legal or snap infraction??

[MJT]

Friendly debate with a guy on my crew. Center starts to snap the ball and the nose guard slaps the ball away from him, it hits the ground and the nose guard fall on it. I know what is right, and found the rule reference, but thought it would still be a good question.

1. Fumble and B's ball or snap infraction?

2. Is it different if the ball hits the centers leg, then the ground after the snap is slapped by B?

[txrefcshou]

Originally Posted by MJT

Friendly debate with a guy on my crew. Center starts to snap the ball and the nose guard slaps the ball away from him, it hits the ground and the nose guard fall on it.
Fumble and B's ball or snap infraction?
I know what I feel is right, but want your opinions and rule references also.

Team B delay 5 yards. ncaa

[MJT]

Originally Posted by txrefcshou

Team B delay 5 yards. ncaa

Actually, for NCAA it is defense offside.

I am looking for the NF ruling.

I did edit the first post to add a second part.

[Warrenkicker]

It is possible for situation 1 to be legal and a fumble. The snap may be slow enough or B may have just timed it very well to actually hit the ball during a legal snap without encroaching.

In situation 2 you may want to call an illegal snap when the ball hits the snapper's leg because the outs to keep this from being an illegal snap are that the ball touches a backfield player or the ground before touching a lineman. In this situation the ball hits the snapper's leg prior to touching the ground or a back.

[Samdog]

Tell you what, I run umpire in HS if I see the NG slap the ball my flag will always be for encrouchment!!!!!!!!!!

[Jim D]

NFHS - This is encroachment. Call it that the first time it happens and put a stop to it.