Swinging gate play

[clearwall]

Does any part of this sound illegal or improper to anyone? Had this last night in a JV game and not sure what was supposed to be the correct call.

Swinging gate after TD. 5 linemen, 3 backs were on the left side of the field. Snapper brings the ball ~20 degrees backward and throws an underhand pass across to the left side of the field. Ball bounces and is picked up by one of the backs who runs it in.

What's the ruling on this? Legal? I know the ruled clearly state that the snap does not have to be between the legs as long as it is continuously backward and his shoulders are parallel to the end line. I also see a rule that no snap can occur in a side zone, but does that just apply to where the snap begins as opposed to where it ends? Help would be appreciated.

[bossman72]

As long as the movement was continuous, sounds ok to me.  Would probably have to see it

[TXMike]

How was the snapper standing?

[clearwall]

Unfortunately, I think that's why we blew it. I don't think R ever signaled RFP, I was trying to set the down box and thought the snap came directly to a QBS who threw the ball forward, so when it landed I blew it incomplete forward pass. It was at halftime when the R told me what really happened.

As a side comment, we asked the coach pre-game if he had and special plays and his response was, 'well, we do run a shovel pass.' That was it. After R told me what had happened on the swinging gate, I made the comment that if the coach was upset at us missing the call on it(which he was) THAT play ought to be part of th answer when asked about special plays. 

[clearwall]

How was the snapper standing?

I admitted above that I didn't see the whole play, but from what I am told, legally. I did ask that question because I remember that Oregon(?) play a few yrs back where the snapper was sideways.

[Roscoe]

This sounds pretty legal to me. But alas, I would have to see it.