Snapping the football for center position

Video of snapping football

Stance for "snapping"

Stance: feet are a few inches slightly farther than shoulder width apart.

Shoulder Joint: No movement of  muscles, Isometric.

Shoulder Girdle: No movement of muscles, Isometric.

Elbow:

     Right: neutral, isometric

     Left:neutral, isometric

Radioulnar joints: 

     Right: neutral, isometric

     Left: neutral isometric

Wrist and Hand:
     Right: Neutral, Isometric
     Left: Neutral, Isometric

Prepatory phase for "snapping"

Prepatory phase: squat down with straight back and leaning forward, with one hand on the ball to grip it (other hand may rest on thigh).

Shoulder Joint: flexion, with anterior deltoid and upper pectoralis major muscles, Concentric.

Shoulder Girdle: Elevation/upward rotation, with levator scapulae, serratus anterior, upper and middle trapezius, and rhomboid muscles, Concentric.

Elbow:

     Right: extended, with the tricep brachi muscles, eccentric

     Left:flexed, with brachialis muscle, concentric

Radioulnar joints: 

     Right: pronation, with pronator teres, concentric

     Left: pronation, with pronator teres, concentric

Wrist and Hand:
     Right:  Flexion/Abduction of wrist, with flexor carpi radialis, concentric 
                Flexion of fingers, with flexor pollicis longus and flexor digitorum superificialis, concentric
     Left:   wrist and fingers are neutral
    

Movement phase for "snapping"

Movement:  bring ball between legs while bringing hand holding ball off ground so ball leaves ground.

Shoulder Joint: Extension, latissimus dorsi, teres major, lower pectoralis major, posterior deltiod muscles, concentric.

Shoulder Girdle: Depression/downward rotation, pectoralis minor and lower trapezius muscles, concentric.

Elbow:

     Right: extended, with triceps brachii,  eccentric

     Left:flexed, with brachialis, concentric

Radioulnar joints: 

     Right: pronation, with pronator teres, concentric

     Left: pronation with pronator teres, concentric

Wrist and Hand:
     Right:  Flexion/Abduction of wrist, with flexor carpi radialis, concentric 
                Flexion of fingers, with flexor pollicis longus and flexor digitorum superificialis, concentric
     Left:   wrist and fingers are neutral

Follow through phase of "snapping"

Follow through: while ball goes between legs leaving the ground, a turning of the wrist outwards (pronation) releasing the ball into the quarterbacks hands once ball is off the ground.

Shoulder Joint: partial internal rotation with latissimus dorsi, teres major, pectoralis major, and subscapularis muscles, concentric.

Shoulder Girdle: Abduction, serratus anterior and pectoralis minor muscles, concentric.

Elbow:

     Right: extended,with triceps brachii,  eccentric

     Left:flexed,with brachialis, concentric

Radioulnar joints: 

     Right: pronation, with pronator teres,concentric

     Left: pronation with pronator teres, concentric

Wrist and Hand:
     Right:  Flexion/Abduction of wrist, with flexor carpi radialis, concentric 
                Flexion of fingers, with flexor pollicis longus and flexor digitorum superificialis, concentric
     Left:   wrist and fingers are neutral

Recovery for "snapping"

Recovery: Remain in squat position with both elbows bent ready to block defensive players.

Shoulder joint: flexion, anterior deltiod and upper pectoralis major muscles, concentric.

Shoulder girdle: Elevation/upward rotation, levator scapulae, serratus anterior, upper and middle trapezius, and rhomboid muscles, concentric.

Elbow:

     Right: flexed, with brachialis and biceps brachii, concentric

     Left:flexed, with brachialis and biceps brachii,  concentric

Radioulnar joints: 

     Right:supinated from previous position, with supinator, concentric

     Left: supinated from previous position with supinator, concentric

Wrist and Hand:
     Right:  Abduction of wrist, with flexor carpi radialis, concentric 
               partial flexion of fingers, with flexor pollicis longus and flexor digitorum superificialis, concentric
     Left:   Abduction of wrist, with flexor carpi radialis, concentric                 
               partial flexion of fingers, with flexor pollicis longus and flexor digitorum superificialis, concentric

Terminology for "Snapping" as well as Exercises that enhance the performance

Center: an offensive player that starts off with the ball and usually snaps the ball to the quarterback followed by blocking defensive players from tackling the offensive ball carrier.

Quarterback: offensive player that scores points by taking snap from center and usually hands ball off to a running back or wide receiver, passing it to a wide receiver or running back, or runs the ball himself.


Snap: quick continuous movement of the football by one or two hands of snapper(for punting) or center (for offense) off of the line of scrimmage.

EXERCISES THAT ENHANCE SNAPPING
Weighted squatting.  With the bent knee squat position, all of the leg, hip, and back muscles are in constant contraction when in the center's stance phase.  Squatting with weight resistance allow proper conditioning for the weight that centers carry from the football padding required.  This will also strengthen their body for the rigorous game for the blocking that is required from the centers.

     For proper form:
     1) Have back straight at all times
     2) Try to have knees behind toes to avoid knee injuries
     3) When in the last phase of the squat (phase 4 in image above) keep thigh parallel to the floor