What indicates that a team has committed an illegal shift?

A team is considered to have committed an illegal shift when players shift their positions without being set. This means that before the snap, players may be in motion or changing positions, but they must come to a complete stop for a brief moment (one second is typical) and be set before the ball is snapped. If players fail to do this and snap the ball while one or more players are still in motion, it constitutes an illegal shift.

Understanding this rule helps maintain the fairness and order of the game, ensuring that the defense has a chance to react to the offense’s formation before the play begins. Players in motion at the time of the snap disrupt this balance and can give an unfair advantage to the offense, hence the penalty.