When does the 10 second count begin?

[Burgie86]

A question arose this afternoon about when the 10 second count begins
after the defensive team clears the ball? It seems clear that count
begins when a clearing team player carries the ball across the
midline. It also seems clear when one clearing player passes the ball
ahead to a teammate that the count to get in the box when his teammate
catches the ball on the offensive end of the field.

So, what happens when the ball is loose on the defensive end of the
field and is then batted or kicked across the midline? I assume the
first 20 second clearing count ends, but does the offense's 10 or the
new defense's 20 second count begin immediately, or do you await one
player from either team to gain possession?

Just curious... ;-)

[Metz]

Correct the 20 second clearing count does end once the ball crosses
the midline.. The new 10 second or new 20 second clearing count does
not start in Highschool until there is possession.

[greatc...@aol.com]

Good question. The count (20 or 10) depends upon possession in high school (Federation). All you said appears to be true if I understood you correctly.  Yes, there are times in fed where there is no count. IE, A player, long pole, in his defensive end of field passes the ball forward across midfield  and no possession is achieved- ball is being kicked around- so NO count. But if that same long pole carried ball across midline and  was checked immediately, losing control/possession, the 10 sec count starts when he crossed midline.

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