Line of scrimmage
 

Do you count 7 on or 4 off ?


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Once you know you have 11 from the R/U you count backs.


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By rule

NFHS - 7 on
NCAA - 4 off

We use to use the practice that 11 minus 4 must be 7, but our state supervisor specifically forbids this practice.

When in Rome

Your state supervisor specifically forbids math in education-based athletics?

I would not do this as a wing at all. Once I get a count, then counting who is in the backfield is best. And how does a supervisor tell you how to count anyway? Is he going to get in your head and tell you that is wrong?

Peace

At a state clinic 3 years ago our crew was there and they had us run as a crew for about a quarter. The state supervisor asked one of our wings how many he had on the line on the previous play? Wing said there were 4 in the backfield. This was between snaps in a hurry up offense. Had there been more time he would have said, "R & U had 11 on the field, I've got 4 in the backfield, must be 7 on the line." We were informed that under NFHS rules it does not matter how many are in the backfield, and our wings MUST count the players ON the line. The best way to do this is to indicate how many you have on the line on your side of the snapper. I tried to explain that 11-4 was a simpler way to obtain the same result. I was told flat out that I was wrong, and we needed to change our mechanic

When in Rome.

But that's stupid.


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Sounds like one of those times where the supervisor says to do something one way, and you say "Yes, sir, I'll make sure to do it that way from now on"... and then the next time he asks you say "I'm doing it exactly the way you told me to sir", and then just keep doing your thing.

Not only stupid, I still would not do what that supervisor said. He is not in my head when I am on the field.

Peace

since it doesn't matter how many are in the backfield under NFHS rules, then obviously 4,3,2 or 1 in the backfield would mean 7 or more on the line. Correct? The rule book states that you have to have a minimum of 7 on the line of scrimmage. But , sometimes what seems like common sense to me isn't common sense to others.

What if Team A has less than 10 players in the game with 4 in the backfield?

Under FED rules, this would be a foul for illegal formation (only 6 on the line of scrimmage).

Under NCAA rules, this would be legal (NCAA only requires no more than 4 players can be backs).

I much prefer the NCAA rule... there's no need for the H/L to know how many players are in the game for Team A. For FED games, I need to let my H/L know if Team A is short on players.

Very good point jtheump. That is true. In that case you would only have six on the line. That would be the reason to count players on the line. I will be doing just that from now on. Thanks

Get the count of the O from the R/U. They should be signaling if they have 11 (fist or thumbs up) or 10 (usually two hands on the front of the body). As an R, I give the count as early as I can, and hold it until the O reaches the LOS.

Once you have my count, then you can count backs.