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My paw on the bottom and a Rubio Long Snapper’s (2013) on top. |
At this point, you are either embracing and are having an epiphany (what a great word) or are upset with me since I just demolished your theory. Either way, you are probably saying, “Ok Rubio, so what’s the proper way to hold the ball when snapping? My answer: there really isn’t one.
I pulled up some pictures of several very dominant college and pro Long Snappers. Look hard at them. I want you to notice one thing: not one of them has exactly the same grip and they were all instructed by me at some point. The closer you look, the more you will notice the little differences.
You might see them and say “Come on Rubio, there is barely any difference!” But let me remind you that being a Long Snapper means dealing with a very small surface area (football), any slight adjustment or variation on that area conveys a completely different feel and will result in a completely different outcome (ball trajectory, spiral, placement, etc). Compare it to a car and it’s “area”….just the slightest movement within it and everything feels different (imagine driving from the passenger seat…you could do it, but man would it be different). Now imagine if that car was the size of a football. An inch adjustment would mean you are now driving from the trunk.
Therefore, I am a firm believer in doing what comes natural to you. Hold the ball with your dominant hand the way you would throw a pass like a quarterback. Remember, like I always say, a Long Snapper is just a quarterback that is upside down and going the wrong way? So, go ahead and snap like it that.
What about the non-dominant hand you ask? Well, this one can be a tad trickier. I taught myself and I have my left middle finger right on the seam. Why? It felt comfortable and it was easy for me to remember where to put my hand. Not a lot of scientific reasoning for you on that one. It worked, and I embraced it. Done.
As I have continuously worked with Long Snappers over the past decade I have noticed that many can’t do that grip because of hand size or lack thereof. It seems that most like to embrace a split of the seam between their non-dominant index and middle finger. Hey, whatever floats your boat. I don’t care, just get the ball back there fast and put it on the hip. If you are getting the final product right, why would I adjust you?
Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world. Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be!
In just 12 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 300 Long Snappers earning FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.
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Just woke up with Long Snapping on my mind. Happens quite a bit as you can imagine. Almost always good thoughts and ideas, but every once in awhile something will creep into my dome and upset me. This thought was one that woke me and wouldn’t allow me to fall back asleep with a smile on my face.
I just recently received a message from a parent that one of my Long Snappers has decided to “retire” from Long Snapping. It happens. I know this. Long Snapping is not for everyone. I get it and I completely understand. I would never want someone to do something they are not really happy with in life.
HOWEVER, it drives me crazy when I think back to some of my Long Snappers that have “retired” simply because they were met with a challenge and couldn’t stand up to it. I think back to many that I have had that hung it up and wasted all of their talent as they came to a new bridge to climb over. They didn’t cross the bridge. They got to the edge, looked at it, turned back around and headed for easy street.
Not everything in life worth doing is on easy street. The sooner you figure that out (talking to all of my Long Snappers right now), the better you will be in every aspect of your life.
Things getting a little tougher? Suck it up. You are fine. Whenever I get stuck in a very difficult situation in life I always think of this statement: Am I the first person to be doing this? If the answer is no, then I am pretty darn sure I can do it. And I do! I use that little statement continuously in everything I come across (from playing football, to going through hell week, to graduating, to finding a job, to getting married, to having kids, to having my wisdom teeth removed, to flying for hours at a time, to making deadlines, to simply getting out of bed sometimes).
As some point in your life you need to realize how much talent you really do possess. You need to realize that if someone else can do it, that you also can do it and, for the love of all that is holy, you can do it better. What is stopping you? YOU?! Get up and go. Get it done. Do your drills. Do your homework. Eat your food. Don’t eat your food. Be a human being that people want to respect and hang out with….for good reasons. Enough excuses.
DO NOT WASTE YOUR TALENT! If for any reason alone, you will upset me:) Now go have a great day. Make today better than yesterday. Go!
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Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world. Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be!
In just 12 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 300 Long Snappers earning FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.
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Recently, I have had some conversations through text with some of my college Long Snappers and it brought up a very common problem. Therefore, I shall now spray. See if you can relate…..
Rubio Long Snapper “My head coach comes up to me at spring ball this morning and tells me I do the exact same thing every time before I get set. He said I was like a pitcher. Given it took everything in me not to ask if he would want his pitcher to throw balls or strikes?”
Rubio Long Snapper “My coach told me to do something that I know is completely off from what you have taught me…..help”
Sound familiar? If you have been Long Snapping for more than 18 seconds in your career I can almost guarantee that someone, usually a coach, has spoken to you about your snapping. And, usually, that spray will completely counter what someone with knowledge has told you prior about Long Snapping (you should be nodding your head right now). So, one would wonder, how do I respond to such person?….especially if it is someone that can control my fate a little (playing time, making sure you get a college letter, etc).
Here is what I used to do: nod my head, with respect of course, and pretend they were Charlie Brown’s teacher (remember to click on the blue or you lose a lot of what I am saying here).
I came to the realization early on in my snapping adventure that not many know about the wonderful art of Long Snapping. That is obvious with most any conversation you have with the average Joe. However, I’m smart (given, since I am a Long Snapper) and I knew I didn’t want to disrespect and/or upset the coach that was in charge of who would be starting in the game so I simply nodded and listened to exactly what they were telling me to do. I would even go as far as actually practicing what they told me to do in front of them. Key phrase: in front of them (one must not look like a complete moron at all times while doing some outlandish drill a person of authority thinks will get you better even though they have never snapped a ball a day in their life).
Then, when it was live, I would do exactly as I was properly taught (side note: you remember how I was taught, right) and the ball would zip back there. It was great to watch how happy the coaches were that their method worked (wink, wink)! Shhhh, don’t tell them that you actually really just went back to what was already working or did a new way that I taught you. They will just care that the ball is back into the punter’s/holder’s hands. They will not be able to see the intricacies of the actual snap so don’t over stress about it.
Bottom line, you are going to have to deal with difficult people your entire life and you need to realize how to handle them. They will never go away and it won’t always be about Long Snapping. Trust me, if it was life would be a whole heck of a lot easier.
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Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world. Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be!
In just 12 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 300 Long Snappers earning FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.
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Please note: this is not an actor. He really rolls like this in public! |
Can’t tell what this guy is doing you say? Let me clear it up for you…..he is cutting his nails while everyone is waiting to get on their flights! I really wish I was kidding, but, unfortunately, I am not.
Once again, as was with this guy, I simply couldn’t divert my eyes. I was staring into an eclipse with binoculars on but I didn’t care. This was something that needed to be viewed and analyzed. I was starting to get a little nervous that he would catch me, but then I realized, am I really the one that should be embarrassed? Absolutely not. Therefore, I embraced. This guy is so off with his social norms that he needs to realize how clueless he is. I was hoping he would see me. He did not.
He was so blatant with his clipping (I was approximately seven feet from him acting like a paparazzi and he didn’t bat an eye), it made me really hope it was in the summer. That would have opened up so many opportunities with the obvious sandal option. This cat was at an airport I frequently hit, so I am really pulling to see him in a couple months. Keep your well manicured fingers crossed.
_________________________________________________________________
Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world. Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be!
In just 12 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 300 Long Snappers earning FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.
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One of the hardest habits I have to break on my Long Snappers has absolutely nothing to do with snapping. It has to do with that they/you call me. Like I have said, I am a private football coach that teaches Long Snapping. So, therefore, one would want to call me coach.
Please don’t.
“But Rubio (see how I am already training you here), you are a coach so we should call you coach.” True, but I am out with it.
Here are my reasons…..I won’t just coach you about Long Snapping. Anyone that has spent any time with me knows this for a fact. I make it a point to get to know each and every Long Snapper (and quite often their parents if they embrace) I encounter and my spray of Long Snapping is just a tiny aspect of what I actually do and teach. If you have been with me at a camp, lesson, event, on the phone, through Twitter, whatever and think all I do is coach Long Snapping, you seriously need to have your head examined.
Here are a couple images to show different things that I have taught my Long Snappers:)
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Modeling poses with Drew Ferris (FL) |
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How to be a Harlem Globetrotter |
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How to send out a quality Twitter message with Harrison Elliott (Air Force) |
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How to be a table |
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And who can forget, getting ready for prom with Corey Gibas (Texas A&M) |
Most (not all, but most and this is my point….the bad ones leave a terrible taste in your mouth and I don’t want that stigma associated with me) coaches can coach but they can’t speak. What that means is that many/most coaches know the games in which they are leading but have lost, and choose not to gain, the ability to speak to another person/their player as a human being. Side note: pathetic and sad.
What I like to do, and would have appreciated being done to me, is to treat each and every one of my Long Snappers like they are my own child. That is what I do….always. Is that what a coach will do….not always.
Will I say some outlandish things every once in awhile? Yup. Do I speak like that to Alec, Cruz and Damon? Yup. Will I get in a Long Snapper’s face every once in awhile? When needed, yup. Am I mean or rude about it? Nope. No need to be. I can convey my point with words and not berating or yelling. In my opinion, those that yell and intimidate those that are younger (players on their team) are insecure and essentially really don’t know what they are doing. They need to yell to show their “power” and “dominance” because they can’t do it any other way. I am beyond out with that. (note: not all coaches are like this and if you are solid coach, I respect you and will give you a big hug the next time I see you)
You know that coach you had that did tackling drills all practice long? Guess what, he had no idea what he was doing. When you advance and have good, solid coaches (yes, they do exist and I have had several) you will rarely do tackling drills. Not because you don’t need to know how to tackle, but because you can learn without abusing your body, and often your demeanor and/or mentality, over and over and over again. I am beyond out with that. There is no need for it. How about speaking to the player and simply explaining what you would like them to do? If a coach can’t explain what they want a player to do in great detail and in a way that they (the player) can comprehend, maybe they shouldn’t be coaching.
Getting my point? I’m not saying that all coaches are evil demons that remind you of the Sergeant on Full Metal Jacket, but many are. It is not always their fault. Many have been raised that way in their sporting life, but one would think they would want to break that cycle. God knows I did.
Bottom line: You will have hundreds of coaches in your life, some will be great and some will be bad, but, I promise you this….you will only have one Rubio!
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Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world. Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be!
In just 12 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 300 Long Snappers earning FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.
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When we landed, I tried again to snuggle with the person next to me to make some room for Godzilla’s tail but I couldn’t get out of the way quick enough and was nailed several times. I am not sure if the guy was warming up for a hula-hoop contest or what, but he was spinning like a wild man and connecting with me on each turn. After four of five blows to my grill, I decided to just embrace hoping he would knock me out cold to end the misery. I was literally ducking and diving like a boxer.
Bottom line: you see a person on your travels with monster backpack, get away. You see a person with monster backpack and bag in hand, run for the hills.
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Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world. Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be!
In just 12 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 300 Long Snappers earning FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.
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I can’t sleep. It is 2:24 am and I am pretty much wide awake. Couple reasons: baby on the way (May 23 and I am a thinker so my mind is always rolling on this one), a certain Apple product has peaked my interest, I watched Short Circuit a couple hours ago and was shocked at how bad it/the acting was (I refuse to believe all classic 80’s movies I grew up with are the same way!) and, finally, I am thinking a ton about this weekend’s Nike Spring Camp in CA.
(Side note: thought this was known, but apparently it is not, when you see something in my blogs in blue, like the words Apple product, that means there is a link within that word…click on it for a whole new world of possibilities. Double side note: you might also need to meander back through some past blogs to clear some things up)
This weekend’s camp is the beginning of my spring and summer tour. Think first day of school. I didn’t dread school when I was younger. I enjoyed it. It was easy and I was able to hang out with my friends. Don’t get me wrong, I was not a fan of homework, but rest of it (socializing, etc) made that part worth it for me. This camp is my first day of school…and I am excited.
It is essentially a local camp (I live in Idaho, but travel back to California quite often) for me so there will be a lot of Long Snappers that I know and this won’t be their first rodeo at a Rubio Long Snapping camp. I am very interested to see who steps up. Being comfortable around me is one thing. Performing in front of me is a whole other. The “regulars” know the routine and what I expect. The new guys will not. I would love to see a new Long Snapper come in and just wow me. Love it, but will it happen?
2011 – Obviously, this class is stacked and there will be some key players in CA for this camp. I wonder if Scott Thompson and Tanner Gibas will show their dominance like they did in Vegas at the 9th Annual Event and blow everyone out of the water. Will Den Bleyker be confident and really let the ball fly? Will Longo show me how he has gained weight and prove that UCLA made a great decision in offering him a spot on the team? Will Gibbs stick his chest out, trust his form and let me see his improvement? How about Avila, the kid is built like a rock and is improving by the second.
2012 – This class is starting to really get their identity and it is solid. A lot of movement is going to occur in their rankings during the next nine months through the spring/summer camps and especially Vegas. This camp is their first step in a long journey and they need to start off on the right foot. The group in CA is filled with good Long Snappers…which ones will step up on Sunday and be great?
2013 – Several new sophomore Long Snappers will be attending this camp. Always intrigues me, but can they possibly keep up with some of the already old-timers? Key match-ups to see will be Lizanich (proven dominance), Mazza (up and coming, built like a 20 year old) and Thompson (form is best in class, and I am just waiting on the size to kick in). I am fully expecting a good amount of movement in this class.
Just read this post. Looks like I am putting a bit of pressure on the Long Snappers out in CA. That is not like me at all. I would never play a mind game like that now would I? Of course, being a Long Snapper is a position where one has to be able to handle an immense amount of pressure so maybe I would. Those that know me know the real answer is………
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Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world. Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be!
In just 12 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 300 Long Snappers earning FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.
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How did I get to be me? Who influences me? Who is a part of my everyday life? Kind of odd questions but ones that I think would make me seem a little bit more open to many of you. I am going to open up to you and give you bit of insight on my family. This blog is going to introduce just a couple of these characters to you. I choose to use the word characters instead of people because that is what these people are….characters.
Jolie – My wife. She deserves an entire blog (or better yet, a book), but all I am going to do is show you a picture of the two of us and let your minds go crazy. I may, or may not, come back to her and this story (easily one of the best you will ever hear) later. Trust me, it is amazing. Here is your picture:
Cruz – My oldest son. Full of personality. Excellent athlete. Easiest way to explain him is if you watch the show Modern Family, Cruz is Manny. No doubt. Cruz has the personality of a 25 year old gigolo. I keep telling him he is nine.
Alec – Eight year old son who is an artistic genius, extremely bright, kind and talks louder than anyone I have ever heard. It is almost shocking. He might be an off-spring of Will Ferrell’s character Jacob Silj from Saturday Night Live. I can’t wait until he can work Vegas for me simply to call out names.
The Triplets – Mother (Deb), Aunt Donna and Aunt Leslie
They actually aren’t triplets, or so they say. They are sisters that act and look identical. They wear black EVERY SINGLE DAY of the year. Christmas…check. Weddings…check. Baptisms…check. Funerals…..kidding? They love them. It is like the SuperBowl since they are finally in style. Quick run down:
Mother (Deb) – Often called Deb because, for some reason, she does not respond to mom. I could say mom all day and she wouldn’t hear it one time. I say Deb and she is all of a sudden like the dog from the movie Up when he smells a squirrel. She is the leader of the triplets. She just had one of her knees replaced. Still limps on it. Think she forgot she replaced it. She wears black.
The Debster
Aunt Donna – Easily the nicest person you will ever meet. She won’t say a bad thing about anyone. Literally, someone could be talking about the devil and Aunt Donna would say, “Um, well, he um, at least he looks good in red.” A little absent minded at times (at times = 23 hours and 59 seconds of the day)….adds to her charm, but I guarantee you will never, ever find a nicer person. She wears black.
Aunt Leslie – The funniest of the three. If you ever get a chance to hear her tell a story, usually making fun of the other triplets, you will die laughing. Always loyal. Hilarious. According to her, she has never had a good day….in her entire life. She wears black.
Barb (The Big Queen) – Mother-in-Law. Great listener. Amazing person. Loves to hear a good story and is all about the pulse of the people. Not sure how, but she can watch 15 TV shows per day, TiVo another 20 and watch those too. She pretty much defies science and can bend time.
Dale (The Onion) – Father-in-Law. Nickname is because he has so many layers (well done Marcus J). Doesn’t speak to anyone he doesn’t like….please note: doesn’t talk much:) Absolutely hilarious when he does speak. Shockingly poignant. Doesn’t use real names. Only nicknames. I can’t tell you mine unless you are over 17. I embrace.
Ruth (The Gypsy) – Grandmother-in-law. Nice as can be. Barb’s mother so she can also defy science. Therefore, she is in her mid 80’s but is able to act and looks like she is mid 50’s. Changes outfits on the hour for some reason (jacket you see in photo on the below was immediately taken off and replaced with blue top for a group shot). Has a knack for predicting the predictable. For instance, when we told her Jolie was pregnant, she had no doubt, through her powers, that it would be a boy….or a girl. True story.
Macaw – My grandmother. She is 94. I think. She thinks. Anytime you ask her she bumps it up simply to be the oldest person around. She hates when she is not the oldest. I always try to point out someone that looks older and tell her they are older (I don’t even know the person, just do it to keep her fired up). She then proceeds to hit me with her cane….which she really doesn’t need and only uses it for abusing her grandson…me:) Yet again, I embrace since hitting me with it keeps her spry.
That is all I will do right now. I can do friends next time. The characters go on and on and on….. Hope you have a little better feel of who I am.
_________________________________________________________________
Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world. Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be!
In just 12 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 300 Long Snappers earning FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.
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I work with hundreds of Long Snappers per year and often get asked the question, what makes a Long Snapper great? The answer is something that I should be able to (don’t worry, I can) spray out to someone pretty darn clearly and with the utmost precision for a couple different reasons.
First, I rank Long Snappers for a living on RubioLongSnapping.com so I probably should know what I am talking about and not just go off something like a ball hitting a target. It would be pretty ignorant of me to completely demolish a Long Snapper’s ranking simply because he missed a target by a quarter of an inch (would you punish a quarter back if he was aiming for the center of a receiver’s chest, but was off a quarter inch….didn’t think so). So much goes into the art of Long Snapping, but very few actually know what it entails.
Second, I get asked by coaches of all levels that exact question (what makes a Long Snapper great? in case you already forgot) simply to challenge me. They are actually testing me and want to hear what I say to decide if I actually know what I am talking about. Can you imagine asking a world class chef why his food is so tasty and he responds with “um, well, it is hot and, um just tastes good.” You would not trust him and definitely would not think he knew what he was talking about.
My answer needs to be precise and broken down so the average Joe can understand. For some reason, not everyone is as into Long Snapping as I am so I try to stay away from getting too technical. I know it is pathetic and sad, but it is what it is. I will work on the people I meet and you do the same. Hopefully, sooner than later, enough of us spraying can enable people to see the light and figure out that the “center just doesn’t do the snapping for punts too.”
Those of you on my e-mail list have already received something similar to this, but I thought I might make it even clearer. Here, in my opinion, is what makes a Long Snapper great……
Please note on this video: Gibas is basically trying to kill the person catching the ball. I love this (sorry Mr. Sue) because I ALWAYS teach my Long Snappers to snap the ball through the punter and not to him. Mr. Sue actually looks like he is trying to defend himself. I love it! Sorry, yet again Mr. Sue.The average high school Long Snapper hovers around the 1.0 second region. Most high school coaches don’t care simply because they just want the “ball to get there” (sound familiar to all of in the high school world?). The average college Long Snapper is mid .6s to high .7s.The pros are usually right around the same as college but they just don’t ever miss. They are like machines.
ACCURACY– This is usually the third thing someone notices about a Long Snapper. How accurate are you when snapping. Meaning does the punter/holder have to move around a lot to catch your snaps. Best possible location is the right hip (for a right footed punter). Even though some punters like the ball at their chest, this is actually not that great of a spot since they (punters) have to turn the ball over and, for some reason, they can have troubles with this process. A great Long Snapper is not going to make their punter/holder move. Good way to test this is to have someone catch your snaps from about 15 yards away while sitting in a lawn chair. How many footballs in a row can you snap without making that person move? Five, ten, fifteen, fifty? Anything less than ten and you need some work in my book.
CONSISTENCY– This one is a bit tricky to understand since everyone always tries to lump it in with accuracy. Little bit different since consistency, in my eyes, means the ball staying the same speed the with each and every snap. Basically, you and the punter/holder/kicker are trying to create a rhythm. Given, the whole process starts with the most important person on the team, the Long Snapper. Your snap needs to be a good, consistent tempo at all times. It is very hard for a punter to get a rhythm with a Long Snapper if one snap is a rocket and the other is a floater. If you snap a .75 that is great, but is it like that every time? Varying your time from .7 to .8 is a massive valley to cross and can screw up the timing of everything. It is similar to seeing fast ball, fast ball, fast ball, change up…it would screw you up. Big issues with this category come when a Long Snapper has to snap and block.
Below is a great video for consistency from Rubio Long Snapper Reid Ferguson (2012, GA, now at LSU). When you watch this masterpiece, note how the speed is almost identical on every single snap. It almost looks like one snap, cut and pasted over and over again.
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Yours truly and Nick Boyle Please Note: I am not a small fellow (over 6 ft tall and above two turns on the scale) and Nick is making me look like a child. |
ATHLETICISM– how athletic are you? Can you move down field? Would you be able to divert the punt returner or even tackle him? Are you light on your feet or are you causing the ground to shake…in a bad way? Solid athleticism can really help out a ranking if you are under and over sized. It is not a deal breaker, but man oh man can it help a Long Snapper that is battling against another one in the coach’s eyes.
On that note, I can reflect back on quite a few Long Snappers that are beyond sub-par athletes (think doing a layup, mind you with no one around, and launching it well over the backboard….not even kidding) that are exceptional at Long Snapping.
BLOCKING– how well do you block? “My HS coach does not require me to block” doesn’t fly with me. It shows toughness and coaches will want to know if you can block. You say the school/coach you are getting recruited by does the spread punt….awesome! What happens if/when that coach leaves and the new one wants to see you block since he is doing the pro style? You aren’t going to say “sorry I don’t block” you are going to do exactly what you need to do to get/keep the starting spot.
Blocking is a major selling point for a Long Snapper. You can jump up the rankings very quickly by being able to snap AND block. Like I always say, there are thousands of people that can snap a ball, and there are thousands that can block, but there are very, very few that can actually snap AND block.
Look at this video of Rubio Long Snapper Samuel Rodgers (2011, PA – headed to Syracuse) and how his snap is the exact same (phenomenal) when he is blocking. Such a huge win to be able to do both.
Being a Long Snapper is a difficult position. If it was easy, quarterbacks would do it:) Coaches and I need to see how well you handle pressure and awkward situations. When you are playing in front of 100,000 people are you going to tell them all to shoosh? Nope. Didn’t think so.
When you combine all of these factors with a solid work ethic, you will get a Long Snapper that is simply a juggernaut. See, that is the trick. Finding someone that has all the attributes AND is willing to put in the time and effort. When you mix them all together you will obtain something along the lines of this (turn your volume WAY up so you can fully embrace)…..
To top it all off, and in the Long Snapper way, Christian is a superb human being. Combine it all and you have a Long Snapper that is, well, great.
Told you I could answer the question:)
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Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world. Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be!
In just 12 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 300 Long Snappers earning FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.
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Anyone that knows anything about me knows that I travel….A LOT. I average roughly over 100 segments of flights per year. Delta Airlines loves me. For those non-frequent fliers, a segment is a section of flight between layovers. For instance, if I travel from my home in Lewiston, ID to LSU it will be four segments as I will venture from Lewiston, ID to Salt Lake City, UT to Dallas, TX to Baton Rouge, LA. Bottom line, I get around and, in meandering around the country, I see some interesting characters along the way. This blog is going to be short and talk about one person, unnamed and I don’t know (thankfully or I would have said/say something immediately), that I see. I will say almost 100% of the people I will report on will be from airports. If you haven’t been to an airport lately, I highly recommend it for people watching. They are a reality show waiting to happen. This section will undoubtedly be added to over the year.
If you have been following me on Twitter (well done by the way) you already have read about some of my encounters in my travels. As previously stated, the Rubio Long Snapping blog is going to be like my Twitter – just on steroids. I will obviously be able to go into more detail as I am not limited to 140 characters (max you can put per Twitter message, I know it is called Tweet but I protest that word so don’t expect me to use it ever again. Only reason I used it this time was to clarify. Don’t worry, I just hit myself for going against my own protest and it won’t happen again) and can really spray about the places and, more importantly, the people I see along the way. Hopefully, this blog will be passed around to people you know so they can be educated on how to function in society since it is obviously not a given.
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Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world. Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be!
In just 12 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 300 Long Snappers earning FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.
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YES: Simple and to point. This word for me is used with a ton of gusto and always in an exclamatory fashion. Nothing is needed to follow it and a simple YES! will suffice most of time time. This one started back in the day when Sailer and I were running a camp in PA and ran into my relatives in Pittsburgh. Needless to say, they had a 87 course meal waiting for us and every time they asked him if he wanted something to eat, he simply answered YES! They were astonished and he just kept embracing (see, this time embrace is used differently…hopefully you are grasping the concept now). I will use this a ton after seeing an exceptional snap.
SPRAY: Means talk. You can spray someone with words or knowledge. The trick is to not get sprayed too much. Plane rides can cause a code red for being sprayed since you are trapped and usually can’t get away from the sprayer.
GANDER: Means to look at someone. One can “take a gander at a Long Snapper from a distance”
GLORIOUS: Means really good. Great if you will. Why don’t I just use the word great? Because I don’t want to. “That snap was simply glorious”
FANTASTIC: Means what it means but not a lot of people use it so I chose to embrace it. Try it next time someone asks how you are doing. Respond with fantastic. It really rattles them. On the phone is also a great time to use it. “Hey Rubio, how are you doing today?” “Fantastic, and you?” Given, I try to do it all the time to hear/see the reactions.
SOLDIER: Means a great person. Someone who gets things done immediately. Someone you can trust. “You are a soldier! I can’t believe you finished all of the work so quickly“CAT: Means a guy. I heard a jazz musician spray it once. I embraced. Done. “That kicker is one odd looking cat”
WINNERS AND LOSERS: Another key phrase Sailer and I use. Simple and clears things up for people. In everything, there are winners and losers. Figure that out and life will be just a tad simpler for you. “You lost your prom date to another Long Snapper? Winners and losers my friend”
CAVEMAN: When a Long Snapper is very strong and extremely raw. Basically like a caveman. Tons of potential just don’t know what they are doing…yet. “That kid is a caveman. He is going to be good once he figures out how to do it”
HUGE WIN: Means what it means. A huge win would be having a Long Snapper that is extremely talented AND has fantastic grades.”You just snapped a .68 and have a 4.5 gpa! That is a huge win!” I prefer to really hold the huge for emphasis.
FARM: This one was created by Marcus J (Sailer’s brother). To farm or farming is a long process of doing something. Getting recruited as a Long Snapper is basically like farming. You plant a seed (snap well) and watch your crops grow (recruitment). Sometimes you need to stop the crop (move onto a different school) and sometimes the crop is right for the picking (you found your school). TOP 12ers have a different meaning for farming and you will have to ask them about it.
SPREAD OUT: I love this one. Spread out translates pretty clearly and simply means to move away. People crowd you? Just say spread out. “Alright, alright….you are all too close to me, spread out.” Used it a ton while teaching 6th grade. Originally used in The Three Stooges. It is a phrase that works wonders.
GIVEN: I use this when something is, well, a given. “Are Long Snappers more important then kickers? Given.” As one can see the word is very powerful and needs no partners with it. Easily stands on it’s own like “done” and “yes”
SIDE NOTE: Since I am a Long Snapper, I tend to be a higher level thinker. In being that, my mind works quickly and is all over the place. I will use the phrase side note usually when I am telling a story and then, all of a sudden, another story pops into my head. Instead of simply waiting until the end to spray the sub story I will say, in the middle of the story, “Side note” and then tell the sub story. Then, without hesitation, jump right back into the main story. It can cause confusion, but since I am speaking to mostly Long Snappers I know they handle it:)
Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world. Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be!
In just 12 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 300 Long Snappers earning FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.
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Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world. Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be!In just 12 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 300 Long Snappers earning FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.
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If you are reading this you are either a Long Snapper or someone that is correlated to the glorious art of Long Snapping. You, or the person you are linked with, is going to want to get better and advance. I mean, come on, seriously, who just snaps to snap? You are either trying to get a spot on the bus, become the starter or, like countless people out there, trying to move onto the next level.
Obviously, Long Snapping and the recruitment of Long Snappers has grown immensely (pause while I stick my chest out and sit with pride for a second….ok, that’s good) and it is not just being able to snap a dead animal really fast anymore. You need to know the ins and outs of recruiting. You need to know what it is going to look and feel like. You need to know where you stand. You need to know, essentially, what the process is. Recruiting and being recruited is a monster that can be your best friend or your worst enemy. And, just like many things, the more you know about it, the more you can prepare yourself for what to expect in this process.
Throughout my years of instructing Long Snappers and being involved with countless “recruiting”, I can tell you that it is simply like waves in an ocean. I am very visual person (anyone that has seen me teach can easily attest to this) and this is proven to me to be the best way to explain it. The recruiting process is basically made up of four waves and you will need to see which wave you will ride to the next level. I also find this analogy makes it much easier for everyone to understand the process and relax just a tad. Before I move on, let me clarify that this recruitment article is strictly for Long Snappers. I simply don’t care about other positions or how they are recruited. I care about Long Snappers. Plain and simple.
FIRST WAVE
8th Grade – Signing Day
This wave of recruiting is made up of your freaks….in a good way, of course. Wave one is filled (I will use this term “filled” lightly and you’ll see why in about a minute) with the Long Snappers that are juggernauts. This wave usually will only hold about ten Long Snappers….max. These are the athletes that are beyond ready for the next level about a year prior (think five star Long Snapper by their junior year in high school). These are the kids that are offered and commit early. Very few are within this group. Needless to say, don’t stress if you aren’t riding wave one to the next level.
SECOND WAVE
Signing Day – College Spring Ball (Date varies because they all hold them differently)
This wave usually rolls up with Long Snappers right after signing day. I know how everyone wants to be that guy that they write the articles about and puts the hat on of your school and you sign on that coveted day in February. Snap out of it. It is rare and, like the term’s definition, doesn’t happen often. Just a couple years ago it never happened (pause for chest sticking out again). The Second Wave forms after signing day when a college has offered X amount of “more important” positions (remember reading about a college that has offered four quarterbacks or nine running backs….that is what I am talking about) but then, on signing day, only one, or none of those players commit to their school. Guess what the colleges have now? Full scholarships! This is when a school needs to sit down and think, do they really want to go after the 200th ranked wide receiver in the country or should they go after one of the top ten Long Snappers in the country?
Wave two can also be for those partial late bloomers that did pretty good their senior year of football but did exceptional at my Vegas Event. Doing well there can obviously up your stock very fast.
You ever hear of a kid named Scott Daly? Did you ever stop to think of how he got offered less than 24 hours after Vegas? Hmmmmm. True, he would technically be considered a severe Wave Oner but his experience exemplifies my Vegas point.
THIRD WAVE
College Spring Ball – Mid July
When a college decides that they simply don’t need a Long Snapper for their recruiting class they are banking on one thing: they have a guy on their roster that can handle the job. That is great and they should since my hope is that he is one of my guys anyways. When a college has that one particular guy on campus and he has not played in a game, they will use Spring Ball has one immense tryout for him. They will test him to the limits. They will do a ton punts and pats under massive pressure to ensure their guy is ready for that first game in a few short months. During Spring Ball is when a second string, never played or proven Long Snapper can really make a name for himself….in a good or bad way.
Right after Spring Ball is when the Third Wave Long Snappers will start getting a lot of contact. This is because the school that is contacting them found out their guy they “thought” could do it simply cannot. Now they are essentially behind the eight ball and need to move quickly to fill their spot with a top tier Long Snapper that can go in there and get the job done now. This wave might be the most populated wave for Long Snappers. Schools will go hard after a kid and want him there as soon as possible. I have had kids take a recruiting trip, commit and get to campus to live all in one week.
FOURTH WAVE
About One Week Prior to the Start of College Hell Week
This group could also be called CODE RED! This wave is filled with Long Snappers that will be grabbed up by a college that had an unforeseeable thing happen to their starting Long Snapper. This would include, but is not limited to, not passing enough summer school classes so he is not eligible, married and left, major injury during summer workouts or just flat out told the school he is done with football. I have heard several different stories and the only thing that matters is that the school needs someone and they need them NOW. This wave is not very populated and is usually in severe cases but it definitely can happen.
That is pretty much how I view the recruitment of Long Snappers. The obvious next question is, “Rubio, what if I am not in one of those waves?” The answer is simple, you need to either plan on going to a JC to grow with your body and your snapping or head to a college that you are already admitted to because of course you applied to schools you wanted to attend regardless of what happens with Long Snapping.
Hope this helps and see you soon.
Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Rubio has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the USA Today, Deadspin and countless other publications.
Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world, Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be!
In just 12 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 300 Long Snappers earning FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.
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Rubio – 7th Grade |
Growing up I was always a bit heavy for my age. How big you might ask? Put it this way, elastic and I were very good friends from about second grade on. I was a big kid and a solid athlete. I did well at all sports that involved hand eye coordination and I enjoyed being in charge on teams. Pitcher, point guard, quarterback…those were my positions. I was a big kid and used my weight very well to my advantage.
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Rubio – 11th Grade |
Junior year comes around and I am ready for football. Grew into my body a bit (still much closer to three clicks on the scale then to two but was over six feet tall) and knew what to expect. Plus, I had a niche. I ended up starting at Long Snapper and offensive lineman. I was very average at lineman but solid at Long Snapper. Junior year was finished and I got more and more focused on Long Snapping. I would set up a tire on a tree in my backyard and just let it rain. Remember, I used to be a quarterback and could throw the ball very well. Since I was a one handed snapper, it was the same thing to me as a quarterback. I just happened to me upside and aiming the wrong way. I got down, got set and threw it as hard as I could. I had no idea what I was actually doing, but I could do it and I did it well.
Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world. Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be! In just 12 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 300 Long Snappers earning FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.
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