Illegal Formation

[RadioBlue]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

I'm lenient and will warn if they are close to being off the line when they are supposed to be on. But if they have 5 guys obviously in the backfield (i.e. 2 receivers that are both being punched back, a QB and 2 RB), there will be a flag and no warning. If one of those receivers is close but still technically in the back field, I'll put him on the line and warn him after the play.

When I work a wing (which is always lower-level games since I'm a BJ on Fridays), I'll ask the WR coming towards me, "On or off, sir?" He'll tell me and when he lines up I'll say, "You're on" or "You're off".

If he tells me "I'm off" and he has four of his teammates in the backfield, too, then I'll drop a flag.