Saw a strange play in a CFL game...?

Question

A while back I was watching a CFL game and I saw an unusual play whereby the ref (or some other on field official) raised their arm and counted down just prior to the snap.

Any idea why this was done?

Answer 1

maybe he was counting the number of calls he blew in the game

Answer 2

Hmm... maybe the play clock was running down and he was just counting it off as it ran down?

Answer 3

The clock was running down.

Answer 4

Uhhh.... the clock was running down?

Answer 5

During a CFL game there isn't a visual play clock. The time clock is stopped when play stops. It is started again when the referee signals time in. He does this by a visible countdown.