What is the consequence of an illegal formation on the offense?

An illegal formation penalty occurs when the offensive team does not adhere to the formation rules specified in the NFHS regulations, such as having fewer than seven players on the line of scrimmage at the snap or being improperly aligned. The consequence for this violation is a five-yard penalty from the previous spot. This penalty is assessed in order to maintain fair play and ensure that all teams adhere to the same foundational structures regarding how they can set up before a play.

While it's possible for there to be situations where the play may be called dead or reattempted, those circumstances do not apply specifically to an illegal formation. Instead, the specific penalty is the five yards, providing a clear, consistent enforcement that supports the game's structure.