Slapping the Snap

[bigjohn]

BS, to slap the snap B has to act before the actual start of the snap. Slapping at the snap is just like doing handsprings! it is not real football and is a disconcerting act and should be penalized!

The scrimmage has to begin with a legal snap! Any act by B to prevent or delay that is illegal by rule and intent!

My Rules Book says this. You know it is not a Rulebook, right?

[wisref2]

Originally Posted by bigjohn

The scrimmage has to begin with a legal snap! Any act by B to prevent or delay that is illegal by rule and intent!

A legal forward pass must go forward - so if B does anything to prevent or delay that from happening would be pass interference.

Slapping the snap requires B to start moving before the ball is snapped. So does a blitz - so a blitz is illegal motion by the defense.

A touchdown requires the ball to break the plane of the goal line. Anything by B to prevent or delay this is an unfair act.

Boy - this game sure is a lot more complicated with this new rule book!

[bigjohn]

ART. 1 . . . A snap is the legal act of passing or handing the ball backward from
its position on the ground.
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.
ART. 3 . . . The snap ends when the ball touches the ground or any player.

[tomes1978]

Originally Posted by bigjohn

ART. 1 . . . A snap is the legal act of passing or handing the ball backward from
its position on the ground.
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.
ART. 3 . . . The snap ends when the ball touches the ground or any player.

Exactly right, it does not say how long a snap is. It begins when the snapper first legally move the ball and ends when it hits the ground or another player. Does it say another A player? No it says any player.

[bigjohn]

Here is a play from Redding's NFHS Football Rules. "

Example 3-19 After the ready, all Team A players are set. As A53 snaps the ball, B72 reaches in and knocks the ball away. RULING: The umpire must decide whether the snap was illegal or B72 encroached.

It is highly unlikely the preceding example could occur without a foul. In practicality, for a defensive player to knock the ball away, either the snapper would have to hesitate after lifting the ball making the snap illegal and thus allowing the opponent enough time to touch the ball, or the Team B player would have to put his hand into the neutral zone before the snap."

[bigjohn]

We need an EDIT!

ART. 3 . . . The snap ends when the ball touches the ground or any player.


should read,

ART. 3 . . . The snap ends when the ball touches the ground or any A player.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by bigjohn

ART. 3 . . . The snap ends when the ball touches the ground or any player.

ANY player, knucklehead. Not just the QB or even just the offense.

[bigjohn]

Namecalling is unnecessary, I am saying it should be changed to say only A player makes it a legal snap. It would fix it for those who can't see that it is an illegal snap.

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by bigjohn

Namecalling is unnecessary, I am saying it should be changed to say only A player makes it a legal snap. It would fix it for those who can't see that it is an illegal snap.

I see where you are going but let's say the ball was snapped over the punter's head and the first person to get to it was a B/R player. By your definition you would have an illegal snap.

[bigjohn]

well then it has hit the ground so it is a legal snap.

[Altor]

Originally Posted by bigjohn

Namecalling is unnecessary, I am saying it should be changed to say only A player makes it a legal snap. It would fix it for those who can't see that it is an illegal snap.

I had the privilege(?) of watching a team earlier in the year that had a snapper that tended to "hang" the snap in the air when in the shotgun formation. Additionally, the rest of the line was pathetic and there was often a DL wrapping up the QB just as he was receiving the snap.

At least a couple times, the DL could have taken the snap from the air if he had played the ball instead of the QB. With your rule change, when would the snap end if this were to happen? Or is it encroachment or an illegal snap?

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Altor

I had the privilege(?) of watching a team earlier in the year that had a snapper that tended to "hang" the snap in the air when in the shotgun formation. Additionally, the rest of the line was pathetic and there was often a DL wrapping up the QB just as he was receiving the snap.

At least a couple times, the DL could have taken the snap from the air if he had played the ball instead of the QB. With your rule change, when would the snap end if this were to happen? Or is it encroachment or an illegal snap?

You don't have to go that far to find a snap that could be intercepted. There are swinging gate plays where the ball is snapped far out to one side. I recommend stationing a player opposite its path to give the defense at least a shot at an interception, forcing them to alter their formation to adjust.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by bigjohn

Namecalling is unnecessary, I am saying it should be changed to say only A player makes it a legal snap. It would fix it for those who can't see that it is an illegal snap.

OK - I apologize for the namecalling.

But wait, let me understand...

You are saying that the rule should be changed, in order to fix it for those who are currently only going by what the book SAYS as opposed to what you WANT it to say...

Um ... ... ok.