Encroachment/FST

Question 1

DELAY BY THE DEFENSE—ABRUPT MOVEMENT
Third-and-10 on B30. While Team A is at the line of scrimmage, and A1 is calling signals, defensive tackle B1: (a)
abruptly moves in an effort to cause A2 to false start; or (b) misjudges the snap signal and moves forward into the
neutral zone, but backs out before the snap. There is no reaction by Team A players.

Answer 1

Rulings:
(a) Third-and-5 on B25. Delay of game, defense. Blow the whistle and kill the play immediately, whether A2 or any
offensive player reacts.
(b) No foul.

Question 2

ENCROACHMENT—NOT ILLEGAL SNAP
Fourth-and-5 on 50. Nose guard B1 is lined up on the defensive side of the line of scrimmage with his right hand
directly in front of the ball. Center A1 moves the ball forward a couple of inches in a normal snapping motion and
contacts B1’s hand.

Answer 2

Ruling: A’s ball, first-and-10 on B45. Team B is not allowed to interfere with the normal snapping motion of the ball
by the center. If, in the opinion of the officials, this is not a normal snapping motion, the foul would be on the offense
for an illegal snap, but in either case, the play would be shut down. (7-4-3)

Question 3

NEUTRAL ZONE INFRACTION—UNIMPEDED PATH
Fourth-and-1 on B40. Defensive end B2 penetrates deep beyond the neutral zone and has an unimpeded path
toward the quarterback, punter, or field-goal kicker.

Answer 3

Ruling: A’s ball, first-and-10 on B35. Blow the play dead immediately. Neutral Zone Infraction. Whenever a defensive
player gets offside and is continuing forward before the snap, the play should be killed for a neutral zone infraction.

Question 4

DEFENSIVE PLAYER MOVES INTO NZ—STOPS—BACKS OUT AT SNAP
Second-and-10 on A30. Defensive left end B2 takes two quick steps into the neutral zone and is even with RT A3,
but stops and starts to back out when the ball is snapped. No offensive players react and A1 throws an incomplete
pass.

Answer 4

Ruling: Second-and-5 on A35. Defense offside. Since the defensive player stopped his forward movement, the play
is not shut down for unimpeded to the quarterback and is penalized as defense offside.

Question 5

ELIGIBLE ON THE LINE MOVES FORWARD/BACKWARD JUST PRIOR TO SNAP
Second-and-5 on B40. Wideout A2, on the line of scrimmage, takes a slight step forward or backward just prior to
the snap.

Answer 5

Ruling: Second-and-10 on B45. It is a false start and the play should be shut down if a receiver, on the line of
scrimmage, is moving forward or backward from the line of scrimmage prior to the snap, and he is unable re-set
legally before the snap.

Question 6

TEAM A PLAYERS MOVING AT SNAP
Third-and-10 on B30. With the clock running any time during the game, all members of the offense get fully set for
one second; but as the ball is snapped, and without again getting reset: (a) left guard A2; (b) tight end A3; (c)
wingback A5; (d) tailback A6, is going from a two-point stance to a three-point stance; (e) wide receiver A4 is moving
from on the line either forward or backward; (f)) wide receiver A4 moves, (not an abrupt motion), from off the line of
scrimmage up to the line of scrimmage, but has not yet set when the ball is snapped, or (g) wide receiver A4 is
moving, (not an abrupt motion), on the line to another position on the line (laterally). A1’s pass falls incomplete.

Answer 6

Rulings:
(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f): Third-and-15 on B35. False start. If it occurs after the two-minute warning of either half,
there is also the potential for a 10-second runoff.
(g): Third-and-15 on B35 or fourth-and-10 on B30. Illegal motion. It is illegal motion if a player on the line of
scrimmage is moving to another position on the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. (7-4-8)

Question 7

FALSE START OR NEUTRAL ZONE INFRACTION
Second-and-4 on B40. As quarterback A1 is calling signals, B1 moves into the neutral zone between the center and
offensive left guard. That movement causes A2 to pull back or move forward. A2 was: (a) the offensive right tackle;
(b) the left tight end (not flexed); or (c) the offensive left tackle.

Answer 7

Rulings:
(a) and (b) Second-and-9 on B45. Blow the play dead. False start. B1 was not within 2½ positions of A2.
(c) First-and-10 on B35. Blow the play dead. Neutral zone infraction

Question 8

DEFENSIVE PLAYER FAKES CHARGE, BUT DOES NOT ENTER NEUTRAL ZONE
Third-and-8 on B24. Linebacker B6 fakes a charge but does not enter the neutral zone. Tackle A5 who is directly
opposite B6 immediately reacts.

Answer 8

Ruling: Third-and-13 on B29. Blow the play dead. False start. (7-4-2)

Question 9

FALSE START OR NEUTRAL ZONE INFRACTION
Second-and-7 on A30. Defensive right end B1 jumps into the neutral zone outside the tight end, causing A3 to flinch.
A3 is: (a) a wingback located directly opposite B1; (b) a fullback; (c) a receiver located seven yards outside B1 with
no offensive player in between them; (d) a wide receiver located 15 yards outside B1 and outside slotback A2 with
no one other than A2 located between them; or (e) the quarterback (who takes a step back as a result of B1’s action).

Answer 9

Rulings:
(a) Second-and-2 on A35. Neutral zone infraction. Wingback is protected if within 2½ positions. (7-4-4-b)
(b) Second-and-12 on A25. False start. Running back or fullback not protected. (7-4-2)
(c) Second-and-2 on A35. Neutral zone infraction. All flexed receivers on same side of ball are protected. (7-4-4-b)
(d) Second-and-2 on A35. Neutral zone infraction. All flexed receivers on same side of ball are protected. (7-4-4-b)
(e) Second-and-12 on A25. False start. (7-4-2). Although the QB is “protected,” the action by B1 occurred more
than 2½ positions outside the QB.

Question 10

DEFENSIVE PLAYER MOVES INTO NZ—NO TEAM A PLAYER REACTS—BALL IS SNAPPED
Third-and-5 on A45. Defensive right end moves

Answer 10

Ruling: First-and-10 on the 50. This play must be shut down for unimpeded to the QB. Whenever a defensive player
gets offside and is continuing forward before the snap, the play should be killed for a neutral zone infraction.

Question 11

ILLEGAL MOTION OR FALSE START
Second-and-10 on B40. At any time in the game, (after all 11 players have been set for one second) as the ball is
snapped, (a) right tackle A2 is going from a two- to a three-point stance; (b) eligible receiver A3 is going from a two to a three-point stance; or (c) deep back A4 is rolling forward as the ball is snapped. A1 is sacked at the B46.

Answer 11

(a), (b), and (c) Second-and-15 on B45. False start. (Run 10 seconds, if the other criteria are satisfied) (7-4-2)

Question 12

ABRUPT HAND MOVEMENT BY QB—FALSE START
Third-and-4 on A20. Shotgun QB A1 thrusts his hands forward in an exaggerated manner in an attempt to draw
Team B offside. No one from Team B reacts.

Answer 12

Ruling: Third-and-9 on A15. Blow the play dead immediately. False start, regardless of the lack of a reaction by the
defense.

Question 13

ABRUPT MOVEMENT ON SHIFT—FALSE START
Third-and-3 on B5. Prior to the snap, left wingback A8 and left tight end A9 abruptly move from the left side of the
formation to the right side. This action causes nose guard B3, who is aligned directly across from the Center, to
move into the neutral zone. The ball is snapped with B3 in the neutral zone, and A1 immediately takes a knee.

Answer 13

Ruling: Third-and-8 on B10. False start. Any shift by the offense must be made in a non-abrupt manner. The play
should be blown dead.

Question 14

QUARTERBACK TAKES POSITION UNDER GUARD—SNAP
Second-and-5 on A35. Quarterback A1 accidentally takes a position under the left guard, and the center then snaps
the ball. B2 recovers the ball on the A25 and is downed there

Answer 14

Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on A25. Decline the foul for illegal formation.

Note: The QB is given the ability to take a position behind the center that is neither clearly on or clearly off the line
of scrimmage. In exchange, he is required to be clearly off the line of scrimmage, (roughly a yard of daylight), if he
is behind anyone other than the center at the snap. Failure to do so is illegal formation. Additionally, if the QB starts
from a position behind the center, (not shotgun), and moves from that position, he must come set for at least a full
second, before the ball is snapped. Failure to do so is illegal motion.

Question 15

QUARTERBACK TAKES POSITION UNDER GUARD—CALLS SIGNALS
Second-and-4 on B36. Quarterback A1 extends his hands under the right guard and starts calling signals. A1 then
realizes his mistake and moves to the center, and subsequently throws an incomplete pass.

Answer 15

Ruling: Third-and-4 on B36. There is no foul on A1 while he is behind someone other than the center, unless the
ball is snapped while A1 is behind someone other than the center.

Question 16

BALL SNAPPED WITH QUARTERBACK BEHIND CENTER
Second-and-10 on B40. While quarterback A1 is standing immediately behind the center, or has his hands under
center, calling audibles, the ball is snapped and: (a) glances off A1’s leg; or (b) does not touch the quarterback, and
rolls into the backfield. In both (a) and (b), A2 recovers at the B45 and runs for a touchdown.

Answer 16

Rulings: (a) and (b): Touchdown Team A. Kickoff A35. Unless there is a false start or other snap infraction, a snap
from center is a backward pass, regardless of whether a Team A player is in position to receive it, and the ball
continues in play, regardless of the time remaining in the game. (8-7-1-Note)

Question 17

BALL SNAPPED THROUGH QUARTERBACK’S LEGS
Third-and-10 on B40. Quarterback A1 lines up under center with his hands in position to receive a hand-to-handsnap,
but the center snaps the ball through A1’s legs to tailback A2. A2 runs with the ball to the B25.

Answer 17

Ruling: First-and-10 on B25. Legal play. Even if the quarterback is behind the center, the ball need not be snapped
to him. (8-7-1-Note)

Question 18

T-FORMATION QUARTERBACK GOES IN MOTION - SETS/DOES NOT SET FOR A SECOND
Third-and-10 on A30. T-formation quarterback A1 is at the line calling signals with his hands under center. Before
the ball is snapped, he walks away from under center calling to the bench as though he has the wrong personnel.
When he is several yards away from the center, and clearly more than a yard behind the line of scrimmage, the ball
is snapped to tailback A2 who runs for a touchdown. When the ball is snapped, A1: (a) is still moving or has just
stopped; or (b) has come to a complete stop for a full second before the ball is snapped.

Answer 18

Rulings:
(a) Third-and-15 on A25. Illegal motion because the T-QB has failed to reset in the backfield for a full second.
(b) Touchdown Team A. Kickoff A35. If the quarterback sets for a full second, he has legally changed to a backfield
position, so the action is legal.

Question 19

QB MOVING FORWARD AT THE SNAP FROM SHOTGUN FORMATION
Second-and-3 on A40. QBA1 walks forward from a shotgun position toward the line of scrimmage to call an audible.
The ball is snapped while A1 is moving and is recovered by A2 who runs out of bounds at the A45.

Answer 19

Ruling: Second-and-8 on A35. If the QB is moving toward the line of scrimmage at the snap it is a foul for illegal
motion, and the ball remains alive. (7-4-7)

Question 20

ILLEGAL SHIFT
First-and-10 on B30. As team A breaks the huddle, wideout A2 goes to the wrong side of the formation, and before
he sets, Quarterback A1 tells him to go to the other side of the formation. All other Team A players had been set for
one second. The ball is snapped while A2 is still moving two yards outside of the tackle. The pass is complete to A2
at the B5.

Answer 20

Ruling: A’s ball, first-and-15 on B35. Illegal shift. All Team A players must come to a complete stop simultaneously
for one second after a shift or huddle. If this occurred after the 2-minute warning with the game clock running, it
would convert to a false start and the play would be shut down at the snap, with a potential 10-second runoff.

Question 21

FORMATION—LEGAL BEFORE AND AFTER SHIFT—CONFUSION BY OFFENSE
Third-and-10 on B40. As Team A comes to the line, split end A2 is clearly two yards off the line of scrimmage, leaving
ineligible A4 as the end man on the line of scrimmage. As quarterback A1 calls signals: (a) Team A executes a
designed shift, moving A2 up to the line “covering” ineligible A4, and tailback A3 moves into the slot, two yards off
the line of scrimmage; or (b) before the ball is snapped, A2 realizes that he is lined up in the wrong place, so he
moves up to the line, “covering” ineligible A4. After a full second, the ball is snapped, and A1 scrambles to the B20.

Answer 21

Rulings:
(a) Third-and-15 on B45. Illegal formation. Offense must present a legal formation both before and after a shift.
(b) A’s ball, first-and-10 on B20. When the offense has clearly just mistakenly lined up in the wrong place, and it is
corrected before the snap, there is no foul. (7-4-8)