Slapping the Snap

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Agree. In theory: possible to slap the snap legally. In practice: always encroachment.

I don't think so. In children's football there can be big differences in quickness of players, and you could easily have slow snapper and fast opponent; and at all levels there can be a tell that allows the defense to time a snap exactly.

I'd ask Big John what other live ball actions are forbidden to team B once the ball is moved. Are they forbidden to enter the neutral zone until the snap ends? If not, are they forbidden to start their run forward before the snap begins? On a play where the snap is slung out far to one side, are they forbidden to try to intercept the snap? If they're forbidden to try to go thru the snapper to get to the QB, can the QB hold the ball under the snapper's crotch for a period while his receivers go downfield, secure in the knowledge that the defense can't knock the ball away while it's under the snapper's body, and can't shove the snapper into the QB?