"Ref, how could you call that? You had not blown the whistle."

That's a familiar refrain from a coach who has just seen one of his players commit a late hit followed by a yellow hanky fluttering to the turf.

This coming season — just like past seasons — coaches will instruct their players to keep playing until they hear the whistle. That incorrect advice puts officials in a delicate position. This article takes a close look at what constitutes the end of a play and how the whistle is not the definitive source on stopping play.

A timely manner

A recurring Point of Emphasis in the NFHS rulebook is "Late Hits and Illegal Contact." The words in the POE are pretty specific for a cure: "One remedy would be for the official to blow the whistle in a more timely manner. Once forward progress is stopped, blow the whistle immediately."

Now:

• What is a "more timely manner"?
• How does an official know when it occurs?

Continued...