A snap infraction is a procedural penalty in football that is called when a player doesnt follow the procedural rules of the game. Specifically, a snap infraction occurs when the center moves the football before the snap but after the offensive linemen have already set up. Only the center can be called for a snap infraction, which is one of the unique aspects of this penalty. The center is allowed to move the ball and position it to his liking prior to getting set, but once the team is set, the ball cant be moved without being penalized. The penalty for committing a snap infraction is a loss of five yards from the line of scrimmage. The snap infraction is similar to a false start because its a deceptive play thats meant to draw the defense offsides. Defensive linemen will be looking in toward the center when they get set in their stance. If they see the center move the football, they will assume he is snapping the ball and will likely burst out of their stance to try to get a step ahead of the offensive linemen. The snap infraction prevents the center from moving the ball to fake defensive linemen into thinking hes snapping the ball.