12 men on field

[Purdue Pete]

Concordia was 4th and 12 from their own 30.  Punted but Norwell had 12 men on the field.  Concordia was given 1st and 10.  Why is that?

[Irishman]

2 minutes ago, Purdue Pete said:

Concordia was 4th and 12 from their own 30.  Punted but Norwell had 12 men on the field.  Concordia was given 1st and 10.  Why is that?

If the 12 players participated in the play, illegal participation is a 15 yard penalty. 

[Purdue Pete]

2 minutes ago, Irishman said:

If the 12 players participated in the play, illegal participation is a 15 yard penalty. 

👍

[Bobref]

If the defense has 12 in the formation, we’d hope that the back judge would catch that pre-snap and flag a dead ball illegal substitution, which is only 5 yds. Sometimes, especially on a punt when the back judge is 50 yds. from the LOS, it can be very difficult to get the count, then re-count if there’s 12, and get the play shut down before the snap.