Editing Snap (gridiron football) (section)

==Action==
{{more citations needed section|date=January 2023}}
[[File:Yost positions.jpg|thumb|Illustration showing positions of the men just before the ball is passed]]
The ball begins on the ground with its long axis parallel to the sidelines of the field, its ends marking each team's [[line of scrimmage]] in [[American football]]; in [[Canadian football]], the line of scrimmage of the team without the ball is 1 yard past their side of the ball.  The player snapping the ball (known officially as the "snapper" in rule books) delivers the ball to another player, and that action is the snap.  The snapper may hand, throw, or even roll the ball to the other player.  The snap must be a quick and continuous movement of the ball by one or both hands of the snapper, and the ball must leave the snapper's hands. The various rules codes have additional requirements, all of which have the effect of requiring the ball to go backward. The snapper almost always passes the ball between his legs, but only in Canadian football is that required.

In the standard [[Formation (American football)|gridiron football formation]], the [[center (gridiron football)|center/centre]] is the snapper and is situated in the middle of the line of scrimmage. Only in [[arena football]] is the center required by rule to be the snapper. In other codes, a [[guard (gridiron football)|guard]], [[offensive tackle|tackle]], [[running back]],<ref>[https://nypost.com/2023/01/22/cowboys-season-ends-with-ezekiel-elliot-at-center-on-final-play/ Cowboys' season ends with Ezekiel Elliott at center on bizarre final play]</ref> [[tight end]] or [[wide receiver|split end]] can legally deliver the snap; such scenarios, known as an ''unbalanced line'', are seldom used outside of [[trick play]]s and novelties.

[[Image:2005PoinsettaBowl-Navy-Snap.jpg|thumb|left|Exchange of the snap between the center's legs]]
For a handed snap, the snapper will usually have his head up, facing opponents.  For a thrown snap, especially in formations wherein the ball may be snapped to players in different positions, the snapper will commonly [[wikt:bend over|bend over]] looking between his legs.  Because of the vulnerability of a player in such a position, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Federation of State High School Associations ("Fed") have adopted rules providing that if a player is positioned at least seven yards behind the [[Neutral zone (gridiron football)|neutral zone]] to receive a snap, opponents are not to deliberately contact the snapper until one second after the snap (NCAA), or until the snapper has a chance to react (Fed).  However, in professional football it is common for a center to be able to practice a single [[Shotgun formation|"shotgun" formation]] thrown snap enough to keep his head up and toss it blindly.

A snap is considered a backward pass, therefore if the ball is snapped and it hits the ground without any player gaining control of the ball the play is ruled as a fumble.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/rulebook/pdfs/11_Rule8_ForwardPass_BackPass_Fumble.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021002520/http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/rulebook/pdfs/11_Rule8_ForwardPass_BackPass_Fumble.pdf |archive-date=2012-10-21 |url-status=live|title=Rule 8 Forward Pass, Backward Pass, Fumble|website=NFL|access-date=3 February 2020}}</ref>