Side Snap Still Legal?

[patriots87]

This week playing 8-man Jr.High Flag football, we were had with the "Wrong Ball" trick play. Center side snaps to the QB and yadda yadda TD.

Is the side snap legal (center stands up and hands the ball sideways to the QB)? I remember seeing this play in HS football a few years ago on youtube, but, I can't really get a clear interpretation of Legal vs. Illegal snap from the 2015 NFHS rule book.

Thanks!

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by patriots87

Is the side snap legal (center stands up and hands the ball sideways to the QB)?

Handing the ball sideways to the QB is legal. As far as the overall action, you'd have to see it, although I can describe what you'd be looking for. Once the ball starts moving, does it keep moving backwards until he's rid of it? Its up or down component of movement is immaterial. Is the movement of the ball quick & continuous?

[jTheUmp]

Side snaps, in and of themselves, are legal as long as they comply with the requirements in 2-40-2.

However, the "wrong ball" play is illegal.

Originally Posted by *9.10.1 SITUATION B, emphasis mine

From a field goal formation, potential kicker A1 yells, "Where's the tee?" A2 replies, "I'll go get it" and goes legally in motion toward his team's sideline. Ball is snapped to A1 who throws a touchdown pass to A2.

RULING: Unsportsmanlike conduct prior to snap. The ball should be declared dead and the foul enforced as a dead-ball foul.

COMMENT: Football has been and always will be a game of deception and trickery involving multiple shifts, unusual formations and creative plays. However, actions or verbiage designed to confuse the defense into believing there is problem and a snap isn't imminent is beyond the scope of sportsmanship and is illegal.

Unfortunately, there are A LOT of officials (especially those working the Jr High and below ranks) who do not both to know the rules and case plays well enough to know that these types of plays aren't legal.

[HLin NC]

A legal snap must be continuous motion. Standing up and handing would not meet that definition. I'm fairly certain that's in any year rule book..

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

A legal snap must be continuous motion. Standing up and handing would not meet that definition.

I think it could. The snapper on standing up would have to have the ball in 1 or both hands. If he were pulling back, that would be a backward motion of the ball. Then all the snapper has to do is keep it moving backward by turning or by continuing the motion by other means. For instance, the snapper could pull the ball back & up like a passer doing a pass set & raising the ball to his shoulder, at which point the quarterback could take the ball from him, or the snapper could just throw it backward over his shoulder. Or the snapper could raise the ball overhead for it to be snatched as in the Statue of Liberty play. No end to the possibilities. But it has to be done quickly, not in slow motion.

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

I think it could. The snapper on standing up would have to have the ball in 1 or both hands. If he were pulling back, that would be a backward motion of the ball. Then all the snapper has to do is keep it moving backward by turning or by continuing the motion by other means. For instance, the snapper could pull the ball back & up like a passer doing a pass set & raising the ball to his shoulder, at which point the quarterback could take the ball from him, or the snapper could just throw it backward over his shoulder. Or the snapper could raise the ball overhead for it to be snatched as in the Statue of Liberty play. No end to the possibilities. But it has to be done quickly, not in slow motion.

Nonsense, doesn't sound anything like NFHS 7-1-3, or 2-40. The "POSSIBILITIES" are defined and limited by the judgment of the covering OFFICIAL, and are only "limitless" when allowed to be.

[Welpe]

Here is what constitutes a legal snap:

ART. 2 . . . The snap begins when the snapper first moves the ball legally other than in adjustment. In a snap, the movement must be a quick and continuous backward motion of the ball during which the ball immediately leaves the hand(s) of the snapper and touches a back or the ground before it touches an A lineman.

In picking up a ball and turning to hand it to the quarterback, the ball is moving backward continuously but it is not immediately leaving the snapper's hands.

[OKREF]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Here is what constitutes a legal snap:

ART. 2 . . . The snap begins when the snapper first moves the ball legally other than in adjustment. In a snap, the movement must be a quick and continuous backward motion of the ball during which the ball immediately leaves the hand(s) of the snapper and touches a back or the ground before it touches an A lineman.

In picking up a ball and turning to hand it to the quarterback, the ball is moving backward continuously but it is not immediately leaving the snapper's hands.

Oops

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Here is what constitutes a legal snap:

ART. 2 . . . The snap begins when the snapper first moves the ball legally other than in adjustment. In a snap, the movement must be a quick and continuous backward motion of the ball during which the ball immediately leaves the hand(s) of the snapper and touches a back or the ground before it touches an A lineman.

In picking up a ball and turning to hand it to the quarterback, the ball is moving backward continuously but it is not immediately leaving the snapper's hands.

It can leave the snapper's hands as immediately by that means as by any other method of exchange. What's the difference whether he hands it to the quarterback between his own legs or anywhere else? It's still a hands-to-hands exchange.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

It can leave the snapper's hands as immediately by that means as by any other method of exchange. What's the difference whether he hands it to the quarterback between his own legs or anywhere else? It's still a hands-to-hands exchange.

The difference is that picking it up, turning around and handing it back to the quarterback is not considered immediate.

You want it to be but it's not and I've never heard a rule interpreter say that it is.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Welpe

The difference is that picking it up, turning around and handing it back to the quarterback is not considered immediate.

You want it to be but it's not and I've never heard a rule interpreter say that it is.

You're reading it as "picking it up...pause...turning around...pause...and handing it". Why couldn't the action be done in 1 motion?