RR on Illegal Shifts and False Starts and Interlocking Legs

[TXMike]

ILLEGAL SHIFT: POSSIBLE FALSE START
The definition of a shift has remained unchanged for many years. A shift occurs when two or more Team A players change their position or stance after the ball is ready for play before the snap. The shift ends when all players stop and remain motionless for one full second.
This definition allows us to distinguish two kinds of illegal shift. One kind is when the offensive team is in the midst of a shift when the ball is made ready for play and never comes to a one-second stop before the snap. The other is when the shift starts after the ball is ready for play—that is, sometime after the ball is ready for play Team A satisfies the one-second rule and then executes a shift that is still continuing at the snap.
Starting in 2011, it is a false start if the offensive team is shifting when the ball is made ready for play and has not stopped for a full second before the ball is snapped. This is the first of the two types of illegal shift given above. As with other kinds of false starts, the officials should shut the play down, in this case as soon as the ball is snapped. Note that this action is not a foul until the snap, since the offensive team may at any time before the snap come to a full stop for a second.
Here are some examples.
PLAY SITUATIONS
1. At the time the ball is made ready for play backs A22 and A33 are moving. A22 then comes to a stop and A33 continues in motion as the ball is snapped. RULING: False start. Team A players were not all stopped for a full second before the snap at any time after the ball was made ready for play. Officials should stop the action, and Team A is penalized five yards for a dead-ball foul.
2. Team A is in a no-huddle offense and is moving to the line when the ball is made ready for play. Although some players settle into their positions and stop, at least one player never stops and is still moving when the ball is snapped. RULING: Dead-ball foul--false start, since Team A never satisfied the one-second rule before the snap. Officials should shut the play down and penalize Team A five yards.
3. After the ball is made ready for play, all eleven Team A players come to a complete
stop for a full second. Then back A22 goes laterally in motion as A33 changes from a
hands-on-knees stance into a three-point stance. A22 is still moving when the ball is
snapped. RULING: Live-ball illegal shift. The play continues. When the ball is dead the
officials stop the clock to administer the penalty.
LINEMEN: OK TO HAVE INTERLOCKING LEGS
For a number of years Rule 7-1-3-b-2 has allowed only the offensive linemen
next to the snapper to “lock legs” with the snapper. Every other Team A lineman had to
have both feet outside the outside foot of the lineman to his inside. This was a foul that
was seldom seen or called, and in 2011 the rules committee voted to delete the rule.
Starting this year, offensive linemen are allowed to lock legs.
PLAY SITUATION
1. Team A lines up for a scrimmage play with seven men on the line of scrimmage.
Right guard A66 has his left foot inside the right foot of the snapper, and right tackle
A77 has his left foot inside A66’s right foot. RULING: The formation is legal. In previous
years it was legal for the guard to lock legs with the snapper, but A77 could not lock legs
with A66. As of 2011 this is now legal.

[elewis023]

Why change the illegal shift to sometimes being a false start?  Wouldn't it be easier to either leave it the way it was (live-ball fouls) or make ALL illegal shifts a false start?  Doesn't make much sense.

I agree with removing the interlocked legs.  I don't think there is much of an advantage and as stated, it was rarely called.  I am a SJ and when I go in for PAT's and FG's, I don't look for the interlocked legs.  I am more concerned with numbering exceptions and pull-and-shoots.

[JasonTX]

Why change the illegal shift to sometimes being a false start?  Wouldn't it be easier to either leave it the way it was (live-ball fouls) or make ALL illegal shifts a false start?  Doesn't make much sense.

I agree with removing the interlocked legs.  I don't think there is much of an advantage and as stated, it was rarely called.  I am a SJ and when I go in for PAT's and FG's, I don't look for the interlocked legs.  I am more concerned with numbering exceptions and pull-and-shoots.

I believe the intent to be to prevent a team with less than a minute in either half from just running up and snapping the ball with the other players still running up to get in position.  Making it a false start will allow for the 10 sec. runoff.

[James]

I disagree with the interlocking legs. I DO see it all the time with the uncoached masses here in Germany, and I think it is an injury hazard. It was something easy to see - once they are set, before the snap you can evaluate it - not interfering with other duties.
But it is going to be gone (in 2013 for me) and I'm OK with that too - I do feel the changes are getting more and more, and more complex recently. Maybe it's just old age and a reluctance to change?

[NVFOA_Ump]

I believe the intent to be to prevent a team with less than a minute in either half from just running up and snapping the ball with the other players still running up to get in position.  Making it a false start will allow for the 10 sec. runoff.

I believe that this is the answer.  On the infamous play last year we saw more than 11 on the field and the QB still moved under center, called for the snap, and spiked the ball.  That penalty as discussed on several previous threads would not result in the new 10 sec runoff since the clock did not stop because of the penalty but because of the INC pass.  This new false start wording would mean that the clock stopped because of a penalty (the false start) and would now fit into the category that qualifies for the ten second runoff.  This fixes the problem of the QB intentionally snapping the ball before the team is set to save time late in a game.

[elewis023]

So why not just make all illegal shifts a false start?

What signal are you gonna use, false start or shift?   

[ABoselli]

North Carolina did have 11 players set before the snap. Their problem was the other three running off the field.

 After the ball is ready for play and before the snap, if the offense never has all eleven players set for a full second, it is a false start (dead-ball foul). If they become set and then make an illegal shift without re-setting before the snap it is a live-ball foul at the snap.

Perhaps the wording should read all players instead of all 11 players?

[Andrew McCarthy]

North Carolina did have 11 players set before the snap. Their problem was the other three running off the field.

 After the ball is ready for play and before the snap, if the offense never has all eleven players set for a full second, it is a false start (dead-ball foul). If they become set and then make an illegal shift without re-setting before the snap it is a live-ball foul at the snap.

Perhaps the wording should read all players instead of all 11 players?

Are the three running off "players"?

[Etref]

Why change the illegal shift to sometimes being a false start?  Wouldn't it be easier to either leave it the way it was (live-ball fouls) or make ALL illegal shifts a false start?  Doesn't make much sense.

I agree with removing the interlocked legs.  I don't think there is much of an advantage and as stated, it was rarely called.  I am a SJ and when I go in for PAT's and FG's, I don't look for the interlocked legs.  I am more concerned with numbering exceptions and pull-and-shoots.

Well sometimes holding by the defense is just that and 10 yards. Sometimes that hold is now a DPI and 15 yards.

[ABoselli]

Are the three running off "players"?

They came out with the holder and kicker who were set up behind the QB taking a snap. If either of those two were moving, would they be considered players?

[TXMike]

the NC-Tenn play again

[yt=425,350]ZJm2g2OpWhg[/yt]

[Diablo]

What signal are you gonna use, false start or shift?   

Perhaps, S7 (dead ball) followed by the 2-handed version of S20 (illegal shift).

[ref6983]

Perhaps, S7 (dead ball) followed by the 2-handed version of S20 (illegal shift).

My understanding is that S7 is being eliminated for pre-snap fouls.

Since the illegal shift is deemed a false start then I'm fairly certain S19 will be used.

[El Macman]

My understanding is that S7 is being eliminated for pre-snap fouls.
Since the illegal shift is deemed a false start then I'm fairly certain S19 will be used.

Also heard from an FBS/BCS conference coordinator (not my coordinator) that S7 will be going the way of the dodo (as it relates to fouls between the ready and the imminent snap) in 2012, but still to be used for 2011. But, announcing "Dead ball -...," "Before the snap...," "Prior to the snap...," may be/should be discontinued, effective immediately. Raise the hand smoothly but briefly, then begin the actual foul announcement. Continue to signal and announce "After the play..." for those late hits, etc.

The inability to find common or distinguishing features of these actions is, indeed, annoying. It looked like action occuring before the entire team got set for 1 second after the RFP would be a false start (making the ball dead at the moment the snap begins), and action after the entire team got set for a second would qualify as an illegal shift at the snap (live-ball, play continues). But we also have a bulletin play that addresses a lineman, after the entire team has set for a second, that is still dropping down into 3 or 4 point stance as the ball begins being moved for a snap - that's a false start. I can't find it right now. I'll keep looking, but I know TxMike will beat me to it. 

I sense that we'd be supported if we shut the play down any time we have no 1-second set after the RFP (as the ball begins moving for a snap); any time there are more than 11 guys on the field for one team and more than one are moving and the ball is being moved for a snap; perhaps even if we've had a 1-second set, only 11 guys, but two are moving as the ball is being moved for a snap. That last one may be debateable, but my gut sense is that your coordiantor would be OK with shutting it down.

[Osric Pureheart]

I sense that we'd be supported if we shut the play down any time we have no 1-second set after the RFP (as the ball begins moving for a snap);

Does this mean that it would become impossible for Team A to snap the ball if there is one second on the clock and it starts on the RFP?

[Mike L]

Does this mean that it would become impossible for Team A to snap the ball if there is one second on the clock and it starts on the RFP?

I see nothing that states the shift can only be completed after the RFP.

1) Shift and set before the RFP = legal to go once RFP sounds.
2) Shift during the RFP without set after = false start (why? who the hell knows, but that's what it says)
3) Shift during the RFP with set after = legal to go.
4) Shift after the RFP = same as it was before.

[El Macman]

Does this mean that it would become impossible for Team A to snap the ball if there is one second on the clock and it starts on the RFP?

No. If the entire team is set when the ball is declared ready for play, they can snap immediately.

[Morningrise]

This will take a little bit of practice to change habits. For as long as I can remember, the only "blow and throw" fouls were those that occur before the snap, not at the snap. We're accustomed to throwing flags at the snap and then continuing to officiate. Snap-then-whistle is something we haven't done before.