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Free formation card: the alignment rules that draw flags

NFHS and NCAA, in English and Spanish. One page. Print it, post it, hand it to your staff.

  • NFHS and NCAA
  • English · Español
  • US Letter, prints in black and white
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Preview of the pregame card: four boxes for a formation name, a sketch, why it is legal and the rule reference. Preview of the NFHS Formation Card: eight rule rows, each with a small diagram, a “3 surprises” box and a QR code.

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Legal or flag? 5 quick calls

Five alignments, one call each. Every answer comes with the rule number. Nothing you click here is sent anywhere.

THE PLAYBOOK CALLERLegal or flag? 5 quick calls

Call 1 of 5

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  1. Call 1 of 5, NFHS: I formation, X a yard off the line.LINE OF SCRIMMAGELTLGCRGRTQBYXZFBTB!5 in the backfield1 ISSUE · NFHS

    NFHSCall 1 of 5

    High school (NFHS). Your offense lines up with 6 players on the line of scrimmage and 5 in the backfield. Legal or flag?

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    FLAG

    Flag. NFHS allows no more than 4 backs (at least 5 on the line), so a fifth back is an illegal formation. With 11 players, keep 7 on the line.

    NFHS 7-2-5a (and 2-14-1)

  2. Call 2 of 5, NFHS: Tackle over, LT on the end, uncovered.LINE OF SCRIMMAGELGCRGRTLTQBUYZFBTBLEGAL · NFHS

    NFHSCall 2 of 5

    High school (NFHS). Unbalanced line: a tackle wearing a number from 50 to 79 is the last player on the end of the line, with nobody outside him. Legal or flag?

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    LEGAL

    Legal. No NFHS formation rule concerns the ends. He is simply an ineligible receiver: eligibility goes by position and number, and high school has no reporting.

    NFHS 7-2-5, 7-5-6a

  3. Call 3 of 5, NFL: Tackle over, LT on the end, uncovered.LINE OF SCRIMMAGELGCRGRTLTQBUYZFBTB!Uncovered end1 ISSUE · NFL

    NFLCall 3 of 5

    NFL. The same line: the tackle is on the end, and he has not reported to the referee as eligible. Legal or flag?

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    FLAG

    Flag. The NFL requires eligible receivers on both ends of the line. A player with a 50-79 number may play there only after reporting as eligible.

    NFL 7-5-1(b) and (e), 5-3-1

  4. Call 4 of 5, NFHS: Punt vs punt safe, a tackle head-up on the snapper.LINE OF SCRIMMAGEETTEWMSCBCBSSPRTGLSGTPGNGNWWPPLEGAL · NFHS

    NFHSCall 4 of 5

    High school (NFHS). The offense is in punt formation. A defensive lineman lines up head-up on the snapper, within a yard of the ball. Legal or flag?

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    LEGAL

    Legal in high school: NFHS puts no alignment limit on defenders over the snapper against a kick. It would be a flag in college (NCAA 6-3-14-a) and the NFL (9-1-3).

    NFHS: no restriction (NFHS/NCAA differences sheets); NCAA 6-3-14-a; NFL 9-1-3

  5. Call 5 of 5, NFHS: Kickoff, L1 7 yards deep.KICKING TEAM RESTRAINING LINE: OWN 40RECEIVING TEAM RESTRAINING LINE: 50L5L4L3L2L1KR1R2R3R4R5!Too deep1 ISSUE · NFHS

    NFHSCall 5 of 5

    High school (NFHS) kickoff. One cover player, not the kicker, lines up 7 yards behind the kicking team’s free-kick line to get a running start. Legal or flag?

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    FLAG

    Flag. Only the kicker may be more than 5 yards behind the kicking team’s free-kick line. College has the same rule.

    NFHS 6-1-3b (NCAA 6-1-2-b)

Get the cards

Tell us who you coach for and the cards are yours: all six, right away, on this page.

What you get

  • NFHS card: 8 alignment rules with their rule numbers, the 3 places high school differs, and a note for youth leagues.
  • NCAA card: the same for college, with the 2026 kick-formation change and the Texas UIL kickoff.
  • A blank pregame card: write down your unusual formations and hand it to the referee before kickoff.

Each rule carries its reference, and each rule answer lists its public sources.

Coaching aid, not an official ruling: the game officials' ruling governs. The Playbook Caller is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NFL, NCAA, NFHS or UIL, nor by Pop Warner, AYF or USA Football.

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Read the rules by topic

Twenty short answers, one per question coaches ask, each with a diagram and the verdict in every book.

Browse the 20 formation-rule answers