False Start OR Illegal Shift?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by stratref

Illegal shift vs illegal motion, not really a difference, both are 5 yards from the previous spot, but could be declined by the defense if they so choose.

Illegal shift vs false start, on a false start it is a dead ball foul so we (as officials) will prevent the play from starting and automatically assess the penalty, an illegal shift as mentioned above is a live ball foul, and based on the actions during the down could be declined.

Jasper

Someone's going to say it ... might as well be me. The penalty is not automatically assessed, and can still be declined. You just can't decline it in favor of the play as you can on illegal shift... because the play never happens.

And before you say no one would ever do that... we've seen teams decline a DOG taken intentionally on 4th down before - one might decline this penalty in a similar situation (team punting at a spot on the field where the extra 5 might help the punter keep it from going over the goal line).