DC-THANK YOU!CENTER/QB EXCHANGE

Coach:

I agree with everything DC says here. Obviously age can make a difference with younger kids tougher to teach the technique.

A ccommon remark from the QB is "what happens if he farts while my hand is in there? This gets a big laugh from the other team members close by.

The QB should have his middle finger (bird finger) down the seam of the center's pants to make the left-rigth alignment correct. Then his hand should be inserted deep enough so that the knuckle of the middle finger of the hand against the center's butt is actually on the butt hole of the center. Or, put another way, if the QB had a wrist watch on, the hand would be deep enough fopr the watch to be against the center's butt.

Some coaches have the QB force their wrists together so that the off hand fingers are pointed straight down. This is a very awkward position. Instead, do as DC suggests and have the QB place the off hand thumb over and on top of the hand up against the QB's butt. Then the QB can swing that open hand out and away from the top hand.

As the ball is snapped (as the QB calles the snap count and he feels the center begin the snap, he should push with the back of his top hand and "ride" the center as he moves forward. His elbows should have some bend in them to begin with (unless you subscribe to the Wyatt theory, and I don't). As the centeR begins the snap the QB pushes with his top hand, extends his elbows and brings the bottom hand under the ball, all in the same motion.

Another commom mistake I see QBs of all ages make, is that they try to play the position with their feet TOO WIDE APART. Their feet should be no wider than their hips. QBs are asked to pivot, open step, step deep, drop back, etc. etc. It all comes easier if their feet are closer, rather than wider apart.