In teaching our new flag football officials (whose rules are VERY similar to NFHS) we teach them the following acronyms. They're by no means perfect, but they will get you well on your way.
KILL THE FOLLOWING: (FIELD fouls)
F-False Start
I- Illegal Snap
E-Encroachment
L-Leaving the field on the wrong side (and other illegal sub. penalties)
D-Delay of game
ALLOW THE PLAY TO CONTINUE: (MISHAP fouls)
M-Motion (Illegal)
I- Illegal Substition (sometimes--this is by no means perfect)
S-Shift
H-Having fewer than seven on the line of scrimmage
A-A player not within the nine yard marks at the RFP
P-Participation (Illegal)
Like I said, it's by no means perfect, and by no means exhaustive. But it's helpful. Like others have said, if there's something that doesn't become a foul until the ball is snapped (like motion/shift--they can move forward or more more than two people UNTIL the snap), the play continues.
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