Illegal Shift/illegal motion

[Derek Teigen]

it was about this time last year there was a thread that covered the topic of illegal shift and illegal motion and I have reread it only to become confused again so I am trying to come up with some simple dictums that will help me recognize illegal shift vs illegal motion when it occurs.  I will be a wing again this year.

Illegal Shift:
1)  if 2 or more  players are moving at the snap this is illegal shift.  (obviously I am talking about anything other than a false start here)

2)  if 2 or more players are moving before the snap they must EACH be set for 1 second before the snap or before another player can shift.

3) Quarterbacks who are calling plays from a shotgun for example but then move to take the snap from behind the center are considered to be shifting.  They could take a quick snap if all of the other players had been set for 1 second but if any other player was shifting (including linemen who were getting into their stance) the entire team must be set for 1 second before the snap.


Illegal Motion: involving 1 player who is in motion moving laterally or in  a direction away from the line of scrimmage, only to turn and move towards the line of scrimmage before the snap.  This is a live ball foul because the player turning up field always has the ability to stop and set himself for 1 second before the snap ocurrs, unless of course the player broke the plane of the neutral zone and then it would be encroachment or a false start if his movement towards the line of scrimmage was an effort to draw the defense into encroachment.

 Would these dictums cover 99% of all situations as far as you can see?

p.s. all illegal motion and illegal shift are live ball fouls.

[bossman72]

Well, first, this is basically just a semantics argument, so don't get too hung up on it.  It won't change how you call the fouls.

For me, there are 2 categories of Illegal Motion:
1) WR "shaving" his motion toward the line of scrimmage.  If it's very abrupt, we convert it to a false start.  I would also put your example of the QB in motion toward the line in this category as Illegal Motion.
2) WR going in motion from the line of scrimmage.

Any other foul that's motion/shift related, I call an Illegal Shift.

[bossman72]

...(delete please)

[HLinNC]

You appear to have it right.

1) If the movement is sudden or abrupt or simulates the snap, kill it with False Start and be done with it.

2) Illegal motion- although the most common is that motion man rounding off his motion and turning up field before the snap, that FB "leaning into" the snap will occur sometimes.

3) Illegal shift- two backs moving and not re-setting is the most common.  Also will see the huddle break and a receiver not get all the way out to his position before the snap.  This one is usually the QB's fault for taking the snap before checking his formation.

[AlUpstateNY]

Well, first, this is basically just a semantics argument, so don't get too hung up on it.  It won't change how you call the fouls.

For me, there are 2 categories of Illegal Motion:
1) WR "shaving" his motion toward the line of scrimmage.  If it's very abrupt, we convert it to a false start.  I would also put your example of the QB in motion toward the line in this category as Illegal Motion.
Any other foul that's motion/shift related, I call an Illegal Shift.

Agree, an all to often attempted deception (to draw the defense into encroachment): After routinely going in LEGAL motion during a contest, by a back taking one step forward, then pivoting either way and going in motion, often ( in critical, short yardage situations) the routine changes where the back EXPLODES (or otherwise exaggerates his "one step forward" (ostensibly, to draw the defense into encroachment).  When/should the defense fail to respond, the back simply continues to pivot and go in motion.

99.99% of the time, this is a planned procedure to sucker the defense into encroachment, and should draw an immediate whistle and flag for the moving back's FALSE START. An acknowledging brief (unspoken) look directly to the Offensive Head Coach, may serve to reduce the probability of this intentional (but unprovable) deception being repeated. 

[FLAHL]

p.s. all illegal motion and illegal shift are live ball fouls.

Glad to see you point this out. It’s really important for the wings to know when to shut the play down and when to flag it and let it go.

[bossman72]

that FB "leaning into" the snap will occur sometimes.

If backs are leaning into the snap, this is a false start.  They are simulating the start of the play.

[AlUpstateNY]

If backs are leaning into the snap, this is a false start.  They are simulating the start of the play.

"Leaning into" sounds like a really "Gray" area.  If the "leaning" caused an opponent to respond and violate the neutral zone, definitely a flag and foul (against the" leaner").  However, when the leaning doesn't cause any reaction, or doesn't rise to the level of (NFHS 7-1-7b) "Any act is clearly intended to cause B to encroach" or create some unearned advantage/disadvantage, judgement becomes a more viable factor, and often a cautious reminder (to the leaner) can be a more balanced remedy.

[bossman72]

"Leaning into" sounds like a really "Gray" area.  If the "leaning" caused an opponent to respond and violate the neutral zone, definitely a flag and foul (against the" leaner").  However, when the leaning doesn't cause any reaction, or doesn't rise to the level of (NFHS 7-1-7b) "Any act is clearly intended to cause B to encroach" or create some unearned advantage/disadvantage, judgement becomes a more viable factor, and often a cautious reminder (to the leaner) can be a more balanced remedy.

I'm saying that if the lean rises to the level of a foul in your estimation, it should always be a False Start and never Illegal Motion.  He is simulating the start of the play.

[AlUpstateNY]

I'm saying that if the lean rises to the level of a foul in your estimation, it should always be a False Start and never Illegal Motion.  He is simulating the start of the play.

Agreed.