coaching a shotgun center

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Originally posted by: Coach Campbell
aiming point is the belt buckle of the quarterback. We are 90% gun and I ask our center to get his but lower than parallel so that the ball doesn't rise on the snap. Center will snap and hold the ball as if he is thrown it with his fingers around the kaces. Coach CAmpbell

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Is it a dead snap or does he spiral the ball? Shift wrist or does he snap the wrist? Thanks!

DC79,

You want the ball in a good tight spiral! I run a 3x2 spread with the QBat 6-8 yds deep in an empty gun.
I teach splitting the hands of the QB who has his hands in front of his numbers, as an aiming point. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL TO YOUR SUCCESS ( THE SNAP) BECAUSE AN ERRANT SNAP CAN GET YOU IN BIG TROUBLE REAL QUICK! On my team the centrs get as much attention as the QB's! Make certain they go through their warmup progressioin well in preparation for any practice, scrimmage or game!

Coach Easton

the most important part about teaching the gun snap is the stance. butt too high, the ball sails, but to low, it wobbles around on the ground. have him squat down so that his quads are parallel to the ground. then simply have him "throw" it back to the quarterback, just like he would if he was facing him. release point is also critical to this. when a center is snapping for a punt, he releases at the knee, but when he is gun snapping, he should release a little lower than at the knee. i would normally say mid-calf, but every center releases the ball differently so whatever gets him a nice spiral right to the chest of the QB is good. although taking an aiming point is good, don't start off by telling him that, i've found that it tends to confuse some guys because they worry too much about it. just tell him to throw it back. if the ball isn't going where you want it, then pick an aiming point just above or just below where you want it, depending on where his initial snaps went.

the drills i use for gun are the same ones i use for deep-snapping. stiff-armed throw standing facing your target. under-hand throw like a softball pitch also facing your target this will help your center get the feel of how the ball will come out, then the backwards toss (face away from your target. raise the ball to eye level and then fire it back releasing at about hip level.) and finally full snaps at about 6-9 yards. these are just basic drills and info to get you started. this works well for me no matter where i try to teach it. hope it helps. if you have any questions coach just hit me up here and i'll help you out any way that i can.

Sparkey,

I always have my centers go through a progression of snaps that consists of the ball directly over their heads and spiraled properly to the QB (10 reps) at 15 yds for long snappers, 6-8 yds for gun snapper.

We follow those 10 reps with 10 reps to the side with arms at 90 degree angle from the body.
we finish with 10 reps from the regular snapping position. Just my way, but it has always been sufficient for us.

Coach Easton

I believe that the most important aspect of the shotgun snap is not the butt, spiral, or the drive the arm. I feel that the center must never break his wrist as the most important concept and the second is keeping the butt down.