Snap (American and Canadian football)#Snap count

With cadence or snap count is called in American football the start command of the offense, from the drawing of the line of scrimmage with the ball is put into play until the snap. A typical cadence is down! - Set! - Hat, analogous to " On your marks! - Done! - Item can be " understood, with more or less at the Football commands can be used to surprise the defense! .

Usually, the cadence of the quarterback is in the huddle previously announced, for the specific signal for the start of the turn should be known only to the offense, which shall be prepared at the line of scrimmage before the start of a turn. There have been most offensive players must stand still motionless for one second or in certain constellations, otherwise face penalties such as "Illegal Formation" or " False Start". Only the quarterback can look around, and an attack player may optionally as "Man in Motion" change his position. Typical is a start "on one", ie on Down! to bend the players in their starting position set! announced the completed rule to properly install, and the first hat! it goes off.

The Snap Count is a surprise, because the Defense has to rely on to respond to the actual movement of the ball ( snap ). Often the offense uses the same cadence, which is changed only in special situations. This has particularly among amateur teams the advantage that the offensive player can focus on their role in the actual play, and errors are reduced in the snap. Of course you can also try by frequent changes, with a faster start to surprise the defense unprepared as usual, or lure with a delayed start to the case of a " Offsides ". Here, the playmaker must always make sure to get the ball in time to the game, otherwise there is a penalty for delay of game (Delay of Game ).

A special form are called audibles, so for all audible instructions with which the quarterback given the defensive formation known is a change from the previously agreed turn.

• Football technical term