Starting With a Snap
ARTICLE 1.
a. The ball shall be put in play by a legal snap unless the rules provide for a legal free kick.
b. No player shall put the ball in play before it is ready for play (Rule 4-1-4).
PENALTY [a-b]—Dead-ball foul. Five yards from the succeeding spot [S7 and S19].
Approved Ruling 4-1-4 I. Snapper A1 snaps the ball before the ball is made ready for play. A2 muffs the snap and B1 recovers the ball. RULING: Dead-ball foul, Team A delay of game. Penalty—Five yards from the succeeding spot, Team A’s ball. The ball does not become alive, and all action should be stopped immediately by the game officials.
Approved Ruling 4-1-4 II. Kicker A1 kicks off before the referee has declared the ball ready for play. RULING: Dead-ball foul. Penalty—Five yards from the succeeding spot. The ball does not become alive, and all action should be stopped immediately by the game officials.
c. The ball may not be snapped in a side zone (Rule 2-31-6). If the starting point for any scrimmage down is in a side zone, the ball shall be transferred to the hash mark.
