged a timeout, but that player has to leave the field for at least one play. If the team elects to use one of its timeouts, though, then the player doesn't have to go out for a play.

      In the last two minutes of each half, injury timeouts are charged to the player's team. If the team is out of timeouts and a player gets injured, the action depends on whether the player is on offense or defense. If he's on offense, then the defense has the option of having the officials take 10 seconds off the game clock. If he's on defense, the play clock resets to 40 seconds, which allows the offense to take more time off the clock if it so chooses. Subsequent injury timeouts also result in a 5-yard penalty for the injured player's team. These rules are designed to prevent players from feigning injury to preserve time on the clock.