A LONG SNAPPER’S ability to snap the ball back to the holder and punter is his No. 1 priority. The snap must be done with speed, accuracy and good technique.
The snapper must practice 15 to 30 minutes a day to master the fundamentals and skills of being a snapper. The snapping workout should be divided into two phases.
1 Individual Drills With A Partner. This should be a daily routine prior to actual snapping practice.
2 Snapping Drills. Repetitive snapping to a holder, punter or stationary target.
Stretch Routine
It’s important that your snappers thoroughly stretch before they begin snapping. Key muscle areas to work are the groin, hamstrings, arms, lower back, shoulders and wrists. Finish the stretching routine with the clock stretch.
DIAGRAM 1: Clock Stretch. This stretch starts with the snapper spreading his feet as wide as possible and with his back flat, knees slightly bent, arms extended out in front of his body and the hands together. Start at twelve o’clock and go clockwise, then repeat counter clockwise. Have your snappers touch both hands at each number of the clock during the rotation.
Snapping Progression
To master the proper technique for long snapping, your snapper should begin the learning process through a step-by-step progression.
Step 1: Stance. The most important aspect of long snapping is a comfortable stance. He must point his toes straight ahead with feet parallel and his weight equally distributed on the big toes and heels.
The distance between the snapper’s feet should be no wider than his shoulders. It is important to have a solid base, which allows him to lower his body to the ground. This creates a solid foundation to operate from.
The snapper’s back should be flat with knees bent, forming a Z in the knees (bend as needed for comfort). His weight must be equally distributed between the insteps of his feet, ankles, knees and hips.
Next, the snapper should lay his stomach on the thighs for support. His goal is to have complete movement of his arms through his lower body, without losing balance or body control.
Step 2: Hand Placement. The snapper should extend both arms directly in front of his shoulders and place them on the football. The bottom tip of the ball should be aligned directly under his chin.
Have the snapper place his dominant hand (the “power hand”) on the laces of the ball, similar to how a QB grips the football. The off hand is the “guide hand” and is placed on the middle of the ball opposite the power hand. The middle finger should be aligned parallel to the seam of the ball, pressing the palm into the ball and forcing it into the power hand.
The snapper rolls and cocks the power hand, forming a slight bend in the wrist, turning the laces of the ball toward the ground.
Power-Hand Placement
Have your snapper repeat the following grips to execute proper power-hand placement.
DIAGRAM 2: Power-Hand
Placement. For placement of the power hand on the ball, the snapper must always:
- Place the first knuckle of the index finger across the seam of the ball.
- Place the middle finger and ring knuckles between the 2nd and 3rd laces of the ball, keeping them close together.
- Place the little finger across the bottom seam of the ball.
- Place the thumb around the ball, forming a natural V with the index finger and thumb.
Guide-Hand Placement
For placement of the guide hand on the ball, the snapper must:
DIAGRAM 3: Guide-Hand Placement.
- Place the middle finger down the seam of the ball. Coaching Point: The height of the middle finger on the seam helps determine elevation of the flight of the ball.
- Place the index and ring finger on the ball, keeping them close to the middle finger.
- Line up the thumb and little finger straight across from each other for balance and a straight release.
- At the start of the snapping action, press the palm of the hand into the ball. This does three things:
1. Forces the ball into the power hand.
2. Assists in the cocking action of the power hand.
3. Puts pressure on the ball for a tight spiral.
Step 3: Arm Position. As the snapper grips the ball, he should favor the right leg with the ball if he’s right handed and favor the left leg with the ball if he’s left handed. He rolls and cocks the ball a half turn pointing the knuckles and laces of the power hand and ball into the ground while keeping the ball flat on the ground, with the nose slightly tilted up.
The guide-hand arm must be straight (elbow not bent). The arm of the power hand will be extended out in front of the body as far as possible with a slight bend in the elbow.
It’s important not to put a lot of weight on the football. When ready to deliver the snap, the snapper pushes the palm of the guide hand into the ball, forcing the ball into the power hand. Now he’s ready to fire a snap!
Step 4: Snapping Motion. The snap is made with the arms, wrists and hands moving in a continuous motion. As the snap is made, both the snapper’s hands and arms follow through directly at the target, with both hands snapping through the legs as far as possible. Do not let the arms and hands spread after the snap. Snapping is strictly all arms and wrists.
After the follow through, the snapper should snap his head up, set back off the LOS and “get big” to protect his area, then hustle to his coverage assignment.
Individual Drills
Under-Hand Pass Drill. This drill helps your snapper develop strength in the wrist of the power hand and learn to control the ball from the grip to the spiral with accuracy.
The snapper and a passing partner should stand facing one another at a distance of 8 to 10 yards with the feet shoulder-width apart. Both players must execute an under-hand pass without taking a step toward their partner. Both players should concentrate on accuracy, speed, throwing a tight spiral and follow through. Have them perform 15 to 20 repetitions.
One-Hand Pass Drill. This drill emphasizes proper hand position of the power hand, which keeps the ball from wobbling. The snapper and a partner stand 8 to 10 yards apart with the feet shoulder-width apart. They pass the ball back and forth without stepping, emphasizing accuracy, a tight spiral and speed of the ball to the target. Have them perform 15 to 20 reps.
Follow-Through Snap Drill. The purpose of this drill is to emphasize the importance of follow through and wrist snap. The snapper addresses the ball on air in the pre-snap position. His partner is 1-yard deep behind the snapper in a QB position with his palms facing downward and extended outward beneath the snapper’s tail.
Have your player start a snapping motion with the hands and arms executing follow through. Both the guide hand and power hand must snap through the legs as far as possible, slapping his partner’s palms that are placed behind him.
After maximum follow through, the snapper should snap his head up. Do 15 to 20 reps in rapid progression.
Live Snap Drill. Have the snapper snap to his partner or a stationary target, starting at a depth of 10 yards and working up to a depth of 14 yards.
The snap must be done with accuracy, good technique and speed. It’s very important for the snapper not to hitch or telegraph the delivery of the snap or change his rhythm.
The snapper must focus on his target and stress proper technique to develop the accuracy, consistency and speed of every snap.
Remember, practice for success — part-time snapping equals failure.
Long-Snapping Tips
The following are general snapping tips that your players need to remember on each and every snap.
- Approach the ball separately each time the long snapper snaps in practice situations. Make sure that he always resets his feet.
- Make sure the long snapper varies the rhythms he uses when snapping the ball so that opponents can’t “zero in” on his snapping motion and rhythm.
- The long snapper must throw strikes. His landmark is inside the punter’s kicking hip or kicking-leg thigh board.
- Never aim the ball on snaps. Snap every time with good technique, speed, accuracy and follow through.
- The long snapper should strive to get the ball back in 0.7 to 0.8 tenths of a second. The risk of getting a punt blocked goes up for each tenth of a second beyond 0.9!
- The elapsed time (combined snap and punt get off time) should include the snapper getting the ball back in 0.7 to 0.8 tenths of a second and your punter getting it off in 1.2 to 1.3 seconds. Total get-off time should be 2 seconds.
- During a long-snapper’s routine, he must set his feet and emphasize spring in the knees with his weight centered on the insteps. He must look at the target before placing his hands on the ball.
- The snapper must approach the ball with everything in line at high noon with his body and the ball. He must have a correct grip, with the wrist cocked and back flat. He should pre-cock his hips on the pre-snap and eliminate any hitches.
The long snap is all arms, hips, concentration and focus! The snapper must re-set his feet after each snap and repeat the routine. Practice and hard work can turn an average long snapper into a special teams’ weapon.