At Gridiron Football, a fumbled snap gets placed back at the original spot of the snap and results in a loss of down.  

Fumbled Snaps


  • Play is whistled dead immediately upon the ball hitting the ground.  
    • There is no exception for time or if the Quarterback can pick up the ball right away
  • Ball is then replaced at original point of snap and down is changed to the next down
  • In the event that the ball goes over the head of the defender and lands in the end zone, this play would not result in a safety.  It is a dead ball and would return to the original spot.  

Scenarios:


  1. 1st Down - Ball is on the 5 yard line and the QB drops the snap from under center.  Play is whistled dead once ball hits the ground.  Ball will be placed at the 5 yard line.  It will then be 2nd down.
  2. 2nd Down - Ball is on the 5 yard line and QB lines up in shot gun.  The shot gun snap misses the quarter back and lands at the 1 yard line.  Play is whistled dead once it hits the ground and will be placed at the 5 yard line.  It will then be 3rd down.  
  3. 3rd Down - Ball is on the 5 yard line with the QB lined up in a Shot Gun snap position.  Ball goes over the QB's head and lands in the end zone.  
    1. This is not counted as a safety as the team never had possession of the ball.  
    2. Another reason we don't count this as a safety is that all teams start at the 5 yard line and it is very easy to snap a ball over a head.
Please note that rules may differ slightly at each local location.