What is a snap in football?

In American football, a snap is the action of the center (player on the offensive line) passing the ball between his legs to the quarterback to start a play. The snap usually takes place at the start of each offensive play and the quarterback can either receive the snap under center (directly behind the center) or in the shotgun formation (a few yards behind the center).

There are different types of snaps in football, including the traditional hand-to-hand snap, the shotgun snap (where the ball is snapped to the quarterback in the shotgun formation), and the direct snap to a player other than the quarterback (such as a running back or wide receiver). The snap is a crucial part of the offensive play as it initiates the play and determines the timing of the play's execution.

The snap is considered a fundamental skill in football and centers spend a significant amount of time practicing their snapping technique to ensure accuracy and consistency. A bad snap can disrupt the timing of a play and potentially lead to turnovers or negative yardage.