Signal S7

[NVFOA_Ump]

Have heard several "corrections" about when to use the DB signal (S7) when the R is giving the penalty explanation.  Some of those comments date back to last year and early this year but a review of the 2012-2013 pdf version of the rules seems to confirm that the penalty statements that list S7 as the first signal to give have not been changed.  Is there a CFO document that gives us some current guidance on what specific penalties we should no longer be giving the S7 signal on?

[El Macman]

No, you won't find any document to that effect. However, I believe you will find that is has been universally accepted that the only time the dead-ball signal is used is for "After the play..." fouls.

E.g., (Signal 7) "After the play, (signal 38) personal foul, late hit out of bounds, number 35, defense. 15 yard penalty, first down."

It is no longer used for pre-snap fouls. Also, for pre-snap fouls, you won't hear, "Prior to the snap..." or anything like that. Just go straight to the foul/penalty announcement. E.g, "False start, number 72, offense. Five yard penalty, 2nd down."

[ref6983]

Mechanics Manual pg 95.

[Morningrise]

When the officials blow and throw after the snap has just occurred, is S7 still not appropriate? If so, is there instead standard verbiage for explaining why the down was blown dead?

Take illegal substitution. It can be live-ball or dead-ball depending on the circumstances; thus the signal and name of the foul alone are not, in my opinion, enough information. To indicate that it was the dead-ball variety, I would prefer to add "dead ball foul" or some such.

[El Macman]

When the officials blow and throw after the snap has just occurred, is S7 still not appropriate? If so, is there instead standard verbiage for explaining why the down was blown dead?

Take illegal substitution. It can be live-ball or dead-ball depending on the circumstances; thus the signal and name of the foul alone are not, in my opinion, enough information. To indicate that it was the dead-ball variety, I would prefer to add "dead ball foul" or some such.

Generally, it is simply unnecessary. However, if there is a possibility of confusion as to whether there was or was not a legal snap and play, then, by all means, make an announcement. Something like, "There was no play. Before the ball could be snapped, illegal substitution, defense, 12 players on the field. Five yard penalty, second down."

But you don't need the signal.
 

[NVFOA_Ump]

So it would seem to me for those of us who are not wearing a microphone that using the accepted way of signalling the actual call and informing everyone that " .... there was no play. Before the ball could be snapped ..." to simply use the long standing S7 signal that we had a dead ball foul would still be appropriate?