It is because it is ruled an incomplete pass and therefore time stops.
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∙ 2009-12-02 21:16:47There is two definitions for spiking the football. 1. When a player makes a touchdown and throws the ball on the ground, it's a spike. 2. When a quarterback needs to stop the clock in a game, they throw the football on the ground to stop it, which is called spiking.
In 1987 the rules were amended as follows:In order to stop the clock, the quarterback is permitted to throw the ball out of bounds or to the ground as long as he throws it immediately after receiving the snap.
The QB is trying to avoid losing yardage. Spiking the ball you don't lose yards. ---- I don't remember the exact year the rules were modified to allow spiking the football to stop the clock but the modification was made to allow teams a better chance to score at the end of a half/game when they are out of timeouts. The difference in the spiking vs. intentional grounding rule is the quarterback, when spiking, must take the snap from center and immediately spike the ball into the ground. The rule determines that the quarterback is doing this to stop the clock as opposed to the intentional grounding rule where the quarterback is throwing the ball to an area where there are no eligible receivers for the sole purpose of not losing yardage by being sacked. == == Because the intent of the play is not to unfairly deprive the defense of an opportunity -- it's merely to stop the clock. Keep in mind, too, that spiking the ball essentially carries its own self-imposed penalty, since it causes the offense to burn a down.
In football, the clock is stopped when the player goes off bound or is tackled. In college football, when a team earns a first down, the clock is stopped.
Penalties(If a flag is thrown), an incomplete pass, the ball carrier stepping out of bounds, change of possession, the quarterback spiking the ball, and timeouts stop the clock.
In all stages of football, the clock is stopped for incomplete passes.
Even after a penalty, the clock stops only when the play is over.
Not anymore. It used to.
Yes
In college, spiking the ball is a 15 yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
yes
Because the refs need to stop the game and tell everyone