Timeout or Illegal Substitution

[grantsrc]

Originally posted by Whistles & Stripes
Heck yeah. Just cause he's got TO doesn't mean he can have 12 in the huddle. I had this happen earlier this season in a JV game where there was a TO and when the TO ended, coach and 1 player left to go back to the sideline. I counted and realized we still had 11 on the field, so that other player musta been there awhile. I mentioned it to the captain and let him know that if it happened again, it'd be a penalty. It happened again later. I flagged it. Coach questioned it, and I told him that was the 2nd time that game and that I had warned the captain the first time it happened. He said I shoulda told him. I agreed with him that that may have been the BETTER thing to do, but he took the 5 yards anyhow.

Where was the official that was responsible for this sideline during the TO? This is a perfect example of why it is important to still officiate and focus during dead ball periods. There is no way that this should be penalized because whichever official was responsible for this sideline should have said, "Coach, you may only have 11 in the huddle during a TO." Then this is no longer an issue.

This goes back to the thread about warnings. We need to be aware of how to effectively use warnings and communication when we notice things like this. Bring it to the coaching staff's attention. Let them solve it first. If they don't solve it, then call it. Especially any underclass games. Half they time, they're lucky if they run the right play, let alone all the other stuff we're looking for!

One last thing to remember guys, having 12 in the huddle isn't a penalty. A replaced player not leaving immediately (3-5 seconds) is.