Is a Center Sneak Legal in Football or Just a Clever Loophole?

What Even Is a Center Sneak?

If you’re here, you’ve probably seen one of those sneaky plays where the center grabs the ball and just... bolts forward. No handoff, no QB, just the center doing his thing. It's wild to watch — and yeah, it throws defenses completely off. But wait, is it even legal? Or is it one of those "yeah-but-no" situations the refs will whistle dead the moment it happens?

Let’s unpack it, step by step. And fair warning, it’s not as black and white as you'd think.

The basic move: center keeps the ball

In a standard snap, the center transfers the ball to the quarterback, shotgun or under center. But in a center sneak, the center never gives it up. He just picks it up and runs. Kinda cheeky, right?

It’s rare — and borderline insane — but it’s been tried in high school games, even once or twice in college scrimmages. The play's legality depends a lot on the timing and who’s “set” before the snap.

Is a center sneak legal in the NFL?

Short answer: no, not really

According to the NFL rulebook, the ball must be snapped in a quick and continuous motion to a player behind the line of scrimmage. So yeah, technically, the center cannot just pick it up and carry it himself. That would be considered an illegal snap.

Also, under Rule 7, Section 3, the snap must go to a back — meaning someone who isn’t on the line of scrimmage. Since the center is on the line, he can’t legally become a runner the second he snaps the ball to himself.

So, in the NFL? Nope. Illegal. Refs would blow that dead real fast.

But wait, it’s not always enforced?

Okay okay — so here's a weird bit. In super chaotic goal-line plays, especially with QB sneaks or “tush push” formations, there’s a massive pile and sometimes the ball’s origin isn’t crystal clear. It’s possible a center could sneak in a few inches without refs noticing. But if they do? 5-yard penalty, play erased. Risky move.

What about college and high school football?

College: mostly illegal, but grayish area

Under NCAA rules, the ball must also be snapped backward to an eligible back. That excludes the center from keeping it. But in rare situations — like trick plays or muddle huddles — teams have tried to disguise the center as an eligible receiver, and then pitch the ball back to him. Totally different play, though.

High school: depends on the state, weirdly

Here’s where it gets funky. High school football rules are governed by state associations or the NFHS, and while the general rule is similar (the snap must go to a back), some refs in certain games have allowed center sneaks if executed quickly and cleanly.

I actually saw one live back in 2017 — small-town Texas, Friday night game, and boom — center just grabbed the ball and went 5 yards untouched. The crowd went nuts. The refs? They just looked confused and let it stand. (Honestly, they probably didn’t see it clearly.)

What happens if a center sneak is attempted anyway?

Best case: 2-yard gain and no one notices

Worst case? 5-yard penalty for illegal snap, play blown dead. Maybe a turnover if the center fumbles trying to get fancy. It’s risky as hell, especially in professional or televised games where officials are watching everything like hawks.

Also, if the defense realizes what’s happening? Oof. The center’s not exactly built for breakaway speed. Dude might get pancaked mid-sneak.

So... genius move or just dumb?

Honestly? Bit of both. It’s clever as a gimmick — like something you pull off once in your career just to say you did it. But it's also super risky and more likely to get flagged than to succeed.

Would I recommend it? Nah. Unless you're playing backyard ball with no refs and want to flex on your cousins.

But hey — football’s a game of surprises. And if one day you see a center dash 6 yards into the end zone, just know: it might be illegal, but it’s definitely unforgettable.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.