FOOTBALL PLAYER'S HANDS IN ANOTHER'S CROTCH ?!?

Question

Why does a football player (I think it's the quarterback) put his hands behind another player's rearend and between that same player's crotch? I think it's called "a snap". . . .but what's the POINT to it ?

Answer 1

its technically on his asss but they do it to get the ball to him safely it is only done in certain plays sometimes they throw it back to him. and also the whold defense is trying to kill the c**p out of the quarter back so the closer he is to the guy the more protected he is.

Answer 2

That's how the play starts.  The ball is on the ground and the center must snap the ball (basically pick it up and hand it to the QB through his legs).  Without the snap there is no play.  They could do a shotgun where the QB is back farther but it doesn't work as well for some plays.

Answer 3

they put there hand trough and take the other persons shirt and it just makes the in rugby its called a scrum dunno bout america but there tighter together and more grip so they dont fall away

Answer 4

It's been part of the rules since the beginning that a lineman (typically the center) has hand or pass the ball backward to a back (typically the quarterback) to start a play unless it's a kickoff.  That is defined as a snap.

The lineman has to have his shoulders parallel to the line of scrimmage and be facing his opponents goal line.  The snap has to be a continuous backward motion.  There is no mention of where the back receiving the ball has to be or even that the ball must go between the legs of the center.  There are even some plays that the snap does not.  However, coaches long ago figured out the best way to complete a snap was to have the players line up as you described.

If it makes you feel any better, the quarterback has the back of his hand on the center's crotch, not his palm.

Answer 5

One of the worst places to drop (fumble) a football is at the "snap". All the opposing team are right there to pick it up.

So in order to make sure that that don't happen the quarterback places his hands in a yawning position up against the centers rear si when the ball is snapped the center can safely deliver it to the quarterback without the danger of dropping it by having to guess where the quarterback's hands are.  

Answer 6

It's a North American mating ritual.