Sending a player to the sideline during hurry-up

By Bruce Maurer on 03 August 2013

This question concerns sending players off when they are close to getting an UNS. We have done this for years and haven’t had an issue. I am waiting for someone to ask me if we take an official’s TO for this. There are probably going to be times when a defensive player needs to be sent off but the offensive is in a hurry-up and the substitution can’t be made without being put at a disadvantage. Since we don’t want to put the defense at a disadvantage and we don’t want to penalize them when we have identified the issue I would go ahead and take an officials TO. Is this correct?

Send the player when it is appropriate – if A is in a hurry-up, then wait a few plays to where B is not gaining an advantage by the Officials calling an Officials Time-out. Player does not have to be sent immediately after the down is over; officials can wait a few downs until it is appropriate & neither team has gained an advantage.