The headsets are active between plays, and have one way communication with one player on each side. Typically this is the quarterback on offense and a team captain/play caller on defense. These players wear special helmets typically marked with a green dot on the back.
The refs or other officials cut off communication when the play clock reaches 15 seconds, preventing the kind of real-time communication you suggest.
that's good shit man, thanks
To clarify, the helmet comms are cut off after 15 seconds every play (i.e. after the first 15 seconds of the play clock have elapsed)
False.
Section 3, article 3: SPEAKERS IN HELMETS
The Coach-to-Player system allows a member of the coaching staff in the bench area or the coaches’ booth to communicate to a designated offensive or defensive player with a speaker in his helmet. The communication begins once a game official has signaled a down to be over and is cut off when the play clock reaches 15 seconds or the ball is snapped, whichever occurs first.
Commentators lied to me. I shouldn’t be surprised
I'm a huge football fan and did not know this. Thanks for sharing!
No. The headsets are disabled when the play starts or when the play clock goes below 15 seconds.
It does get disabled to the Quarterback, however I believe the Head Coach can flip between channels to talk to Offensive and/or Defensive coordinators during the play.
Here’s a really good podcast episode that includes that question:
No, there's a rule that the coach can't talk to the qb something like 10 seconds before any given play.
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