What is the result of a team committing illegal formation at the line of scrimmage?

The result of a team committing illegal formation at the line of scrimmage is a 5-yard penalty assessed to the offending team. This violation occurs when a team does not have the required number of players on the line of scrimmage or if the players are not properly aligned. The 5-yard penalty serves as a deterrent to ensure that teams adhere to the formation rules, promoting fair play and orderly execution of the game.

This understanding reinforces why the enforcement is specifically a 5-yard penalty rather than a more severe consequence. It is essential to maintain the integrity of the game while not overly punishing teams for infractions that are often unintentional. Additionally, because the penalty is not marked as a loss of down, the offense retains the opportunity to continue their series of downs following the penalty. This reflects the guidelines set forth in NFHS rules for managing illegal formation infractions on the field.