For a formation to be legal, there should be seven players on the line of scrimmage and four players that are at least one-yard behind the line of scrimmage. An illegal formation penalty results in a 5-yard loss. Examples Of How Illegal Formation Is Used In Commentary
What is an illegal formation in the NFL?
This is an illegal formation, as there aren’t the required seven offensive players lined up on the line of scrimmage. If the receiver bumps up to the line of scrimmage, the formation would then be legal. Lastly, five properly numbered ineligible players failing to line up on the line results in an illegal formation penalty.
What is a formation in football?
A formation in football refers to the position players line up in before the start of a down. There are both offensive and defensive formations and there are many formations in both categories. Sometimes, formations are referred to as packages .
How many players are in an offensive formation?
Offensive formations must have seven players on the line of scrimmage and four in the backfield (this includes lining up one yard behind the line of scrimmage as a wide receiver ). Throughout the history of football, there have been certain popular strategies that dominate eras of the game.
Does the offense have to set up a formation before a play?
The offense is required to set up a formation before a play, subject to several rules: The formation must have at least 7 players on the line of scrimmage.
What are illegal formations?
Definition. No matter what formation or personnel offenses use, there must be at least seven players on the line of scrimmage. Having fewer than seven players on the line of scrimmage makes the formation illegal.
What is an illegal formation on defense?
ILLEGAL FORMATION: The defense cannot have more than six players on the line of scrimmage on either side of the snapper during kicking plays. This rule is designed to protect players who are in a vulnerable position. Violations of this rule will result in a five-yard penalty.
What is an illegal procedure in football?
illegal procedure in American English noun. American Football. a penalty assessed against the offensive team for a technical rules violation, as in assuming an illegal formation.
Can you have more than 7 players on the line of scrimmage in football?
Teams may place more than 7 players on the line, but only the player at each end of the line may be an eligible receiver, so generally this only occurs with the special formations used in kicking and punting situations.
What is illegal formation on offense NFL?
(a) It must have seven or more players on the line (3-19) Eligible receivers must be on both ends of the line, and all of the players on the line between them must be ineligible receivers. No player may be out of bounds.
Can you decline an illegal formation penalty?
Unless expressly prohibited, the penalty for any foul may be declined by the offended team, and play proceeds as though no foul had been committed.
What's the difference between a false start and illegal procedure?
If you are trying to understand false start vs illegal motion, remember that false start occurs when a set offensive player jumps pre-snap, but illegal motion occurs when a player or players in motion commit an illegal action while in motion (for example, moving towards the line of scrimmage; more on that later).
Can a WR on the line of scrimmage go in motion?
No player is permitted to be moving toward the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. All other players must be stationary in their positions. If an eligible receiver who is on the line moves to another position on the line (not forward), he must reset prior to the snap. If he does not reset, it is Illegal Motion.
Can a QB go in motion?
Sure, A QB can go in motion.
Can you have 9 guys on the line of scrimmage?
Having fewer than seven players line up on the line of scrimmage results in an illegal formation penalty. A total of at least seven players must always line up on the line of scrimmage prior to the play. Along with the offensive linemen, tight ends and receivers usually make up the initial seven on the line.
Can a lineman receive a pass?
Under almost all versions of football, offensive linemen cannot receive or touch forward passes, nor can they advance downfield in passing situations. To identify which receivers are eligible and which are not, football rules stipulate that ineligible receivers must wear a number between 50 and 79.
Do you need 5 offensive lineman?
An explanation: Under NFL rules the offense effectively has to have five players on the line of scrimmage who are ineligible to catch a pass. Normally, these five players are the offensive linemen, and they're stacked together in the middle of the field.
What was illegal defense in the NBA?
A defensive three-second violation, also known as illegal defense, is a basketball rules infraction in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Is illegal formation a dead ball foul?
The only offensive procedure penalty that kills the play is a false start or an illegal snap, which are fouls prior to the snap thus the ball remains dead. Everything else is a foul at the snap after/as the ball becomes live -- and no foul causes the live ball to become dead.
What makes a receiver ineligible?
The NFL rules dictate that eligible receivers can become ineligible if they run out of bounds at any time during the play. The only exception is if someone pushed them out of bounds because of a defensive foul like pass interference or holding.
What is an illegal substitution in football?
Definition. An illegal substitution penalty in football occurs when a player fails to make a substitution which results in the team having too many players on the field.
What is an illegal formation in football?
An illegal formation for the offense would be one where there are not 7 men on the line. There are no restrictions on the defense's formation during normal play, however the defense can be penalized during special teams play:
How many players line up on the line of scrimmage in the NFL?
Fewer than 7 players line up on the line of scrimmage (NFL/High School); more than four players in the backfield (NCAA only); eligible receivers fail to line up as the leftmost and rightmost players on the line in the NFL; or when five properly numbered ineligible players fail to line up on the line.
How many players can be on the line of scrimmage on either side of the snapper?
ILLEGAL FORMATION: The defense cannot have more than six players on the line of scrimmage on either side of the snapper during kicking plays. This rule is designed to protect players who are in a vulnerable position. Violations of this rule will result in a five-yard penalty.
What is a try kick?
During a punt, a field-goal attempt, or a Try Kick, a defensive player, who is within one yard of the line of scrimmage at the snap, must have his entire body outside the snapper’s shoulder pads.
Where will offensive linemen be lined up?
An offensive lineman will be lined up off of the line of scrimmage.
What is the penalty for throwing the flag in the CFL?
If the formation is illegal, the officials will throw the flag at the beginning of the play and regardless of what happens on the play, a five-yard penalty will be assessed to the offending team and include a replay of the down. The five-yard penalty is universal across all football leagues and is referred to as "illegal procedure" in the CFL.
How many players are on the line of scrimmage?
No matter what formation or personnel offenses use, there must be at least seven players on the line of scrimmage. Having fewer than seven players on the line of scrimmage makes the formation illegal. Typically, five offensive lineman are on the line of scrimmage to begin with. Tight ends and receivers will often make up the final two spots. If the formation is illegal, the officials will throw the penalty flag at the beginning of the play and it will negate whatever happens on the play.
How many seconds is a runoff in the NFL?
Additionally, in the NFL, when there is less than two minutes left in the game and the offense commits an illegal formation penalty, there will be a 10-second runoff from the game clock. The same runoff rule applies to the CFL and the AFL and can end the game.
Can tight ends be aligned on the line of scrimmage?
A tight end who is supposed to be on the line of scrimmage will not be aligned on the line of scrimmage.
Is a runoff automatic in college football?
This same clock runoff rule applies in college football as well. However, it is not automatic, the offense has the option to call a timeout to negate the runoff.
What is a football formation?
A formation in football refers to the position players line up in before the start of a down. There are both offensive and defensive formations and there are many formations in both categories. Sometimes, formations are referred to as packages .
How many players are in a formation?
The formation must have at least 7 players on the line of scrimmage. The 7 players are not required to be next to each other, so they may spread out across the width of the field, but this is rare; most offenses place at least 5 players together in a continuous line.
How many players are on the line in football?
The other players not on the line (usually 4 in number) may be positioned anywhere, but all must be at least 1 yard behind the 7 or more players on the line of scrimmage. The traditional saying is "7 on the line, 4 in the backfield" but this is something of a misnomer, as "backfield" usually refers to the area directly behind the offensive line. 3 of the 4 "backfield" players (i.e., the 3 not receiving the snap from center) may line up as wide receivers as long as they are behind the line of scrimmage; these are known as slot receivers if between the ends, and flanker s if outside the ends.
How many players can be on the defensive line?
If they line up on the wrong side of the line, the offending players are offside. The exception is during a field goal attempt, PAT, or punt. The defense is only allowed a maximum of 6 players on the line of scrimmage on either side of the snapper at the snap. Having 7 or more players on the line on one side will result in an illegal formation penalty. The standard defensive formations in use at most levels of American football are the result of decades of experimentation, trial and error, along with rule changes in the 1950s that eliminated the one-platoon system and gave greater prominence to lighter, faster linebackers (prior to the 1950s, most defensive formations were mirror images of those used on offense).
How many players can be on the line of scrimmage in a field goal attempt?
The exception is during a field goal attempt, PAT, or punt. The defense is only allowed a maximum of 6 players on the line of scrimmage on either side of the snapper at the snap. Having 7 or more players on the line on one side will result in an illegal formation penalty.
What is the offensive line in the NFL?
Offense. At the highest level of play in the NFL and NCAA, the one constant in all formations is the offensive line, consisting of the left and right tackle, left and right guard, and a center. These five positions are often referred to collectively as the "line", and have the primary role of blocking. By rule there must be two additional players ...
What does QB mean in football?
QB = quarterback (the player who leads and informs the offense the plays)
What is the I form in football?
The I-Formation is one of the most basic formations in football. This occurs when a quarterback lines up directly behind center, following by a fullback, and a running back lined up behind him. This can happen in a straight line, or sometimes the fullback will be slightly lined off to one side or the other, otherwise known as "offset". When looking at them the backfield lines up straight like an "I", thus, how it gets its name. The formation is primarily used in rushing situations, allowing for the fullback to get ahead of the running back and clearing a lane for the running back to follow. The history of this formation is unclear in terms of who invented it, having examples all the way back in 1900. Various iterations have been established as well throughout the years, including the Maryland I-Formation that adds a second running back directly behind the first one.
What is a pistol formation?
The pistol formation is similar to the shotgun, except for the QB is only about three yards behind center, with the HB lined up directly behind him. This was invented in 2004 by Coach Chris Ault at the University of Nevada and has since been used in many colleges as well as some NFL teams. The pistol offers a few dimensions to the running options in a shotgun formation. Where running is seldom used in the shotgun, the pistol allows for a few plays because it disrupts the timing of the defense with handoffs being so far away. This allows for "option plays", where a QB and RB mask their handoff and read the defense to see who they'll pursue. This gives them the "option" to either rush the QB or RB. The pistol was used heavily with the San Francisco 49ers when they had Colin Kaepernick at QB and made their Superbowl run.
How many defensive backs are there in a nickel defense?
The nickel defense is a term used for any time you take away a linebacker or defensive lineman and replace them with a defensive back. This results in five defensive backs, just like a nickel is five cents. The original nickel defense is a 4-2-5 setup but can be any setup as long as there are five defensive backs.
What is the goal line formation?
The goal line formation is specifically used in short yardage situations, typically right at the goal line when the offense is trying to score from two or three yards away. It typically doesn't include any wide receivers, instead packing three tight ends on the edges of the offensive line and two running backs in the backfield. Sometimes the tight ends are even replaced with more offensive linemen in their spots. This is an old-school formation that is all about one team being stronger than the other and hoping to push a running back ahead a few yards. You can pass out of this formation but it's rare. While it's unclear who invented this formation, the Chicago Bears made it famous when they lined up their defensive tackle "The Refrigerator" at FB to score touchdowns in the 1980's.
What is the role of the defensive end in 4-3 defense?
In the 4-3 defense the defensive ends are much more versatile than other formations. They are typically more athletic and are called on to pressure the QB or RB more often. The defensive tackles are often smaller than usually as well and are used to attract double teams from the center and guards to force one-on-one matchups between the defensive ends and tackles, hoping for better odds of rushing the QB this way.
Who drove the ball 99 yards in the AFC Championship game?
It was famously overcome by John Elway on "The Drive" when he drove the ball 99 yards against the Browns' prevent defense to send the AFC championship into overtime. The quarter defense consists of seven defensive backs. This defense is used when you don't want a team to score or get a large passing play.
What is the role of a strongside linebacker in baseball?
The MLB is responsible for tackling the runner on most plays, the strongside linebacker is responsible for covering the tight end , and the weakside linebacker can either blitz or fall into coverage. In the 4-3 defense the defensive ends are much more versatile than other formations.
How many players are in a football offensive formation?
Because the offense has the ball, they can choose how to run plays, which makes the defense react and adjust their game plan accordingly. Offensive formations must have seven players on the line of scrimmage and four in ...
Why is the single wing formation used in football?
For example, in the early days of the game, when strength and power were valued over speed and skill, the single wing formation took the game by storm because of its newer misdirection and blocking options. In this formation, the ball is snapped not to the quarterback, but to a wingback. This formation was used to trick defenses rather than overpower them.
What is a singleback in football?
The singleback is an adaptation of the I formation that spreads the field more with an extra receiver. This developed to allow the quarterback more passing options, which in turn opens up the run game by stretching the defense.
What is the most common type of spread offense?
The shotgun formation is the most popular offensive formation in the modern game. It allows the quarterback to get right into a passing play, as well as run the increasingly-popular zone read running offense. This is the most common type of spread offense.
What is the I formation?
The I formation may be the most popular formation in the history of the game. Its basic structure allowed for endless variations and plays out of a similar setup. Some of these variations include the Power I, Maryland I, and I with an offset fullback. Although it has fallen out of favor at high levels of the game in recent years, the I formation remains a basic fundamental of many youth and high school teams across the country.
How many receivers are in a spread formation?
Spread formations use 3-5 wide receivers who stretch the defense, offer more passing routes, and open up the ground game.
Why is it important to know the position of a football team?
In football, it is important for a team to have a predetermined strategy going into a game for both sides of the ball . This includes knowing which players will play which positions, where those positions will line up, and how they will react to the opposing team's lineup.
How many players are in a football formation?
Many variations are possible on both sides of the ball, depending on the strategy being employed. On offense, the formation must include at least seven players on the line of scrimmage, including a center to start the play by snapping the ball.
What is the I-form in football?
"The I" consists of two backs lined up behind the quarterback, with the back closest to the quarterback being called the fullback and the back behind the fullback called the running back, tailback, or I-back. The two backs line up either in a line (hence the name of the formation since it looks like a letter I) or with the fullback "offset" to either side. The fourth back is most commonly employed as an extra wide receiver. Here are three diagrams of I-Formation, strong side right (that is, with the tight end lining up to the right, typical for a right-handed quarterback). Notice that the 4th back required by the rules is the set-back wide receiver at the right (called the flanker).
What is the base defense of a football team?
This is the base defense of some teams. It consists of three defensive linemen, four linebackers, and four defensive backs (two safeties, two corners). The advantage is that while 4 players still usually rush the line, the quarterback can be less sure of which of the 4 linebackers will join the 3 linemen. This formation sacrifices some size (of linemen) for speed (of linebackers), but coaches choosing to utilize this formation as their base defense typically choose larger players in the front 7 to make up for the shortage of size. In this formation, the single tackle usually lines up directly over the "nose" of the ball, and is often called the " nose guard " or "nose tackle". In this formation, the linemen often line up directly in front of the offensive line, while the linebackers "shoot the gaps". There is also a variation of this defense called the 3-4 under defense. This defense is a one gap version of the 3–4 defense.
What is a 4-4 defense?
The 4–4 defense consists of four defensive linemen, four linebackers, and three defensive backs (one safety, two corners ). It puts " eight men in the box " to stop the run, but it sacrifices deep coverage against the pass, especially if the opponent's receivers are better athletes than the cornerbacks. The formation is popular in high school football as well as smaller collegiate teams. If the opposite team is a good passing team, outside linebackers are usually called on to defend slotbacks.
How many defensive linemen are in the 6-2 defense?
The 6-2 defense consists of six defensive linemen, two linebackers, and three defensive backs (one safety, two corners). This was the primary defense in football, at all levels, during the single wing era (the 1930s), combining enough passing defense to handle the passing attacks of the day along with the ability to handle the power running games of the times. As the T formation grew popular in the 1940s, this formation was replaced in the NFL with the 5-3 and the 5-2 defenses.
What is a wildcat in football?
The wildcat is primarily a running formation in which an athletic player (usually a running back or a receiver who runs well) takes the place of the team's usual quarterback in a shotgun formation while the quarterback lines up wide as a flanker or is replaced by another player. The ball is snapped to the runner, who usually has the option of either running the ball himself or handing it to another running back lined up in the backfield. The wildcat gives the runner a good look at the defense before the snap, allowing him to choose the best running lane. It also allows for ten offensive players to block, unlike in a conventional running play, in which the quarterback is usually not involved after delivering the ball to a running back.
What is the T formation?
The T formation is the precursor to most modern formations in that it places the quarterback directly under center (in contrast to its main competitor of its day, the single wing, which had the quarterback receiving the ball on the fly).
