LONG SNAPPING
FRED GUIDICI
650-670-0777
fredguidici64@yahoo.com
“DON’T SING IT, BRING IT”
THE LONG SNAP IS A QUICK POWER MOVE THAT USES THE ENTIRE BODY:
LEGS, HIPS, BACK AND THE ARMS ALL AT ONCE!
KEY: CONSISTENCY
FOUR MAIN INGREDIENTS TO GOOD SNAPPING
GOOD FORM LEADS TO GOOD SNAPPING HIPS AND LEGS DRIVE FOR
POWER THE ARMS, HIPS AND LEGS WORK SIMULTANEOUSLY, NOT ONE AT A
TIME. FOLLOW THRU AND FINISH DETERMINE WHERE THE BALL GOES.
WARM-UP
1) Standing Upper Body Stretches
1. One arm overhead
2. Cross body
3. Behind back
4. Circles
2) Seated Lower Body Stretches
1. Butterflies
2. Spread legs: grab ground
3) Play One Hand Catch
4) 2 Hand Overhead Rotation (Standing and/or Kneeling)
5) Hand Slaps
6) Hip Flexion
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STANCE (“THE LEGS EXPLODE LIKE COILED SPRINGS”)
Feet should be evenly positioned slightly wider than shoulder width. (No stagger)
Wide enough to allow proper follow through of elbows. If feet are too wide = no hip
flexion.
Legs should be bowed slightly at knees. (Sitting on a horse)
Bend at knees no more than 90 degrees. Too much bend can prevent setting up
consistently and cause inaccurate snapping. Locked knees can result in injury,
cause you to finish on your heals and prevent you from using your hips and legs
effectively.
Back is level and neck is bowed. Legs are flexed in a power position and hips are
set to drive to target.
Weight distributed evenly in stance on the balls of your feet. Too much weight either
forward or backward will make you vulnerable to the rush and ineffective as a
blocker. You should be able to pick up the ball in your stance
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Roll your shoulders forward so your pads slide up for better range of motion,
more distance and velocity.
Snap hand is extended but the elbow is not locked out. Ball should be close
enough to be cocked 10 to15 degrees.
Elevation of Butt: Punt: A little higher than shoulders.
PAT/FG: A little lower than shoulders.
HAND PLACEMENT
SNAP HAND: Grip the ball with your dominant hand with enough to apply
pressure in the same manner
used to throw the football. Grip for a good crisp release. (Fingers should be
on the laces). When looking
for potential snappers, look for a guy that can throw the football.
Roll wrist around the football (for a good spin) that the laces are down and
the seam is opposite the laces is facing you.
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GUIDE HAND
Place the middle or the index finger of other hand on the opposite seam of the
laces. The advantage getting that finger on that seam is for increased rotation
with a tighter spiral. Spread the thumb and other fingertips on the rest of the
ball for maximum control and accuracy.
Ball Tilt
Punt Snappers: Nose up for more wrist action, more velocity and strength
PAT/FG Snappers: Flatter, less wrist, more revolution
BALL RELEASE & FOLLOW THROUGH OF HANDS
With the wrists properly cocked around the ball, you should get a spiral when
released with the correct follow through of the hands.
The arms accelerate the ball. Throw the ball normally and push the guide hand
through to the target.
As the ball is pulled through rotate the palms outward with thumbs pointing up at
the completion reaching as far as possible.
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HIPS:
DRIVE THE BODY AND THE BALL BACK ON A LEVEL PLAIN TOWARDS THE
TARGET.
Most of the velocity in long snapping is a result of hip and lower back flexion. It
helps channel the whole body’s power into the snap and in the right direction.
To begin the motion of the snap, the hips are contracted moving the buttocks down
and in slightly from the position the hips explode backward providing the immediate
impetus to the ball. This must be instantaneously in order to keep the rushers from
timing their jump.
As the hips explode backwards the arms will move simultaneously to
accommodate the major muscle group of the snap.
The total explosive effort of the snap should cause the center to slide backward a
few inches each time.
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EXECUTION OF THE LONG SNAP
Always address the ball as you would in a game. Place the ball on the ground
each time with the laces up. Move briskly to the ball. Align feet properly. Adjust
laces of ball and grip it properly without picking it up.
Sight your target. Look between legs and pick out the punters hip on his kicking
leg. Glance back up to the check the alignment of the return team. Glance back
down and sight target one more time. Listen for the “READY” call to snap ball.
Change up snap, don’t let rush team time it up
Release: Pull arms through and flex hips simultaneously. Accentuate follow
through toward target. Make sure you rotate palms outward and thumbs finish
pointing straight up in the air as you release the ball.
Punt Snappers:
Pop head up after ball is released and slide backward to the side called for
protection. If not in protection, throw hands out wide and get big for a count and
release in your coverage lane.
PAT/FG Snappers:
Pop head up after release, get big and brace up against rush. Stay balanced!
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DRILL
2 HAND OVERHEAD ROTATION
Can be done standing or kneeling preferred for better isolation. With proper 2
hand placement on ball.
Stand 5 to 10 yards apart and through ball back and forth concentrating on a
tight spiral. Accelerate hands down always finishing with thumbs pointing down
on the follow through with the hands framing the target.
DRILL
HIP FLEXION
Spread feet proper width apart and grasp ball correctly. Bend from the waist and
hold ball with arms extended but not touching ground. Ball should be suspended
below your eyes. Look between your legs and sight your target standing 10 feet
away. Flex hips and execute proper release and follow through. This drill forces
snapper to use his hip flexors and lower back muscles to propel ball. Aim at hip
with constant follow through to help accuracy.
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DRILL
TIMED SNAPS
PUNTS: Always work at a distance with heels of the punter at 14 to 15 yards. Work
for a time of .8 to .9 or better, aiming for punters kicking hip. (Have punter align
kicking hip with the ball)
PAT/FG: Always work at a distance with the holder at 7 to 8 yards for a time from
snap to kick at 1.35 seconds or better. On this snap always accentuate rotation of
the ball rather than speed. It makes for an easier ball to hold. (Aiming point is
holder’s hands over the spot of the kick)
DRILL
CONSECUTIVE SNAPS
Can be used for Punt or PAT/FG. Place 3 ball in different spots on the field. On
coach’s command, the snapper runs and executes 3 perfect Punt or PAT/FG
snaps. Strive for perfection each time. This drill forces total concentration by the
snapper when he is mentally and physically fatigued.
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DRILL
LAST SECOND FIELD GOAL
Put the snapper, holder and kicker on the sideline. The coach will count out
the last few seconds of the half or the game. The snapper, holder and kicker
sprint to a spot on the field, forcing the snapper to set up quickly and get the
perfect snap off before time expires.
DRILL
HURRY UP PUNT
Put the snapper, personal protector and punter on the sideline. On coach’s
command run the snapper, personal protector and punter onto the field for a
quick snap count. This forces the snapper to set up quickly, get the perfect
snap off and set up to block.
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TROUBLE SHOOTING TIPS
BALL OVER PUNTERS HEAD:
Snapper needs to drop butt lower and follow through with hands to punters hip.
Everything moves backward not up.
BALL SKIPS ON GROUND:
Check follow through for early release or elbows hit thighs (short arming).
BALL TO RIGHT/LEFT:
Check alignment of center to make sure he is square. Right or Left hand
dominate on release or adjust leg away from snapper hand.
BALL WOBBLES:
Roll wrist under ball for more revolutions and check for thumbs up on follow
through with thumbs not flat.
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TRICKS FOR SNAPPERS
1. Look up 2 or 3 times (sharply on the last one)
2. Flex fingers on the ball (pre-snap grip)
3. Flex the forearms
4.Tip the ball up or down before the snap.
REMINDERS
• Snap with pads.
• Snap and take hits.
• Snap and block your man or zone.
• Non-Rhythmic.
• Snap for consistent times.
• Develop 3 snappers
ADDITIONAL DRILLS
• Medicine Ball (off season)
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SUMMARY
The function of a long snapper is crucial to the success of every punt and
PAT/FG. Every snap must be accurate and on time to prevent the kick from
being blocked. Constant practice with a stopwatch is the only way to
insure success in this area. Mediocrity will result in rushed kicks and
ultimately, poor efficiency.
Make sure each snapper understands the importance of his job. Allow
sufficient practice time for him to warm-up properly and practice the
different snaps he will need to make. Try to simulate live conditions during
practice to check the timing of the kicks. This is a SKILL that must be
practiced. If you develop your snappers properly and they reach the
proper level of proficiency, it makes game day a lot more relaxing for the
special teams coach.
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