Rules question (1 Viewer)

[Dickie Dunn]

Does anyone know what the purpose is for the single sideline stick that is held on the yard line where a drive originates?

I figure maybe this was useful in the days before drives were conveniently charted, but why is it still used in 2007?

 

[analog_hiss]

Does anyone know what the purpose is for the single sideline stick that is held on the yard line where a drive originates?I figure maybe this was useful in the days before drives were conveniently charted, but why is it still used in 2007?

Two sets of stick, and I believe the rule book calls them "the line to gain indicator" and "the down indicator box." The down indicator reports the current down and is placed to indicate the current line of scrimmage.The down indicator box used to be four sided, but now they just use the two sided panel. The guy that holds that stick is still called the box man.Ultimately, the game is controlled by the refs, and the people charting the drives record what the refs report. The actual sticks on the field help the players and the officials.

 

[guderian]

I think he's talking about the drive start marker.

 

[rundave]

It is pretty funny really. They place the drive start marker at the proper place on the sideline, then they trot the ten-yard chain out to measure for a first down. Why couldn't they just place the first-down marker at the proper place ten yards downfield and trot out that marker to measure for a first down? It is probably because ten yards on the sideline yardage markers (paint) isn't (wasn't) always ten yards, but the chain is.

 

[Stinkin Ref]

I think it is for statistical purposes and to help people announcing the game rememebr where the drive started.....

" Its's 3rd down and 8, this is the 12th play of the drive that started at (announcer looks back down field) at the 23 yard line."

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

It is pretty funny really. They place the drive start marker at the proper place on the sideline, then they trot the ten-yard chain out to measure for a first down. Why couldn't they just place the first-down marker at the proper place ten yards downfield and trot out that marker to measure for a first down?

Because "the proper place ten yards downfield" is often on something like the 34.2816 yard line. How the heck do you find that spot on the field?You can do it with the chain, because you can match up a particular link to the 30 yard line (instead of the 34.2816 yard line), and that spot is easy to find on the field.

 

[Rounders]

I have been waiting for technology to improve the old chains. I have to believe that we are close to using lasers and other forms of technology to completly make measuring first downs, identifing two feet in bounds, and other close plays with 100% certainty. Maybe the fields and football should have sensors and once the ball crosses the plain, it's offical????

Am I thinking about football in 2020?

 

[videoguy505]

I have been waiting for technology to improve the old chains. I have to believe that we are close to using lasers and other forms of technology to completly make measuring first downs, identifing two feet in bounds, and other close plays with 100% certainty. Maybe the fields and football should have sensors and once the ball crosses the plain, it's offical????Am I thinking about football in 2020?

Always thought they should do this. Start with more cameras at better angles for instant replay... four cameras at each corner shooting north/south straight along the sideline from the goal line to the 50. So then it would be easy to tell in/out of bounds. Two more cameras aimed straight along the goal line east/west, so we could see breaking the plane. Throw in two of those funky microchips FOX used to put in the hockey puck inside the football--one at each focus of the oval--and the goal line cam could easily tell if a player crossed the plane or not. Would solve a lot of replay problems and they'd get the call right more often. A lot of the trouble with 2D replays is no depth perception, by forcing the cameras to shoot on 90 degree angles, that shortcoming would be eliminated as depth becomes irrelevant.

 

[brettdj]

I have been waiting for technology to improve the old chains. I have to believe that we are close to using lasers and other forms of technology to completly make measuring first downs, identifing two feet in bounds, and other close plays with 100% certainty. Maybe the fields and football should have sensors and once the ball crosses the plain, it's offical????Am I thinking about football in 2020?

Always thought they should do this. Start with more cameras at better angles for instant replay... four cameras at each corner shooting north/south straight along the sideline from the goal line to the 50. So then it would be easy to tell in/out of bounds. Two more cameras aimed straight along the goal line east/west, so we could see breaking the plane. Throw in two of those funky microchips FOX used to put in the hockey puck inside the football--one at each focus of the oval--and the goal line cam could easily tell if a player crossed the plane or not. Would solve a lot of replay problems and they'd get the call right more often. A lot of the trouble with 2D replays is no depth perception, by forcing the cameras to shoot on 90 degree angles, that shortcoming would be eliminated as depth becomes irrelevant.

And have an official push a button when he sees part of the body down or forward progress stop?

 

[Dickie Dunn]

I think it is for statistical purposes and to help people announcing the game rememebr where the drive started....." Its's 3rd down and 8, this is the 12th play of the drive that started at (announcer looks back down field) at the 23 yard line."

Seriously, this is the only explanation I can fathom, but just how practical is it to pay someone to do this in 2007?After all, if an announcer can easily reference how many plays have been run on the drive, how hard is it to look at the screen to see where the drive started?

 

[AussieOyOyOy]

It is pretty funny really. They place the drive start marker at the proper place on the sideline, then they trot the ten-yard chain out to measure for a first down. Why couldn't they just place the first-down marker at the proper place ten yards downfield and trot out that marker to measure for a first down?

Because "the proper place ten yards downfield" is often on something like the 34.2816 yard line. How the heck do you find that spot on the field?You can do it with the chain, because you can match up a particular link to the 30 yard line (instead of the 34.2816 yard line), and that spot is easy to find on the field.

It cracks me up how they basically set the ball down on a random spot and then measure that random spotting down to the centimeter. I wish they'd just mark the ball in yard increments, and eliminate this silly measuring business.

 

[brettdj]

It is pretty funny really. They place the drive start marker at the proper place on the sideline, then they trot the ten-yard chain out to measure for a first down. Why couldn't they just place the first-down marker at the proper place ten yards downfield and trot out that marker to measure for a first down?

Because "the proper place ten yards downfield" is often on something like the 34.2816 yard line. How the heck do you find that spot on the field?You can do it with the chain, because you can match up a particular link to the 30 yard line (instead of the 34.2816 yard line), and that spot is easy to find on the field.

It cracks me up how they basically set the ball down on a random spot and then measure that random spotting down to the centimeter. I wish they'd just mark the ball in yard increments, and eliminate this silly measuring business.

Watch closely. Most of the time the ball will start a 1st down on a yard line.