Long Snapping Tips from Ethan Albright
Long snappers rarely receive accolades, but one errant snap can garner plenty of grief and guilt. "Trust me, if I make a mistake—whether it’s in the first or fourth quarter of a game, or even at practice—I’ve got two coaches and six players yelling at me to get it right," says Washington Redskins long snapper Ethan Albright.
"To avoid bad snaps, I constantly work on my technique at practice," he says. "I take my job very seriously, because many games come down to a last-second field goal or the ability to get off a punt to end a game," says Albright, who was rewarded with a spot at the 2008 Pro Bowl.
Most snapping techniques are universal, but below, the 13-year NFL veteran shares his expertise, offering some of the finer points that can improve your skill. Read his advice and practice your technique; your reward might come in the form of a D-I scholarship.
Pro Bowl Technique/Grip [for right-handers]
• Grip the ball’s laces like a QB, with your right hand
• Place your left hand directly on top of the ball as a guide hand
• Use a shoulder-width stance for punts. For field goals and extra points, widen your stance and drop your hips to get lower to handle the rush from D-linemen
• Keep your head down the entire time, focusing on the target. Ball control and location are more important than anything
• Get a pre-snap read on the defense, then have a teammate call out any formation shifts when your head is down
• Avoid trying to guide the ball during follow-through, which leads to erratic snaps
• Hit the punter between his thighs and chest; on FGs/ XPs, aim for holders raised hand
Mastering Albright’s Art
• Start refining your longsnapping skills early. Continue playing other positions, but great long snappers can attract attention from colleges-even if you’re slightly undersized or a hair too slow for D-I
• Practice, practice, practice so snapping becomes second nature
• Performing special wrist exercises or using a weighted ball are unnecessary. At practice, just grab the punter/holder and pump out perfect repetitions
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
MOST POPULAR
Long Snapping Tips from Ethan Albright
Long snappers rarely receive accolades, but one errant snap can garner plenty of grief and guilt. "Trust me, if I make a mistake—whether it’s in the first or fourth quarter of a game, or even at practice—I’ve got two coaches and six players yelling at me to get it right," says Washington Redskins long snapper Ethan Albright.
"To avoid bad snaps, I constantly work on my technique at practice," he says. "I take my job very seriously, because many games come down to a last-second field goal or the ability to get off a punt to end a game," says Albright, who was rewarded with a spot at the 2008 Pro Bowl.
Most snapping techniques are universal, but below, the 13-year NFL veteran shares his expertise, offering some of the finer points that can improve your skill. Read his advice and practice your technique; your reward might come in the form of a D-I scholarship.
Pro Bowl Technique/Grip [for right-handers]
• Grip the ball’s laces like a QB, with your right hand
• Place your left hand directly on top of the ball as a guide hand
• Use a shoulder-width stance for punts. For field goals and extra points, widen your stance and drop your hips to get lower to handle the rush from D-linemen
• Keep your head down the entire time, focusing on the target. Ball control and location are more important than anything
• Get a pre-snap read on the defense, then have a teammate call out any formation shifts when your head is down
• Avoid trying to guide the ball during follow-through, which leads to erratic snaps
• Hit the punter between his thighs and chest; on FGs/ XPs, aim for holders raised hand
Mastering Albright’s Art
• Start refining your longsnapping skills early. Continue playing other positions, but great long snappers can attract attention from colleges-even if you’re slightly undersized or a hair too slow for D-I
• Practice, practice, practice so snapping becomes second nature
• Performing special wrist exercises or using a weighted ball are unnecessary. At practice, just grab the punter/holder and pump out perfect repetitions