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SCFOA OFFICIATING EDUCATION SERIES

Rule 7: Snapping, Handling and Passing the Ball

Part 1 of 2 — Before the Snap; Formation, Position, and Numbering

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RULE 7 — PART 1 OF 2

What's in This Deck

Before the Snap

Formation, Position, Numbering, and Action at the Snap

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SECTION

Before the Snap

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SECTION 1 · ART. 1–2

The Snap Itself

The snapper may be over the ball, but his feet must stay behind the neutral zone, and no part of him — other than his hand(s) on the ball — may be beyond the ball's foremost point.
The snapper may lift the ball for lateral rotation, but may NOT rotate it end-for-end, change its location, or fail to keep the ball's long axis at right angles to the line of scrimmage.

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SECTION 1 · ART. 3–4

After Touching the Ball

Following ready-for-play and after touching the ball, the snapper shall not:

Remove both hands from the ball.
Make any movement that simulates a snap.
Fail to clearly pause before the snap.
Lift or move the ball, after adjusting it, other than in a legal snap.

An illegal snap or other snap infraction causes the ball to remain dead.

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SECTION 1 · ART. 5–6

Encroachment

No player other than the snapper may encroach on the neutral zone after ready-for-play — whether by touching the ball, touching an opponent, or being in the neutral zone to give defensive signals.
Once the snapper has placed his hand(s) on the ball, encroachment also occurs if:

Any other player breaks the plane of the neutral zone;
A defensive player makes contact with the ball before the end of the snap; or
A defensive player makes contact with the snapper's hand(s) or arm(s) before he releases the ball.

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SECTION 1 · ART. 7–9

False Start and Disconcerting Acts

After ready-for-play and before the snap begins, no A player may false start. It's a false start if:

A shift or feigned charge simulates action at the snap.
Any act is clearly intended to cause B to encroach.
Any A player between the snapper and his end — after placing a hand near the ground — moves his hand(s) or makes any quick movement.

If a false start causes B to encroach, only the false start is penalized.
No defensive player may use disconcerting acts or words before the snap to interfere with A's signals or movements.

Penalties

Encroachment (Art. 1, 5, 6): 5 yards
Snap infraction (Art. 2, 3): 5 yards
False start (Art. 7): 5 yards
Disconcerting act (Art. 9): 5 yards

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7.1.3

Snap Infraction — Legal or Not?

Snapper's Action Before the Snap	Ruling
(a) Tilts the ball to a 90-degree angle	Legal.
(b) Lifts and pushes the ball forward to make a deep snap	Snap infraction — dead-ball foul.
(c) Rotates the ball end for end	Snap infraction — dead-ball foul.
(d) Removes both hands	Snap infraction — dead-ball foul.

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CASE PLAY — 7.1.5, 7.1.6-E

Encroachment — Before and During the Snap Motion

THE PLAY

(7.1.5) After ready-for-play, but before A has taken any positions on the line, B1 is in or beyond the neutral zone, facing his teammates and giving defensive signals.

(7.1.6-E) Snapper A1 has his hand(s) on the ball. As he begins the snap motion, B1 swipes at the ball trying to dislodge it, touching the snapper's hand or the ball: (a) before the snapper releases it, or (b) after he's released it.

THE RULING

(7.1.5) Encroachment by B1 — being in the neutral zone to give defensive signals is itself the violation, regardless of what else is happening.

(7.1.6-E) (a) is encroachment — repeated attempts could even be ruled unsportsmanlike conduct. (b) is no foul at all — once the ball has been released on the snap, B's contact with the snapper's hand no longer matters.

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CASE PLAY — 7.1.6 SITUATION A

Illegal Formation vs. Encroachment at the Line

THE PLAY

When A comes to the line, the linemen assume final positions such that: (a) five linemen penetrate the plane through the snapper's waistline, while the head of the sixth penetrates the plane through the waistline of his nearest teammate on the line; or (b) one interior lineman has his head penetrating the neutral zone while the other linemen are all penetrating the snapper's waistline plane.

THE RULING

(a) It's illegal formation — a foul simultaneous with the snap. The offended team may take the result of the play or accept the penalty and replay the down.

(b) It's encroachment — any part of a player's body penetrating the neutral zone plane after ready-for-play and after the snapper's hands are on the ball is a dead-ball foul, and the ball is never permitted to become live.

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CASE PLAY — 7.1.6 SITUATION B

When There's No Infraction

THE PLAY

Snapper A1 is positioned over the ball after the ready signal, but hasn't placed his hand(s) on it yet. Either: (a) A2, or (b) B1, breaks the plane of the neutral zone, then both players adjust and get behind it again; or (c) A1 has a hand on the ground and then stands upright to call out a blocking assignment.

THE RULING

No infraction in any of (a), (b), or (c). In (c), the snapper isn't restricted the way other linemen are after placing a hand on or near the ground — he can stand back up to communicate without penalty.

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CASE PLAY — 7.1.6 SITUATION C

Encroachment Timing — Has the Ball Been Marked Ready?

THE PLAY

A1 takes his position over the ball and B1 breaks the plane of the neutral zone: (a) after A1 has placed his hands on the ball following a change of possession, with A starting a new series after the Referee's ready-for-play signal; (b) after A1 has placed his hands on the ball on any down with no change of possession, and the covering official already gave the dead-ball signal after the previous play; or (c) after A1 has placed his hands on the ball following a change of possession, but the Referee has NOT yet given the ready-for-play signal.

THE RULING

In both (a) and (b), the ball had already been declared ready for play, so B1's action is encroachment.

In (c), there's no foul — encroachment restrictions aren't in effect until the Referee actually signals ready-for-play.

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CASE PLAY — 7.1.6 SITUATION D

A Substitute Crossing the Neutral Zone

THE PLAY

After the ready signal, snapper A1 places his hands on the ball and adjusts it, and the rest of the team takes its pre-snap positions. B's coach realizes his team has only 10 players and sends B1 in. Because of where the ball is spotted, B1 enters on A's side of the neutral zone and has to cross through it — but he's onside before the snap.

THE RULING

It's not encroachment for the substitute to cross through the neutral zone — an entering substitute can't encroach until he's established himself as a player on his own team's side of it. If B1 can't get onside before the snap, that's illegal substitution instead (a foul simultaneous with the snap, enforced from the previous spot). The same logic applies to a replaced player leaving the field through the neutral zone.

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CASE PLAY — 7.1.7 SITUATION A

False Start — Drawing an Opponent Across

THE PLAY

A1 is directly behind the snapper, in position to receive the ball. As the count starts, but before the snap: (a) A1 steps backward and fakes a forward pass, drawing B1 across the neutral zone into contact with A2; or (b) A1 quickly withdraws his hands and goes in motion, and B2 reacts by charging across into contact with A3; or (c) A1 lifts the heel of one foot as a signal to start A2 in motion.

THE RULING

(a) and (b) are both false starts — these acts are interpreted as designed to cause an opponent to encroach, and that's exactly what the rule prohibits. Whether B actually took the bait isn't the deciding factor.

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CASE PLAY — 7.1.7 SITUATION B, D

Judging Intent, and a Legal Shift

THE PLAY

(B) Fourth and four. K comes to the line in scrimmage formation. After a few signals, A1 calls "shift," and all 11 players move — some to a new scrimmage-kick formation, while four interior linemen go from hands-on-thighs to upright to a three-point stance.

(D) A has eight players on the line. A1, on the end, shifts to become a back. A2, previously an interior lineman, is now on the end — he rises from his three-point stance and moves 5 yards farther out, then re-sets in a three-point stance.

THE RULING

(B) This COULD be ruled a false start if the covering official determines it was designed to cause B to encroach — judged by whether players actually moved to a new position, the speed and abruptness of the movement, down and distance, and whether anyone simulated action at the snap.

(D) Legal shift. Once A1 moved off the line and became a back, A2 became the new end — and the positional restrictions that applied to him as an interior lineman no longer apply.

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CASE PLAY — 7.1.7 SITUATION C, 7.1.9

Disconcerting Acts

THE PLAY

(7.1.7-C) A is set. While A1 calls signals, B1 starts eight yards back and runs toward the neutral zone, stopping directly in front of A4 without entering it. A4: (a) doesn't move, or (b) flinches.

(7.1.9) B1 calls defensive signals loudly: (a) before A takes its set position; (b) during A1's cadence count; or (c) while A1 is using audibles.

THE RULING

(7.1.7-C) No foul in (a). In (b), A4 committed a dead-ball false start. If the official judges B1's charge was meant to disconcert or hinder A, it's also a foul for a disconcerting act — the whistle should sound before the snap in that case.

(7.1.9) Legal in (a). In (b) and (c), if the official judges B1's loud signals were meant to disconcert or hinder A, it's a foul for a disconcerting act, with the whistle sounding before the snap.

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SECTION

Formation, Position,

Numbering, and Action at the Snap

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SECTION 2 · ART. 1–2

The 9-Yard Marks, and Locking Legs

After ready-for-play, every A player who was in on the previous down, and every substitute for A, must have been momentarily between the 9-yard marks before the snap.
The players on each side of the snapper may lock legs with him.

Any other A lineman must have each foot outside the closest foot of the player next to him at the snap. A's players may stand, crouch, or kneel.

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SECTION 2 · ART. 3–4

Position at the Snap, and the Snap Itself

Of the A players not on their line at the snap, only one may penetrate the plane through his nearest on-the-line teammate's waistline. He must have his hands positioned to receive a snap between the snapper's legs, though he isn't required to actually receive it. Any other such player must be in legal position as a back.
A snap must leave the snapper's hand(s) immediately and touch a back or the ground before touching an A lineman.

A scrimmage down must start with a legal snap — an illegal snap keeps the ball dead.

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SECTION 2 · ART. 5 (CORE)

Numbering Requirements

No more than four A players may be backs, and only one A player may penetrate the vertical plane through his nearest on-the-line teammate's waistline.
At the snap, at least five A players on their line of scrimmage must be numbered 50–79.

EXCEPTIONS

Teammates may not wear identical numbers while participating in the same down
B players may line up anywhere on or behind their line of scrimmage

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SECTION 2 · ART. 5 (SCRIMMAGE-KICK EXCEPTION)

The Numbering Exception for Kick Formations

On 1st, 2nd, or 3rd down, if A sets or shifts into a scrimmage-kick formation, the snapper may wear a number outside 50–79 (0–49 or 80–99) — but then A must still have four other players wearing 50–79 on the line.

That snapper must line up between the ends, and is an ineligible receiver for the down unless B touches the pass first.

On 4th down or a kick try, ANY A player numbered 0–49 or 80–99 may take the spot of a player normally numbered 50–79 — but must start between the ends, and stays an ineligible receiver unless B touches the pass first.

Once the snapper's hands are on the ball, everyone on the line between the ends is ineligible, and stays that way for the down.

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SECTION 2 · ART. 6–8

Set Position, Motion, and Planned Loose Balls

After a huddle or shift, all A players must come to a complete, simultaneous stop — no movement of hands, feet, head, or body — for at least one full second before the snap.
Only one A player may be in motion at the snap, and never toward his opponent's goal line. Unless he's the player under the snapper, he must be at least 5 yards behind the line at the snap if he started from anywhere not clearly in the backfield, or have set as a back for one full second first.
No A player on the line may advance a planned loose ball in the vicinity of the snapper.

Penalties

Illegal formation (Art. 1–3, 5a): 5 yards
Illegal snap (Art. 4): 5 yards
Illegal numbering (Art. 5b, c): 5 yards
Illegal shift (Art. 6): 5 yards · Illegal motion (Art. 7): 5 yards
Planned loose-ball infraction (Art. 8): 5 yards

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CASE PLAY — 7.2.1 — A, C

Illegal Formation — Substitutes and the 9-Yard Marks

THE PLAY

(A) After a second-down play, A89 substitutes for A93, but stops 5 yards from the sideline as his team is ready to snap. After the snap, A89 goes downfield and catches A1's legal forward pass for a first down.

(C) After a second-down play that ends inbounds, the 40-second clock starts. With 35 seconds left, A89 — whether (a) he was in on the previous play and stayed outside the 9-yard marks, or (b) he's a substitute who entered and stayed outside the 9-yard marks — remains there until the snap. With 32 seconds left, the Umpire places the ball and it's marked ready for play.

THE RULING

(A) This is illegal formation — if accepted, the penalty is marked off from the previous spot. Depending on the situation, it could also be illegal participation.

(C) Illegal formation in both (a) and (b), with the same enforcement. After the ball is ready for play, every A player from the previous down and every substitute must have been momentarily between the 9-yard marks before the snap — no exceptions for players who were already in the game.

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CASE PLAY — 7.2.1 SITUATION B

Only Four on the Line, Plus a Personal Foul

THE PLAY

Fourth and 8 from K's 20, K in scrimmage-kick formation. K1 kicks the ball, but at the snap K had only four players on the line of scrimmage. After the play, R1 throws K2 to the ground and swings at him.

THE RULING

These fouls are enforced separately, in order. R may accept the distance penalty from the previous spot and require a re-kick, or accept it from the succeeding spot instead. Then R's dead-ball personal foul is enforced separately (with R1 disqualified), placing the ball 15 yards behind the end of the run.

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CASE PLAY — 7.2.2, 7.2.3 SITUATION A

Locking Legs, and Illegal Position at the Snap

THE PLAY

(7.2.2) After the snap on a kick try, the offensive linemen "step down" and interlock their feet.

(7.2.3-A) After the huddle, A comes to its line. Quarterback A1 is breaking the plane of the snapper's waistline, and slot back A2 also has part of his body breaking the plane of his nearest on-the-line teammate's waistline.

THE RULING

(7.2.2) Legal — but only AFTER the snap. Before the snap, only the linemen next to the snapper are permitted to lock legs with him.

(7.2.3-A) This is illegal formation at the snap. The quarterback may legally break that plane, but no other back is allowed to break the plane of his nearest on-the-line teammate's waistline.

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CASE PLAY — 7.2.3 SITUATION B

Neither on the Line, Nor Clearly a Back

THE PLAY

At the snap, A1 is positioned neither on the line of scrimmage nor clearly in the backfield — neither his head nor foot breaks the plane through the snapper's waist, but he IS penetrating the plane through the waist of his nearest teammate, end A2, who is clearly on the line. When the ball is snapped, both A1 and A2 go downfield, and A1 catches a pass.

THE RULING

A1's position was illegal at the snap. He's an ineligible receiver because he wasn't clearly a back — his advance beyond the neutral zone is illegal, and touching the pass is illegal touching. This is a multiple foul, and B gets to choose which penalty to accept.

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CASE PLAY — 7.2.5 SITUATION A

Numbering Requirements at the Line

THE PLAY

Team A comes to its line with: (a) ends 80 and 71, tackles 70 and 81, guards 60 and 61, and center 50; or (b) ends 80 and 81, guards 72 and 75, tackles 62 and 63, center 50, and one halfback numbered 76.

THE RULING

Both formations are legal — each has five players numbered 50–79 on the line. In (a), the tackle wearing 81 and the end wearing 71 are both ineligible receivers — 81 because of his position, 71 because of his number. In (b), halfback 76 isn't eligible, because of the number he's wearing.

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CASE PLAY — 7.2.5 — B, D

Eligibility After a Shift, and Duplicate Numbers

THE PLAY

(B) Team A sets with five players on its line numbered 50–79, plus two teammates on the same side numbered 89 (inside) and 41 (on the end). Number 41 shifts to the backfield, and Number 32 (opposite side) shifts to that end of the line. A touchdown pass goes to Number 89.

(D) Substitute A1 comes in to replace A2. Both are wearing Number 88.

THE RULING

(B) The touchdown counts. Lining up with an eligible number in the interior line at first doesn't eliminate that player's eligibility once a shift changes the formation.

(D) No violation — unless both players end up participating in the same down at the same time.

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CASE PLAY — 7.2.5 SITUATION C

How Many Players Can Skip Lineman/Back Status?

THE PLAY

Team A lines up with tackles 70/71, guards 60/61, center 50 on the line, a quarterback and three other backs in the backfield, and: (a) ends 80 and 89 on the line; (b) end 80 on the line and no other players on the field besides those listed; (c) end 80 on the line, plus player 89 who meets neither the definition of a back nor a lineman; or (d) players 80 and 89 on the field, both meeting neither definition.

THE RULING

(a) and (b) are legal — five players numbered 50–79 are on the line, there's a minimum of five on the line, and no more than four players meet the definition of a back (including the quarterback).

(c) and (d) are NOT legal — only the quarterback is permitted to be neither a lineman nor a back in this formation. A second such player breaks the rule.

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CASE PLAY — 7.2.5 SITUATION E

The Numbering Exception — Who's Eligible?

THE PLAY

Fourth and 6 from the K20. K lines up with A21 at left end, A34/A66/A25/A64/A86 in the five interior line spots, A11 at right end — all on the line. A10, A20, A5 are in the backfield, with A79 deep as a potential kicker. A25 places his hand on the ball. Before the snap: (a) A20 shifts onto the line to the right of A86/left of A11 and sets for one second; or (b) A11 steps back off the line and A20 shifts to replace him as the end, both setting for a second.

THE RULING

Once A25 places his hands on the ball, everyone between the ends (A34, A66, A25, A64, A86) becomes ineligible for the rest of the down. A79 is ineligible by number.

In (a): A20 becomes ineligible too, since he's "covered up" by A11 on the end. Only A21, A11, A10, and A5 are eligible.

In (b): since A11 stepped off the line first, A20 becomes the new end and IS eligible. A21, A20, A11, A10, and A5 are all eligible.

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CASE PLAY — 7.2.5 SITUATION F

Canceling the Numbering Exception

THE PLAY

Fourth and 6 from A's own 40. A sets in scrimmage-kick formation with Number 83 as an interior lineman, plus four other linemen numbered 50–79. Before the snap, B1 encroaches — the penalty leaves A just 1 yard to go. A now lines up with Number 83 on the END of the line, using substitution to get five interior linemen numbered 50–79. Number 83 goes downfield and catches a touchdown pass.

THE RULING

Legal play. The dead-ball encroachment foul canceled A's use of the numbering exception, freeing Number 83 up to become an eligible receiver on the end. The numbering exception is canceled (or must be renewed) after any dead-ball foul, charged time-out, TV/radio time-out, end of a period, or official's time-out.

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CASE PLAY — 7.2.6 — A, C

Illegal Shift — No Simultaneous Reset

THE PLAY

(A) A comes to the line with quarterback A1 standing behind the snapper. On signal, A2 goes in motion, and only then does A1 move into his final position under the snapper.

(C) After A has been set for more than a second, back A1 goes in motion. While A1 is moving, back A2 takes one step forward and resets. A1 is still in motion when the ball is snapped two seconds after A2 reset.

THE RULING

(A) Illegal shift at the snap — A2 never reset for a full second together with the rest of the team after A1 shifted into position. Motion can't legally begin until all 11 A players have been set simultaneously for at least one second.

(C) Illegal shift. A2's step was itself a shift, and the whole team failed to reset for a full second after that shift and before the snap.

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CASE PLAY — 7.2.6 SITUATION B

Illegal Shift — Not Enough Time to Set

THE PLAY

Backs A1 and A2 simultaneously move to new backfield positions before the snap. In less than one second after both are stationary: (a) A3 goes in motion and is still moving at the snap; or (b) the ball is simply snapped.

THE RULING

Illegal shift in BOTH (a) and (b). After a huddle or a shift, all 11 A players must come to a complete stop and remain stationary, simultaneously, for at least one full second before the snap OR before any player goes in motion.

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CASE PLAY — 7.2.7

Illegal Motion vs. Illegal Shift — the Quarterback's Timing

THE PLAY

The quarterback signals his teammates to set while standing upright behind the center. He then steps forward and places his hands under the center to receive the snap: (a) at the instant the snap is made; (b) after being motionless, but before one second has elapsed; (c) after being motionless for a full second; or (d) after being motionless for a full second, but while stepping backward with one foot as the snap happens.

THE RULING

(a) Illegal motion. (b) Illegal shift. (c) Legal. (d) Legal — unless a teammate is ALSO in motion at the snap.

If the quarterback simply drops his hands under the snapper without stepping forward first, that's a shift, not motion.

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CASE PLAY — 7.2.8

Planned Loose Ball

THE PLAY

Between downs, quarterback A1 tells the Referee — via a prearranged confidential signal — that A will run a trick play involving a planned loose ball on the next down. (a) Snapper A2 doesn't release the ball, and guard A3 takes it and advances; or (b) A1 takes the snap and places the ball on the ground, and guard A3 (who has legally turned to face his own goal line) scoops it up and advances; or (c) A1 takes the snap and hands the ball to guard A3, who has legally turned to face his own goal line.

THE RULING

(a) is a snap-infraction dead-ball foul, whether or not the Referee was told in advance.

(b) is an illegal planned loose-ball play — even advance notice to the Referee doesn't make it legal.

(c) is a legal play — handing the ball (rather than leaving it on the ground) to a properly turned teammate is permitted. In every case, the Referee should tell A1 immediately that a planned loose-ball play isn't legal, to try to prevent the foul before it happens.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

Rule 7, Part 1 — Recap

Encroachment and false start are separate concepts with separate triggers — encroachment is about illegal presence in the neutral zone; false start is about simulating action to draw B across. If a false start causes encroachment, only the false start is penalized.

The snapper gets unique privileges (standing up to call a blocking assignment, adjusting position before touching the ball) that other linemen don't — restrictions only fully kick in once his hands are on the ball.

Illegal formation and encroachment often look similar at the line, but the distinguishing factor is usually WHO moved and WHEN relative to the snap — formation problems exist before the snap; encroachment is about the neutral zone specifically.

The numbering exception for scrimmage-kick formations is powerful but fragile — any dead-ball foul, time-out, or end of period cancels it and requires it to be re-established.

A shift requires the whole team to reset together for a full second — partial resets, or one player still moving while others are set, both create an illegal shift.

Only one player may be in motion at the snap, and never toward his own opponent's goal line — motion toward the sideline or backward is fine; motion forward is not.