523:
century, the option of snapping the ball back by hand was added. The option to play the ball with the foot was preserved, however, for several decades, although by early in the 20th century it was restricted to kicking the ball forward. The kick forward in scrimmage was a surprise play that did not work against a prepared defense. Also for several decades alternatives to the scrimmage for playing the ball from across the sideline after it had gone out of bounds—a throw-in or "fair", and "bounding in"—existed. Until well into the 20th century, rather than an official readying the ball for scrimmage, the side entitled to the snap had complete custody of the ball and could snap it from the required spot at any time; for instance, a tackled ball carrier might feign injury, then suddenly snap the ball while recumbent, there being no stance requirement yet. The neutral zone and the right of the center not to be contacted by an opponent before the snap also was not an original feature. As the 20th century drew to a close, the NCAA and
National Federation of State High School Associations extended that protection to some time
238:, the line of scrimmage of the team without the ball is 1 yard past their side of the ball. The player snapping the ball (known officially as the "snapper" in rule books) delivers the ball to another player, and that action is the snap. The snapper may hand, throw, or even roll the ball to the other player. The snap must be a quick and continuous movement of the ball by one or both hands of the snapper, and the ball must leave the snapper's hands. The various rules codes have additional requirements, all of which have the effect of requiring the ball to go backward. The snapper almost always passes the ball between his legs, but only in Canadian football is that required.
285:
133:
443:
324:
166:
36:
219:
539:
years after the adoption of the hand snap, a hand-to-hand snap was illegal, the ball required to be thrown instead, in
Canadian football. (Though it was technically legal, the hand-to-hand snap was not used on the American side of the border until the 1930s.) Apparently, a complete break was desired from system of backheeling, and the
425:. If they fail to snap the ball in time they incur a delay of game penalty. Also, with a dwindling play clock, the defense has better chances of guessing when the ball will be snapped. It is easier to predict when the ball will be snapped with 2 seconds left on the play clock, rather than 5 seconds.
538:
led to the three-man scrimmage being reduced to the centre alone, the number of players on the field being reduced commensurately from 14 to 12, and a snap rule and neutral zone similar to that of
American football was adopted. In addition to the between-the-legs requirement noted above, for several
522:
The rule adopted by a committee for
American football in 1880 first provided for the uncontested right of one side to play the ball by foot (in any direction) for a scrimmage. A certain use of the foot on the ball which had the same effect as heeling it back was known as a "snap". Later in the 19th
297:
looking between his legs. Because of the vulnerability of a player in such a position, the
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Federation of State High School Associations ("Fed") have adopted rules providing that if a player is positioned at least seven yards behind the
533:
used the rugby scrimmage unaltered until near the end of the 19th century, when, regionally at first, under the influence of the
American scrimmage, the number of players in the scrimmage was limited to three—a "centre scrimmager" bound on either side by props called "side scrimmagers". The centre
550:
The game design rationale for requiring the snap to be a quick and continuous motion to the backfield is to eliminate the need for rules provisions for a live ball in scrimmage. In rugby union the ball may be retained by the forwards and played for a time via the foot in a scrummage (which rugby
384:
The team entitled to snap the ball will usually know in advance the moment when the snap is to occur as one of their players calls out signals, which usually include a loud sound such as "hut" voiced one or more times, the number of which they know; they are thus said to know the "snap count".
428:
The defensive team is not allowed to simulate, by calling out numbers, the offense's snap count. Successfully simulating the count would cause members of the offensive team to act too early ruining co-ordination of the play and inviting penalties. Current rules, unlike earlier rules, position
385:
Therefore, they have a considerable advantage over their opponents. The Center is not, however, allowed to make motions simulating part of the snap-action; therefore their opponents can be confident the first motion of the ball or the Center's hands is the beginning of the snap.
559:, necessitating additional restrictions on play and player positioning during those intervals. In American and Canadian football, the ball as it is put in play is only held in the line (by the Center) for a fraction of a second. The uncontested possession also, as
409:
penalty. Unfortunately for the offense, this advantage can sometimes become a disadvantage. When faced with an exceptionally loud stadium, players may be unable to hear the snap count and are forced to concentrate more on visual cues (silent snap count or a
302:
to receive a snap, opponents are not to deliberately contact the snapper until one second after the snap (NCAA), or until the snapper has a chance to react (Fed). However, in professional football it is common for a center to be able to practice a single
400:
exactly as the play begins, to increase their chances of getting a tackle for a loss or a sack. By varying the snap count, a quarterback forces the defensive players to react to the movement of the offensive players, or risk being called for an
292:
For a handed snap, the snapper will usually have his head up, facing opponents. For a thrown snap, especially in formations wherein the ball may be snapped to players in different positions, the snapper will commonly
519:. As the rules of rugby's scrimmage were written when the game came to North America, they had a significant flaw which was corrected by custom elsewhere, but by the invention of the snap in American football.
618:
534:
scrimmager was later renamed the "snap", and in intercollegiate play one side was given the right to put foot to ball first. Beginning regionally again and universally by 1923, the
672:
873:
392:, usually expressed as "...on <number>." being the final words spoken by the quarterback after calling the play but before the huddle breaks and the players go to the
310:
A snap is considered a backward pass, therefore if the ball is snapped and it hits the ground without any player gaining control of the ball the play is ruled as a fumble.
396:. The snap count allows offensive players to have a small head start. The defensive players want to predict the snap, and build up speed such that they cross the
1083:
429:
officials so far from the line of scrimmage for 50 minutes of the 60-minute game that it is extremely difficult to hear if the defense is simulating the count.
941:
1668:
665:
460:
345:
183:
53:
543:
having gone into eclipse in
American football at the time, the Canadian snap was modeled on the formations then in common use in the US, such as the
866:
1683:
1761:
563:
pointed out, allows for better offensive and defensive planning by the side entitled to snap the ball and their opposition, respectively. A
607:
658:
917:
902:
859:
1632:
912:
100:
1176:
482:
371:
205:
119:
72:
1663:
1236:
1171:
595:
406:
299:
1003:
79:
1481:
1221:
1073:
998:
464:
411:
349:
187:
57:
1730:
1678:
1511:
1506:
1166:
1123:
951:
576:
242:
1653:
1611:
1607:
1603:
1331:
1161:
1078:
907:
729:
86:
1710:
1622:
1314:
734:
402:
226:
The ball begins on the ground with its long axis parallel to the sidelines of the field, its ends marking each team's
334:
1720:
1022:
988:
789:
698:
246:
68:
453:
353:
338:
176:
46:
1486:
1476:
1420:
983:
820:
815:
784:
744:
254:
1501:
1382:
1377:
1369:
1297:
1292:
1191:
1181:
1705:
1186:
1093:
1027:
924:
840:
825:
1735:
1387:
805:
144:(colloquially called a "hike", "snapback", or "pass from center") is the backward passing of the ball in
1725:
1572:
1450:
830:
544:
1715:
1541:
1428:
1226:
1034:
779:
759:
556:
552:
508:
500:
93:
1740:
1546:
1044:
993:
149:
1690:
1438:
1433:
963:
702:
527:
the snap, in cases where a player is positioned at least 7 yards deep to receive a thrown snap.
1700:
1536:
1415:
1359:
1241:
1135:
1068:
958:
936:
897:
882:
739:
681:
530:
397:
393:
304:
284:
235:
231:
227:
145:
642:
1582:
1521:
1445:
1410:
1140:
1051:
973:
258:
1695:
1354:
1272:
1257:
1061:
835:
1577:
1567:
1551:
1516:
1282:
1277:
1196:
946:
931:
774:
754:
535:
516:
250:
132:
1755:
1658:
1648:
1531:
1496:
1491:
1056:
978:
496:
270:
1627:
1587:
1526:
1460:
1455:
1344:
1267:
1262:
1039:
769:
764:
512:
262:
1673:
1349:
1319:
564:
560:
540:
504:
442:
415:
323:
165:
35:
249:
is the snapper and is situated in the middle of the line of scrimmage. Only in
1617:
1402:
1231:
1113:
1108:
650:
422:
294:
278:
851:
1392:
1309:
1302:
1216:
1128:
810:
749:
266:
218:
17:
1287:
1156:
1118:
724:
596:
Cowboys' season ends with
Ezekiel Elliott at center on bizarre final play
222:
Illustration showing positions of the men just before the ball is passed
467: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
190: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1339:
693:
389:
253:
is the center required by rule to be the snapper. In other codes, a
283:
217:
131:
968:
855:
654:
436:
317:
159:
29:
307:
thrown snap enough to keep his head up and toss it blindly.
273:
can legally deliver the snap; such scenarios, known as an
1641:
1596:
1560:
1469:
1401:
1368:
1330:
1250:
1209:
1149:
1101:
1092:
1012:
890:
798:
712:
60:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
27:Backward passing of the ball in gridiron football
288:Exchange of the snap between the center's legs
867:
666:
8:
608:"Rule 8 Forward Pass, Backward Pass, Fumble"
352:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
136:The center snaps the ball between his legs.
1098:
874:
860:
852:
673:
659:
651:
483:Learn how and when to remove this message
372:Learn how and when to remove this message
206:Learn how and when to remove this message
120:Learn how and when to remove this message
421:The offense must also be mindful of the
588:
567:snap can be recovered by either team.
7:
465:adding citations to reliable sources
388:The snap count is decided on in the
350:adding citations to reliable sources
188:adding citations to reliable sources
58:adding citations to reliable sources
25:
1004:Rules of gridiron football codes
441:
322:
164:
34:
624:from the original on 2012-10-21
452:needs additional citations for
175:needs additional citations for
45:needs additional citations for
1:
1762:American football terminology
643:Why the Uncontested Scrimmage
577:Glossary of American football
277:, are seldom used outside of
69:"Snap" gridiron football
942:American–Canadian comparison
243:gridiron football formation
1778:
689:
1502:Total quarterback rating
555:, or by the hands in a
551:league has as well) or
515:have common origins in
1388:Fourth down conversion
289:
223:
137:
1726:Touchdown celebration
1451:Running out the clock
545:single-wing formation
433:History and rationale
287:
221:
135:
1716:Running up the score
1542:Yards from scrimmage
1227:Two-point conversion
1222:One-point conversion
461:improve this article
346:improve this section
184:improve this article
54:improve this article
1547:All-purpose yardage
305:"shotgun" formation
150:play from scrimmage
495:The snap, the set
290:
224:
138:
1749:
1748:
1537:Yards after catch
1360:Turnover on downs
1205:
1204:
1136:Line of scrimmage
883:Gridiron football
849:
848:
682:Gridiron football
531:Canadian football
493:
492:
485:
398:line of scrimmage
394:line of scrimmage
382:
381:
374:
236:Canadian football
232:American football
228:line of scrimmage
216:
215:
208:
146:gridiron football
130:
129:
122:
104:
16:(Redirected from
1769:
1583:Three-cone drill
1446:Clock management
1141:Field goal range
1099:
876:
869:
862:
853:
826:Shooting the gap
675:
668:
661:
652:
645:
640:
634:
633:
631:
629:
623:
612:
604:
598:
593:
488:
481:
477:
474:
468:
445:
437:
377:
370:
366:
363:
357:
326:
318:
241:In the standard
211:
204:
200:
197:
191:
168:
160:
148:at the start of
125:
118:
114:
111:
105:
103:
62:
38:
30:
21:
1777:
1776:
1772:
1771:
1770:
1768:
1767:
1766:
1752:
1751:
1750:
1745:
1696:Gatorade shower
1637:
1592:
1556:
1512:Receiving yards
1465:
1397:
1364:
1326:
1273:Incomplete pass
1246:
1201:
1145:
1088:
1008:
989:Street/Backyard
886:
880:
850:
845:
836:Double coverage
794:
708:
685:
679:
649:
648:
641:
637:
627:
625:
621:
610:
606:
605:
601:
594:
590:
585:
573:
489:
478:
472:
469:
458:
446:
435:
378:
367:
361:
358:
343:
327:
316:
281:and novelties.
275:unbalanced line
212:
201:
195:
192:
181:
169:
158:
126:
115:
109:
106:
63:
61:
51:
39:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1775:
1773:
1765:
1764:
1754:
1753:
1747:
1746:
1744:
1743:
1738:
1733:
1728:
1723:
1718:
1713:
1708:
1703:
1698:
1693:
1688:
1687:
1686:
1676:
1671:
1666:
1661:
1656:
1651:
1645:
1643:
1639:
1638:
1636:
1635:
1633:Instant replay
1630:
1625:
1620:
1615:
1600:
1598:
1594:
1593:
1591:
1590:
1585:
1580:
1578:Oklahoma drill
1575:
1570:
1568:Practice squad
1564:
1562:
1558:
1557:
1555:
1554:
1552:Touchdown pass
1549:
1544:
1539:
1534:
1529:
1524:
1519:
1517:Pass deflected
1514:
1509:
1504:
1499:
1494:
1489:
1484:
1479:
1473:
1471:
1467:
1466:
1464:
1463:
1458:
1453:
1448:
1443:
1442:
1441:
1436:
1431:
1425:Time warnings
1423:
1418:
1413:
1407:
1405:
1399:
1398:
1396:
1395:
1390:
1385:
1380:
1374:
1372:
1366:
1365:
1363:
1362:
1357:
1355:"Peanut Punch"
1352:
1347:
1342:
1336:
1334:
1328:
1327:
1325:
1324:
1323:
1322:
1312:
1307:
1306:
1305:
1295:
1290:
1285:
1283:Hail Mary pass
1280:
1278:Drop-back pass
1275:
1270:
1265:
1260:
1254:
1252:
1248:
1247:
1245:
1244:
1242:Single (rouge)
1239:
1234:
1229:
1224:
1219:
1213:
1211:
1207:
1206:
1203:
1202:
1200:
1199:
1194:
1189:
1184:
1179:
1174:
1169:
1164:
1159:
1153:
1151:
1147:
1146:
1144:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1132:
1131:
1126:
1121:
1116:
1105:
1103:
1096:
1090:
1089:
1087:
1086:
1081:
1076:
1071:
1066:
1065:
1064:
1059:
1049:
1048:
1047:
1045:Junior varsity
1042:
1032:
1031:
1030:
1025:
1016:
1014:
1013:Levels of play
1010:
1009:
1007:
1006:
1001:
996:
991:
986:
981:
976:
971:
966:
961:
956:
955:
954:
949:
947:Burnside rules
944:
934:
929:
928:
927:
922:
921:
920:
915:
905:
894:
892:
888:
887:
881:
879:
878:
871:
864:
856:
847:
846:
844:
843:
838:
833:
828:
823:
818:
813:
808:
802:
800:
796:
795:
793:
792:
787:
782:
777:
772:
767:
762:
757:
752:
747:
742:
737:
732:
727:
722:
716:
714:
710:
709:
707:
706:
696:
690:
687:
686:
680:
678:
677:
670:
663:
655:
647:
646:
635:
599:
587:
586:
584:
581:
580:
579:
572:
569:
536:Burnside rules
526:
517:rugby football
491:
490:
449:
447:
440:
434:
431:
380:
379:
330:
328:
321:
315:
312:
251:arena football
214:
213:
172:
170:
163:
157:
154:
128:
127:
42:
40:
33:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1774:
1763:
1760:
1759:
1757:
1742:
1739:
1737:
1734:
1732:
1729:
1727:
1724:
1722:
1719:
1717:
1714:
1712:
1709:
1707:
1704:
1702:
1699:
1697:
1694:
1692:
1689:
1685:
1682:
1681:
1680:
1677:
1675:
1672:
1670:
1667:
1665:
1662:
1660:
1659:Coaching tree
1657:
1655:
1652:
1650:
1647:
1646:
1644:
1640:
1634:
1631:
1629:
1626:
1624:
1621:
1619:
1616:
1613:
1609:
1605:
1602:
1601:
1599:
1595:
1589:
1586:
1584:
1581:
1579:
1576:
1574:
1571:
1569:
1566:
1565:
1563:
1559:
1553:
1550:
1548:
1545:
1543:
1540:
1538:
1535:
1533:
1532:Total offense
1530:
1528:
1525:
1523:
1520:
1518:
1515:
1513:
1510:
1508:
1505:
1503:
1500:
1498:
1497:Passer rating
1495:
1493:
1492:Passing yards
1490:
1488:
1487:Rushing yards
1485:
1483:
1480:
1478:
1475:
1474:
1472:
1468:
1462:
1459:
1457:
1454:
1452:
1449:
1447:
1444:
1440:
1437:
1435:
1432:
1430:
1427:
1426:
1424:
1422:
1419:
1417:
1414:
1412:
1409:
1408:
1406:
1404:
1400:
1394:
1391:
1389:
1386:
1384:
1383:Three-and-out
1381:
1379:
1376:
1375:
1373:
1371:
1367:
1361:
1358:
1356:
1353:
1351:
1348:
1346:
1343:
1341:
1338:
1337:
1335:
1333:
1329:
1321:
1318:
1317:
1316:
1313:
1311:
1308:
1304:
1301:
1300:
1299:
1296:
1294:
1291:
1289:
1286:
1284:
1281:
1279:
1276:
1274:
1271:
1269:
1266:
1264:
1261:
1259:
1256:
1255:
1253:
1251:Ball handling
1249:
1243:
1240:
1238:
1235:
1233:
1230:
1228:
1225:
1223:
1220:
1218:
1215:
1214:
1212:
1208:
1198:
1195:
1193:
1190:
1188:
1185:
1183:
1180:
1178:
1177:Coffin corner
1175:
1173:
1170:
1168:
1165:
1163:
1160:
1158:
1155:
1154:
1152:
1148:
1142:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1117:
1115:
1112:
1111:
1110:
1107:
1106:
1104:
1100:
1097:
1095:
1091:
1085:
1084:International
1082:
1080:
1077:
1075:
1072:
1070:
1067:
1063:
1060:
1058:
1055:
1054:
1053:
1050:
1046:
1043:
1041:
1038:
1037:
1036:
1033:
1029:
1026:
1024:
1021:
1020:
1019:Youth/midget
1018:
1017:
1015:
1011:
1005:
1002:
1000:
997:
995:
992:
990:
987:
985:
982:
980:
977:
975:
972:
970:
967:
965:
962:
960:
957:
953:
950:
948:
945:
943:
940:
939:
938:
935:
933:
930:
926:
923:
919:
916:
914:
911:
910:
909:
906:
904:
901:
900:
899:
896:
895:
893:
889:
884:
877:
872:
870:
865:
863:
858:
857:
854:
842:
839:
837:
834:
832:
829:
827:
824:
822:
819:
817:
814:
812:
809:
807:
804:
803:
801:
797:
791:
788:
786:
783:
781:
778:
776:
773:
771:
768:
766:
763:
761:
758:
756:
753:
751:
748:
746:
743:
741:
738:
736:
733:
731:
728:
726:
723:
721:
718:
717:
715:
711:
704:
700:
697:
695:
692:
691:
688:
683:
676:
671:
669:
664:
662:
657:
656:
653:
644:
639:
636:
620:
616:
609:
603:
600:
597:
592:
589:
582:
578:
575:
574:
570:
568:
566:
562:
558:
554:
548:
546:
542:
537:
532:
528:
524:
520:
518:
514:
510:
509:play-the-ball
506:
502:
498:
487:
484:
476:
466:
462:
456:
455:
450:This section
448:
444:
439:
438:
432:
430:
426:
424:
419:
417:
413:
408:
404:
399:
395:
391:
386:
376:
373:
365:
355:
351:
347:
341:
340:
336:
331:This section
329:
325:
320:
319:
313:
311:
308:
306:
301:
296:
286:
282:
280:
276:
272:
268:
264:
260:
256:
252:
248:
247:center/centre
244:
239:
237:
233:
229:
220:
210:
207:
199:
189:
185:
179:
178:
173:This section
171:
167:
162:
161:
155:
153:
151:
147:
143:
134:
124:
121:
113:
102:
99:
95:
92:
88:
85:
81:
78:
74:
71: –
70:
66:
65:Find sources:
59:
55:
49:
48:
43:This article
41:
37:
32:
31:
19:
1736:Trading card
1628:Penalty flag
1588:Film session
1527:Return yards
1461:Garbage time
1456:Untimed play
1345:Interception
1263:Forward pass
1172:Neutral zone
1074:Professional
831:Bump and run
770:Lateral pass
765:Forward pass
719:
638:
626:. Retrieved
614:
602:
591:
549:
529:
521:
513:rugby league
494:
479:
473:January 2023
470:
459:Please help
454:verification
451:
427:
420:
407:encroachment
387:
383:
368:
362:October 2012
359:
344:Please help
332:
309:
300:neutral zone
291:
274:
263:running back
240:
225:
202:
196:January 2023
193:
182:Please help
177:verification
174:
141:
139:
116:
110:January 2013
107:
97:
90:
83:
76:
64:
52:Please help
47:verification
44:
1741:Twelfth man
1674:Football IQ
1664:Concussions
1597:Officiating
1350:Muffed punt
1320:Onside kick
1035:High school
703:three-point
561:Walter Camp
541:T formation
505:rugby union
503:in today's
418:penalties.
416:false start
414:), or risk
279:trick plays
1679:Formations
1618:Chain crew
1573:Two-a-days
1482:Completion
1470:Statistics
1403:Play clock
1378:First down
1232:Field goal
1114:Hash marks
1109:Yard lines
1023:Pop Warner
999:Wheelchair
994:Powderpuff
628:3 February
583:References
507:, and the
423:play clock
412:hard count
314:Snap count
80:newspapers
18:Snap count
1731:Tuck rule
1711:Positions
1691:Letterman
1669:Equipment
1507:Reception
1393:Dead ball
1332:Turnovers
1310:Drop kick
1303:Touchback
1217:Touchdown
1167:Dead zone
1129:Sidelines
1124:Goal line
775:Stiff arm
750:Pump fake
684:maneuvers
333:does not
295:bend over
271:split end
267:tight end
1756:Category
1721:Strategy
1701:Overtime
1654:Blocking
1612:Canadian
1608:American
1604:Official
1561:Practice
1288:Hand-off
1162:Red zone
1157:End zone
1119:End line
1069:Semi-pro
952:Glossary
937:Canadian
903:Glossary
898:American
885:concepts
780:Scramble
730:Blocking
725:Hand-off
619:Archived
571:See also
403:offsides
1642:Related
1623:Penalty
1411:Timeout
1315:Kickoff
1268:Lateral
1210:Scoring
1079:Women's
1052:College
1040:Varsity
908:History
799:Defense
755:Cutback
735:Pulling
713:Offense
354:removed
339:sources
94:scholar
1439:1 min.
1434:2 min.
1429:3 min.
1340:Fumble
1237:Safety
1197:Pocket
1150:Spaces
1062:Sprint
918:Modern
806:Tackle
790:Motion
745:Routes
740:Spiral
699:Stance
694:Huddle
565:muffed
390:huddle
259:tackle
245:, the
156:Action
96:
89:
82:
75:
67:
1706:Plays
1477:Carry
1421:Spike
1416:Kneel
1370:Downs
1102:Lines
1094:Field
984:Touch
974:6-man
969:7-man
964:8-man
959:9-man
932:Arena
925:Rules
913:Early
891:Codes
821:Blitz
816:Stunt
785:Shift
622:(PDF)
611:(PDF)
525:after
497:scrum
255:guard
234:; in
101:JSTOR
87:books
1684:List
1649:Ball
1522:Sack
1298:Punt
1293:Rush
1258:Snap
1192:Hole
1182:Flat
1057:Club
979:Flag
811:Rush
760:Juke
720:Snap
630:2020
557:maul
553:ruck
501:ruck
499:and
337:any
335:cite
142:snap
73:news
1187:Gap
1028:AYF
841:Spy
615:NFL
511:in
463:by
405:or
348:by
269:or
230:in
186:by
56:by
1758::
1610:,
617:.
613:.
547:.
265:,
261:,
257:,
152:.
140:A
1614:)
1606:(
875:e
868:t
861:v
705:)
701:(
674:e
667:t
660:v
632:.
486:)
480:(
475:)
471:(
457:.
375:)
369:(
364:)
360:(
356:.
342:.
209:)
203:(
198:)
194:(
180:.
123:)
117:(
112:)
108:(
98:·
91:·
84:·
77:·
50:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
