Just asking to help with others interpretation of what is written in the rulebook in regards to MM. Do the backs have to line up directly behind the guards in the splitback formation regardless if in shotgun or under center? What is the penalty, if any, for failing to do so? There seems to be an interpretation problem with what I'm seeing in black and white. Could you please advise on this and make sure all refs are knowledgeable of this? Thank you

When it says behind the guards does that mean a ref is going to call an illegal formation if the backs are behind the guards but, not in a direct line behind the guards or is it just that they need to be behind the guards and not behind the tackles? Not trying to be difficult but, I think that is the extent we are talking about. It would be obvious if the backs were lined up behind the tackles but, if we are talking a few inches one way or the other I would like to be sure.