HIGH SCHOOL 25 YARD LINE OVERTIME PROCEDURE

•       An overtime period is untimed play after a regulation game has ended with the score tied,  During an overtime period each team has an opportunity for an offensive series of downs.  However, an overtime period may include only one series of downs if the defensive team scores a safety or touchdown.

•       When the score is tied at the end of the fourth quarter, the referee will instruct both teams to return to their respective team boxes.  There will be a three-minute intermission during which both teams may confer with their coaches.  All officials will assemble at the 50-yard line, review the overtime procedure, and discuss how penalties, if any, including carry-over penalties from the regulation contest will be assessed to start the overtime procedure.

•       The visiting team captain will call the coin toss before the coin is tossed.  The winner of the coin toss shall be given his choice of defense or offense first, or of designating the end of the field at which the ball will be put in play for this set of downs.  The loser will have his choice of the other options.  To indicate which team will go on offense, the referee will have that captain face the goal toward which his team will advance and indicate this with the first-down signal.  The other team captain will face the offensive captain with his back toward the goal he will defend.

•       Each team shall be permitted ONE time-out during each overtime period (a series for A and a series for B).  The team scoring the greater number of points in the overtime period shall be declared the winner.  The final score shall be determined by totaling all points scored by each team during both regulation time and overtime periods.

•       To start the overtime, the offensive team shall put the ball in play, first and ten, on the defensive team's 25 yard line or succeeding spot if a carry-over penalty has been administered, anywhere between the inbounds lines.  The first offensive team shall have a series of four downs.  That series shall be terminated by any score by the offensive team or if the defensive team has possession of the ball.  If the team on offense scores a touchdown, it is entitled to the opportunity for a try unless the points would not affect the outcome of the game.

•       A field goal is permitted during any down.

•       If the defensive team gains possession, the ball becomes dead immediately and the offensive team's series of downs is ended.

•       After the first team on offense has completed its series of downs, the first team on defense will become the offensive team with the ball in its possession at the same 25-yard line anywhere between the inbounds lines.  The same end of the field will be used for possession by both teams during the two sets of downs to ensure equal game conditions and to conserve time.

• During Team A’s try, if Team B intercepts or recovers a fumble, we as officials will kill the play immediately. To clarify: The defense cannot advance the ball for a touchdown. The down for series for either team ends immediately if there is a change of possession.

•       If the score remains tied at the end of an overtime period, then the procedure shall be repeated with the loser of the first coin toss having first choice of options.

•        The offensive team shall be awarded a new series of downs when any of the following occurs: 1) A penalty for defensive pass interference is accepted; 2) Offensive team recovers a scrimmage kick (field goal attempt) between the goal lines after it has been touched first by the defensive team beyond the neutral zone; 3) Defensive team is guilty of roughing the kicker, place kicker holder, snapper or passer.

•       If the defensive team scores a safety or touchdown, the game is ended.

•      No try will be attempted if the winner of the game has been determined

•       Post scrimmage kick enforcement is not applicable in overtime.