[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

They do it during the 2 minute offense. Sure it makes it more difficult on the players but 40 seconds is too much time in my opinion. Maybe 30 seconds is ideal.

No they don't - it is always a 40 second clock.

It is only 25 seconds after something like a change of possession, timeout, etc. Then when the referee whistles the clock in the 25 second clock begins. In the normal course of play it is always 25 seconds.

That's how a team can run almost 40 seconds off the clock with each snap at the end of a game.

Edit: here is the relevant section from the rule book

40-SECOND PLAY CLOCK
Article 1It is a delay of the game if the ball is not put into play by a snap within 40 seconds after the start of
the play clock. The play clock operator shall time the interval between plays upon signals from game
officials. The 40-second interval starts when a play ends, unless Article 2 below applies.
25-SECOND PLAY CLOCK
Article 2 In the event of certain administrative stoppages or other delays, a team will have 25 seconds,
beginning with the Referee’s whistle, to put the ball in play by a snap or a kick. Such stoppages include,
but are not limited to, the following:
(a) a change of possession;
(b) a charged team timeout;
(c) the two-minute warning;
(d) the expiration of a period;
(e) a penalty enforcement;
(f) a Try; or
(g) a Free Kick.
A 25-second interval will be used in these situations, even if the 40-second clock is already counting down.

You may be thinking of when there was a time out inside 2 minutes, and after the time out the Play Clock starts at 25