LONG SNAPPING MADE EASY

The secret to success in anything is fundamentals. Every good team is fundamentally sound in all phases: offense, defense, and specialty . So, I will tell you the secrets I have found for being fundamentally sound in your pursuit for success, on special teams starting with the snap of the ball. How many times have you participated in a game, or seen a game that was decided by one mistake, well I have seen it on all levels of competition, even the professional. So here is some of the things that helps my snappers train, prepare, and learn the "Art Of Snapping."

Approach:
1. Approach the ball and set the feet (a little wider than shoulder width)
2. Look back at your target through the legs (punter)
3. Assume the proper stance (look between the legs to your target)
4. Load the hips (coil your self down to the ball)

Stance:
1. Place feet a slightly farther than shoulder width. (Not too wide)
2. Toes pointed in and heels slightly out.
3. Knees pointed Straight forward, with flat back.
4. Bend at the hip, knee's, and ankle's (power angles)

Hand Placement:

If the laces are up, take your left hand on back tip of the ball and spin the ball until laces are facing the ground.

1. Slide your dominate (spiral) hand under the ball on to the laces.
2. place your opposite (guide) hand on the middle seam of the football.
3. The guide hand is on top of the balls middle seam. (He may have better results with this hand placed anywhere from middle to the back tip.)ol>

   You as a coach will need to watch the variation of the snap to determine your snapper's guide hand placement. Your pads of the fingers should rest on the ball. Hold the ball loose but firm.

The Snap:
1. You should be far enough away from the ball that your arms are stretched and partly bent at elbows.
2. As you look back you should be able to see the punter's shoe strings. (If you see his shoes you know where your landmark is.)
3. As you begin to snap the hips should be rotating backwards toward the target.
4. The spiral and guide hand should stay stationary during the hip slide.
5. the bent knees should extend quickly and smoothly.
6. the ball should skim the tops of the grass tips.
7. The arms should still be extended and swinging like a pendulum through the legs.

Follow through:
1. The hips still rotating but creating force in the knee, ankle, and hip joint.
2. The feet should accelerate backwards towards your target and should slide 2-4 inches from starting point.
3. The arms still extended come through the legs to the release point.
4. The whip of the e hips snaps the elbows and the hands straight to unwind.
5. When you hit release point the fingertips roll off the ball creating a spiral.
6. The feet stop and the hips are forcefully surged toward the target.
7. The hands should end with thumbs up and forefinger pointing at your target.
8. You should end the snap in a good sturdy stance ready to receive a blow and play football.

Drills:
1. Throw back and forth ten yards apart overhand working on a good spiral, with the position of the spiral hand on the ball.
2. Put the ball by your side in an under hand position,(standing erect), and flip to your partner about ten yards. (Focusing on many revolutions)
3. Hold the ball as you were to throw a pass, bring in front of body and turn the ball so you can see the middle inseam of the back of the ball.

   *Place your guide hand on the middle inseam(find the spot that suits your snap.

   *Keeping hands placed on the ball bring over head to 12 O'clock.

   *With your feet pointed at your target, snap to partner. (End with thumbs pointed down and forefinger pointing at target)

4. After they are comfortable with this motion have them whip the ball to their partner.
5. Place the ball in front of you and assume the approach, stance, hand placement, snap, and follow through to the partner (standing 10 yards away) concentrate on a spiral with many revolutions of the ball)
6. At home you can have the athletes lie down on the floor and snap the ball into the air. This will help the athletes see how they are doing on their own.

Keys:
1. Make sure that the hips go back to the target. If the hips rotate back they will either go up or back. You can keep this in check by consistent reinforcement.
2. Ritual! I use this with my athletes for the consistency of a snap. I relay to them that to be consistent they must do everything they do the same every time. From the approach to follow through.
3. I tell my snapper's that the game is one or lost on a couple of big plays, "Every play you touch the ball is a big play."