Final answer:
It is false that a player can legally conserve time by intentionally spiking the ball immediately after receiving the snap from the shotgun position to stop the clock without penalty.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to a scenario in American football where a player is positioned directly behind the snapper (center) and whether it is legal for that player to intentionally throw the ball forward to the ground immediately after receiving a clean snap. The answer to this question is false. According to the rules of American football, an intentional forward throw to the ground by a quarterback immediately after receiving the snap is considered a legal forward pass, only if it is done to avoid a sack in the form of a spike. However, if the purpose of the action is to conserve time (stop the clock), it must be done with the quarterback under center, and at least one second must run off the clock. Directly spiking the ball from a shotgun formation specifically to stop the clock is not allowed. When a player does this without the threat of being sacked, and without the clock running for at least one second, it is considered intentional grounding, a penalty which results in a loss of down and yardage. Therefore, a player cannot legally conserve time in this manner without fulfilling certain conditions.