Last saturday in a youth game the def. noseguard was putting his open hand on the center's facemask as he was pushing him out of the way to rush the QB.

Is this a facemask penalty(NFHS)?

The two sections in the rulebook that I have found talk about "grasping" the facemask or helmet. This was more like a push.

Thank you.

Not a facemask foul, but it would be an illegal use of hands for a blocking technique that is outside the frame of the opponent.. For NF, that means it was not at or below the shoulders.

If this were NCAA, it would be a foul called "continous contact with an opponents helmet including face mask with hand(s) or arms(s).

I'd flag this every time especially at the lower level NF levels. It's just a bad techique

Agreed.

And -- if it's a head slap, don't hesitate to penalize with a personal foul.

Rich