Man, if they're watching for my fist, no wonder they only have 10 or 12 guys in the game.

Maybe we should make up some signals that mean nothing just to throw people off. They'll think they should steal second or something. :)

Fist extended parallel to ground for 11 players, both hands spread on chest for 10 players and no signal for 12.

As for why we signal 10, confirming that count with each other makes certain that (a) we didn't just forget to count, and (b) we don't launch a flag and shut the play down when a defender runs on just before the snap.

We had a situation Friday night where A had a 12 player come in the game and no one left. We were ready to flag them for illegal substitution when A realized the problem and called a time out. Even though the replaced player did not leave within 3 - 5 seconds, we waited a bit and let them buy their way out of trouble by using a TO. To me, that's punishment enough.

Man, if they're watching for my fist, no wonder they only have 10 or 12 guys in the game.

Maybe we should make up some signals that mean nothing just to throw people off. They'll think they should steal second or something.

They are looking for the other local signals which they know are problems. If you don't think they know that you are not up with current coaching.

Exactly Ed..

I probably should have said so, but if and when the R shows 10 us on the field, the other wing and I start some quick checks..
First check is how many backs, second check if we see 4 is how many players are on the line. We never worry about unbalanced at all, (that's a don't care too us).
It works if religiously followed and that means R&U don't screw it up to start with.

FWIW, this is why I like the college mechanic for counting linemen much better than anything else. The H and L don't need to look for R & U to be signalling 11 - they just count linemen on their side of the snapper.

The mechanic, as I've seen it, is: With three, do nothing. With four, put four fingers against your cheek. With two, hold out two fingers. If one wing has two, and the other doesn't have four, you've got a flag.