Snapping and adjusting the ball.

[sir_eldren]

Hmm... I had an occurance of this happen in a youth scrimmage yesterday. One of my colleagues told the linemen that if the center lifted the ball, he could hit 'em.

That was wrong.

Rule 7.1.2 clearly states "the snapper may lift the ball. . . but may not rotate it end-for-end or change location or fail to keep the long axis [parallel to] the line of scrimmage."
--Clearly this means that the snapper may lift the ball to make an adjustment.

Rule 7.1.3: The snapper shall not: d) *following adjustment* (see rule 7.1.2), life or move the ball other than in a legal snap.

I would say that the center, preparing to snap the ball, may lift the ball to rotate it or place it on end if he sees fit.

This year's casebook only sites rule 7.1.3, but it clearly states in the ruling that those fouls only apply AFTER preliminary adjustments, which may include lifting the ball off the ground to rotate it.

-Craig