What is illegal shift in football?

An illegal shift in football occurs when more than one offensive player is in motion at the same time before the snap, or when a player fails to come to a complete stop before the snap after being in motion.

This penalty usually results in a five-yard penalty and the down being replayed. It is considered a pre-snap penalty, meaning it occurs before the ball is snapped, and is intended to prevent offenses from gaining an unfair advantage by confusing the defense with multiple players in motion at the same time.

Illegal shifts are fairly common penalties in football, especially at lower levels where players may not be as familiar with the rules or have as much practice executing complex offensive schemes. Teams are typically coached to be aware of their positioning and motion before the snap to avoid penalties like illegal shifts.