Why you don't do a 5 second count in your head

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by beachbum

Depending on an officials count is risky at best. officials are taught not to signal the number they are at, only that they are counting. In a close game the officials should have their hand moving during a 5 second count, but may count the first one before they move their hand, so you as a coach should be ready for that.

Many times the officials will be over 5 seconds when the call is made anyways.

Such poor officiating practice that is. In fact, the officials should ALWAYS have their hand moving, exactly like RichMSN said.

If I am covering a play, and I miss a beat, then that player effectively gets a 6-count, rather than only a visible 4-count. It also tells me that I need to re-focus and pay more attention.

That's exactly what happened to the T in the OP: he lost focus for at least three seconds.