Harbor
Base set. About 19 yards wide, which keeps both ends close enough to block and leaves grass outside them.
Ends split 6 yards from the tackles. Jet in the quick slot. Pistol.
7 on the line4 backsEnds: M and S
The system
Formations
Two rules make every formation legal without a count. Mast and Slip are always on the line and always the widest players on it. Hinge and Jet are always off the line. With five linemen numbered 50 to 79, that is seven on the line and four backs every time. The Hinge lines up behind the strong tackle in every set, and his side is the strength call: Harbor Right, Harbor Left.
Cape
Harbor stretched to the numbers. Pulls defenders out of the box before a run and gives the quick game room.
Ends split to the top of the numbers. Jet on the quick hash. Pistol.
7 on the line4 backsEnds: M and S
Pier
Three to the Hinge side. Forces the defense to declare how it covers trips, and leaves Slip alone on the quick side.
Jet moves to the strong hash, between Hinge and Mast. Pistol.
7 on the line4 backsEnds: M and S
Sound
A tight bunch on the Hinge side. Defenders have to sort three bodies in a small space, and every run gets an extra blocker at the point.
Mast tightens to 3 yards from the tackle. Jet stacks outside him, off the line. Pistol.
7 on the line4 backsEnds: M and S
Jetty
Short yardage and goal line. Two tight ends, quarterback under center, seven blockers within 10 yards of the ball.
Both ends tighten to tight end. Jet at quick wing. Quarterback under center, Anchor 5 yards deep.
7 on the line4 backsEnds: M and S
Common questions
Questions coaches ask.
How many formations are there?
Five: Harbor, Cape, Pier, Sound and Jetty. Each is drawn here with its spacing, what it is for, and a legality check showing seven on the line and four backs.
What makes every formation legal without counting?
Mast and Slip are always on the line and always the widest players on it. Hinge and Jet are always off the line. With five linemen numbered 50 to 79 that is seven on the line and four backs every time, which is what NFHS rule 7-2-5 requires.
What does the strength call mean?
The Hinge lines up behind the strong tackle in every set, and his side is the strength: Harbor Right puts him on the right. Flip is the one-word way to run the same play with the strength on the other side.
When would I use Cape or Pier instead of Harbor?
To pull defenders out of the box. Cape stretches the ends to the numbers before a run and gives the quick game room; Pier puts three receivers to the Hinge side and makes the defense declare how it covers trips. Jab, Four Winds and Slipway are called only from these two.
What is Jetty for?
Short yardage and the goal line: two tight ends, quarterback under center, seven blockers within 10 yards of the ball. Keel is always called from it, and Jetty’s share of the formation mix is tripled in the heavy situations.
Why does the Jet always line up off the line?
So that he can go in Tide motion legally and so that the alignment rule holds. NFHS allows one player in motion at the snap, moving flat or backwards, and only a back can do it.