False start or Illegal Shift?

[bossman72]

A (a) person on the line or (b) person in the backfield starts to go down into their stance (putting hand on ground) as the ball is being snapped.

Should this be blown dead and a false start called or should this just be ruled an illegal shift and play continues?

[HLin NC]

Shift-

2.39 SITUATION: Is it a shift if before the snap: (a) A’s guards and tackles go from a hands-on-knees position to a three-point stance; or (b) back A1 misses the snap count and takes a half step forward while going from an upright position to a four-point stance;

RULING: Yes, in (a), (b),

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by bossman72

A (a) person on the line or (b) person in the backfield starts to go down into their stance (putting hand on ground) as the ball is being snapped.

Should this be blown dead and a false start called or should this just be ruled an illegal shift and play continues?

Unless the motion simulates action at the snap, this is an illegal shift and a live-ball foul. See 7-1-7.

[bossman72]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Unless the motion simulates action at the snap, this is an illegal shift and a live-ball foul. See 7-1-7.

Ok thanks. That's what I called in the game but my partner said I should have blown that dead.

[FBullock]

while the penalties are the same, this is illegial motion not illegial shift. Illegial shift is more than 1 player moving at the snap while illegial more is 1 person illegial moving at the snap. Again, penalty is the same.

[HLin NC]

ART. 6 . . . After a huddle or shift all 11 players of A shall come to an absolute
stop and shall remain stationary simultaneously without movement of hands,
feet, head or body for at least one second before the snap.

PENALTY: illegal shift (Art. 6)

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by FBullock

while the penalties are the same, this is illegial motion not illegial shift. Illegial shift is more than 1 player moving at the snap while illegial more is 1 person illegial moving at the snap. Again, penalty is the same.

As HLin's citation points out, the foul on this play is illegal shift. As you point out, the penalty is the same.

You might find this account of illegal shift/motion by Bob M. helpful: link.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by mbyron

As HLin's citation points out, the foul on this play is illegal shift. As you point out, the penalty is the same.

But if you signaled it as illegal shift, you wouldn't be able to hold your sandwich in the other hand.

[kdf5]

Originally Posted by FBullock

while the penalties are the same, this is illegial motion not illegial shift. Illegial shift is more than 1 player moving at the snap while illegial more is 1 person illegial moving at the snap. Again, penalty is the same.

Illegal shift is not more that one person moving at the snap. Illegal motion is more than one moving at the snap. An illegal shift happens when two players are in motion but one of them stops (shifts) while the other one continues his motion into the snap.