ENRUES
All penalties

Roughing the snapper

Penalty: Special teams

What it is

A defender makes illegal contact with the long snapper while he is in a vulnerable position right after snapping the ball on a kick.

The penalty

The penalty is 15 yards, plus an automatic first down. The penalty is enforced from the spot of the foul, and the kicking team gets a first down.

More detail

The rule exists because a long snapper has his head down and cannot see the rush as he snaps the ball.

Animated play

101020203030404050504040303020201010END ZONEEND ZONEXXXXXHits the snapper right after the snapRoughing the snapper15 yards, plus a first downAutomatic first downThe long snapper sends the ball back.A rusher hits him while he is still defenseless.

Blue circles are the team with the ball. X marks the other team. The yellow oval is the ball.

  1. The long snapper snaps the ball back to the punter. For a moment his head is down and he cannot see the rush.
  2. A defender makes illegal contact with him right after the snap.
  3. The officials flag roughing the snapper: fifteen yards and an automatic first down for the kicking team.