Counting

Counting players is one of the most essential pre-snap routine components. We need to verify the correct number of players are on the field at the snap. Here are a few counting considerations (in no particular order):

  • Three-person: The referee counts both teams. The wings count their sideline.
  • Four-person: The referee counts the defense (and then the offense when Team A breaks the huddle). The umpire counts the offense, and the wings count their sideline.
  • Five-person (Colorado Mechanic): The referee and umpire count the offense. The back judge counts the defense. The wing whose sideline is on defense counts the defense. The wing whose sideline is on offense confirms there are no more than four players in Team A/K’s backfield.
  • With a five-person crew, if Team A is in the huddle, the referee can take that time to count the defense. It may not be the R’s primary responsibility, but I believe it is a valuable contribution. If you are a referee, you probably can recall throwing a flag for too many players on the defense when other officials forgot to count.
  • Do not signal full if you have not counted! You may feel obligated to raise your arm to acknowledge another official’s signal, but don’t do it if you haven’t counted. I’ve done it numerous times, and it’s wrong. (It’s also embarrassing when you signal “full,” and the team you were supposed to have counted has 10 or 12 players on the field.)
  • Free kick: All officials have time to count both teams. The official on the K-40 will ensure Team K has 11 players on the field before handing the ball to the kicker.
  • Following a play, you can count players that depart and enter the field: “Two on, two off, I’m full.”
  • Wings, you are at a disadvantage because you are often straight-lined. It’s okay to walk a yard off the line of scrimmage to get a better view of the players obstructed by their teammates.
  • When counting, do not point.
  • When Team A breaks the huddle, I count groups: three plus five plus three. Or I count players in each third of the field: two wings on the left, plus five linemen in the middle, plus two in the backfield, plus two wings on the right. Try to develop a counting pattern; it helps. I sometimes can count Team A players in the huddle, but since I like to also count the defense, I may have to start the Team A count as they leave the huddle.
  • If you count less than 11 players, count again. If you are a wing and your sideline is down one player, you should loudly communicate with the coaches, “Coach, you’re one down!” If numbering requirements are met, it is not a foul for a team to participate with less than 11 players. It would be a foul if Team A (with no scrimmage kick exception) has ten players on the field with only four linemen numbered 50-79 (the missing player happens to be numbered 50-79).
  • If you count more than 12 players, count again. Then count a third time if you’re not 100% sure. The middle officials should communicate with the wing who should communicate with the coaches. Do not let the snap go off with 12 players on the field. If the snap is imminent, kill the clock and flag the team for an illegal substitution (5-yard penalty). If a team participates with 12 players on the field, it is a 15-yard penalty.
  • It is not a foul to have 12 players in the huddle. A replaced player must begin to leave the field within three seconds of when his substitute enters the huddle (Rule 3-7-1). Don’t be draconian with the timing. After you’ve counted a second (or third time), Team A/K will be in position to snap the ball, and you can then flag the offending team. If you’re about to throw a flag and the twelfth player realizes his mistake and begins to leave the field, let him go. (The covering official will then ensure he’s off the field before the snap.)
  • As teams come onto the field following a timeout, take that time to count as they head onto the field. Also, make sure all helmets are correctly secured.


Quiz

Read the quiz stem and then choose the best answer(s). (Choose all that apply.)

4/16 at the K-30. Team K is in a legal scrimmage kick formation. At the snap, R55 immediately contacts the snapper and shoves him backward. K22 muffs the snap, picks up the ball and runs to the K-40 where he is downed (6 yards short of the LTG).

  1. There is no foul because Team K did not kick the ball
  2. R55 is guilty of roughing the snapper
  3. Team K will next snap the ball, 1/10 from the K-45 (previous spot enforcement)
  4. Team K will next snap the ball, 1/10 from the R-45 (end of the related run enforcement)

Review Rules 2-14-2b, 2-32-14, 9-4-6, 10-5-1h

Click below to reveal the Quiz answer and accompanying explanations.