How to Kill the Clock in Football

“Killing the clock” in football means running the clock down until the game is over when your team is ahead. The scenario happens in the fourth quarter, especially when the clock presents a potential liability in a close game. Although professional and college football have specific rules, the concept of chiseling away at the remaining time in a game is much the same.

Instructions

    • 1

      Keep opposing running backs and receivers in bounds. Each time an opposing player runs out of bounds with the football, the game clock stops. The team losing the game will try to throw to a receiver who can run out of bounds to stop the clock. This strategy sometimes works, although depending on how big a lead your team has, it may not matter.

    • 2

      Use the play clock. The play clock gives the offensive team 40 seconds after the referee whistles the ball dead from the previous play to snap the ball for another play. If the play clock expires before the play begins, the offensive team is penalized five yards for delay of game and the game clock stops. Don't confuse the play clock, which is for each play, with the game clock, which runs throughout the game.

    • 3

      Run the ball, but keep possession. Running the football takes more time than passing it. A running back tackled in the middle of the field means the game clock continues to run. Your team must keep making first downs for this strategy to work. The score dictates whether you run the ball on fourth down, punt or possibly try a field goal.

    • 4

      Decline penalties. Starting in the 2011 college football season, if your opponent receives a penalty, your team can run “10 seconds off the clock for penalties called in the final minute of each half,” according to ESPN and the Associated Press. This rule mimics the NFL rule, which is an option in the final two minutes of each half.

    • 5

      Take a knee. The quarterback takes the snap and kneels. The rule for college and professional football is that when a knee of the player in possession of the ball touches the ground, the play is over. This strategy is mostly used in the last two minutes of a game when the losing team is out of timeouts.