What is a timeout in American football and how do coaches use them?

Timeouts may seem like a simple concept, but how and when they are used often has a significant impact on the outcome of an NFL game.

Managing the clock can decide who will be declared the winner come the end of the fourth quarter, and NFL teams can often try to manipulate the game clock to their advantage by using a timeout. 

But what is a timeout, and how do NFL coaches use them? DAZN News explains below.

What is a timeout, and why do teams use them? 

A timeout occurs when a team stops the game clock.

During a timeout, teams have the opportunity to rest, make substitutions, and go over game strategy. 

Timeouts can also be used to try to throw off an opponent's kicker in certain situations. 

Who can call a timeout? 

A coach or player on the field is responsible for calling timeouts during a game. 

How many timeouts do teams have in an NFL game?

In any NFL game, each team is given three timeouts per half.

If a team has any timeouts remaining at the end of the first half, these do not carry over to the second half. 

If a game reaches overtime, each team is granted two timeouts, no matter how many they had left at the end of regulation.

How long are timeouts? 

Timeouts are typically two minutes long if they're used for a TV commercial break. If not, they're shortened to 30 seconds.

A timeout will also be 30 seconds if it's the second one called during the same stoppage, if the set number of TV breaks for the quarter has already been used, or if the referee decides a shorter break is needed.

However, timeouts are not allowed to be used twice in a row on the same scrimmage down in an attempt to delay the game clock even further.

Click this link for more details about other NFL rules and objectives.

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