USA Football Rules Editor Bill LeMonnier is a former college referee who currently serves as an ESPN NCAA rules analyst. Click here to ask Bill a question. Make sure to put “Ask the Official” in the subject line.

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There is no 5-yard “chuck” rule in youth or high school football, but can a defender just hit a receiver in the middle of a route if that receiver is making no effort to block?

As long as the receiver is between the ball and the defender, contact can be made by the defender. Once the receiver is on the same yard line as the defender or beyond the defender then the contact can become illegal. In most cases this would become a defensive holding foul.

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Officials from our local NFHS association claim it is illegal for the snapper to remove one hand from the ball after adjustment. I asked for the rule, but they couldn't give one. I have read the rule, and it only states it is a foul for the snapper to remove “both”0 hands. Whenever it is illegal to do something with one hand it is printed as “hand(s).” What is your opinion?

Everything in the National Federation of State High School Associations rule book refers to the plural: “hands,” so if the center puts both hands on the ball, adjusts it and then takes one hand off, I say it's legal unless he does something that simulates a snap.

Personally, I wouldn't call it if both hands came off the ball as long as it doesn’t simulate a snap. It's too nit-picky a call. Officials who call this and then miss a big defensive pass interference or targeting call are missing the point. Get the alligators, not the crickets.