False Start of Illegal Shift
 

Quick Question:

How are you calling the situation when the offensive players are not set before the snap? The situation I'm think of usually involves a wide-out taking his time getting set and the snap occuring while they are jogging out to their position. I have been calling this an illegal shift. Correct or not?

Thanks.

Your instincts are correct.

Read Rule 2 - definitions. Don't have it handy, but a false start is defined as action that simulates action at the snap. Players don't normally "not get set" when the ball is snapped - so it's an illegal shift.

Same with going into a three-point stance at the time the ball is snapped. Players don't normally go into a three point stance when the ball is snapped, so it is illegal motion.

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 formation (Arts. 1, 2, 3) – (S19); illegal snap (Art. 4) – (S7-
19); illegal numbering (Art. 5) – (S19); illegal shift (Art. 6) – (S20); illegal
motion (Art. 7) – (S20); planned loose-ball infraction (Art. 8) – (S19) – 5 yards.

Best way to think about a false start is the offender is usually set. Never stopping would be a shift. Going foward but not simulating the snap action is illegal motion.

False start is the only one you want to kill.

Kill this play in NCAA.

Going to 3 points is a shift. If the ball is snapped less than a second later, it's an illegal shift foul, not illegal motion.

What players "normally do" is not part of the false start, shift, or motion rules.

And in a lot of areas in HS games, too.

They want it shut down here if it is judged to simulate the snap of course.

Peace

Illegal shift is a foul at the snap. Just like a player in motion going forward. Live ball foul.
You cannot asume the player will not get set before the snap or if two are in motion that they both will not set.

The play should be allowed to continue because:
B could foul on the play (double foul, reply), A could lose yardage so the penalty would be declined, A could have a more serious foul (multiple foul - B choice), A could fumble or throw an interception.

We are also advised to shut the play down if the motion/shift is designed to draw the defense into an encroachment. Example, a team goes in motion frequently throuout the game with a set back taking an even tempo step forward and then going either left or right.

In a critical short yardage situation, usually late in the game, the same team puts the same man in motion with an exaggerated explosion out of his set position, and if the defense is smart and ignores it, then turns either right or left. Flagging as a false start usually stops any repeat attempts, or if the defense mistakenly bites on the first attempt.

Sigh... fine, I'll bite. WHY? Rule doesn't say to. And don't pull out the "nothing good can come of this play so kill it" crap or we'll all know you've got no clue.

I agree with your statement, but don't see how you got "simulating the snap" from the OP at all.

This is the mindset in many places where I think the people have a pretty good clue.

But then again, this is the same topic that comes up 2-3 times a year and usually turns into a huge flame war. It's simple- if the powers that be want it shut down in your area, do it. If they don't, don't. Easy enough.

Well, actually it is if you want to help someone understand the rule rather than just answering a rule question by quoting the rule (if he understood the rule, he wouldn't be asking the question in the first place!).

Rule change this year. 7-1-2-b-5 on page FR-67.

"The offensive team never coming to a one-second stop prior to the snap after the ball is ready for play."