Illegal Shift - Need Clarification

[boboman316]

The call for an Illegial Shift belongs to the wing official. If your league went to four man, you could have 4 eyes instead of two looking at this. What league does your team participate in?

[coachd]

Originally Posted by boboman316

The call for an Illegial Shift belongs to the wing official. If your league went to four man, you could have 4 eyes instead of two looking at this. What league does your team participate in?

Thanks for your reply. We are in the Bill George Youth Football League (BGYFL)... with approx. 15 member towns in the western suburbs of Chicago.

I wasn't sure which Ref should make the call, but wouldn't the Head Referee also be responsible for the call since the man in motion is in the backfield and the other backs also shifted into a 3-pt stance?

I wouldn't think the Head Ref would use "it's not my call" as an excuse. And in this case, I doubt if another set of eyes would have helped. The violation occurred over and over again, so I suspect they didn't know the rule.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by boboman316

The call for an Illegial Shift belongs to the wing official. If your league went to four man, you could have 4 eyes instead of two looking at this. What league does your team participate in?

I'm a white hat on Friday nights and would have no qualms flagging this as well. I know the back is in motion and I can clearly see the line shifting.

[Ed Hickland]

Illegal shift, illegal motion, one arm, two arms...

Bottom line is the offense must come set for one second. That means ALL 11 players.

If a player goes in motion as the linemen go from 2-point to 3-point stance the offense has not been set for a second. Illegal shift.

Who calls it? Whoever sees it. I have had both wings and myself as the R have our flags out.

While I was not at the game and cannot and will not critique over the Web, many of us are guilty of letting this go because 1) they don't understand it themselves, or, 2) and I am as guilty as anyone, you just get tired of trying to explain to some crazy coach who now criticizes you for costing him the game when maybe if he learned the game it wouldn't be my fault.

Last season I called it five times on one team. After the second one I went to the coach and told him exactly what was wrong. He didn't get it. From then on I was costing him the game. After five tries I gave up!

[Forksref]

My rule of thumb: The QB must be set before anyone goes in motion. (I tell the coaches that.)

Failure to do that is the most common illegal shift that I see.

[Bob M.]

Originally Posted by Forksref

My rule of thumb: The QB must be set before anyone goes in motion. (I tell the coaches that.)

Failure to do that is the most common illegal shift that I see.

REPLY: Agreed. Followed closely by a player going in motion as the rest of the team goes to their three-point stances.