Holder (gridiron football)
In gridiron football, the holder is the player who receives the snap from the long snapper during field goal or extra point attempts made by the placekicker. The holder is set on one knee seven yards behind the line-of-scrimmage. Before the play begins, he places the hand which is closest to the placekicker on the ground in a location designated by the kicker's foot, with his forward hand ready to receive the snap. After receiving the snap, the holder will place the football on the turf, or block, ideally with the laces facing the uprights and the ball accurately placed where the backhand was initially, then balancing the ball with one or two fingers until the ball is kicked.
Jake Schum of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers holding for a field goal attempt in 2015.
Mitch Berger as a holder with the snap on the way
San Francisco 49ers kicker Joe Nedney prepares to kick an extra point with punter Andy Lee as the holder, 2008
Chicago Bears punter Brad Maynard (#4) holds for placekicker Robbie Gould.
In gridiron football, the long snapper is a center on special teams whose duty is to snap the football over a longer distance, typically around 15 yards during punts, and 7–8 yards during field goals and conversion attempts.
A long snapper (91, foreground) practicing field goal snaps with his position coach (background)
In the traditional or "cup" punt formation, the long snapper is the center of the interior line (#58 in blue)
Traditional field goal formation with the long snapper in the center