still using two sticks chained together...football observation...

[stevenpensacola]

While watching the games this past weekend, I began to ponder....with all the technology we have today, we still use two sticks tied together by a piece of chain for the first down marker...

and another thought...when the ball is not close to the first down marker, the refs just eyeball the placement of the ball, yardsticks, etc...but when we're measuring for the first down, they're so careful to mark the chain. It's like going from using a cheap ruler to using a micrometer to measure things.

When a measurement is made, and you come up an inch short of the first down, how do you know the refs may have placed the ball down incorrectly on a previous down, thus that error comes back to bite you.


this is what happens when you work in metrology/calibration...

 

[HayGan]

While watching the games this past weekend, I began to ponder....with all the technology we have today, we still use two sticks tied together by a piece of chain for the first down marker...

and another thought...when the ball is not close to the first down marker, the refs just eyeball the placement of the ball, yardsticks, etc...but when we're measuring for the first down, they're so careful to mark the chain. It's like going from using a cheap ruler to using a micrometer to measure things.

When a measurement is made, and you come up an inch short of the first down, how do you know the refs may have placed the ball down incorrectly on a previous down, thus that error comes back to bite you.


this is what happens when you work in metrology/calibration...

Bad or generous spots have had huge impacts on many a teams' season! I don't think that the chains will be changed anytime soon. I actually hate to see too much technology get into the game.

 

[poohandwendy]

this is what happens when you work in metrology/calibration...

LOL, yes it is...you have my sympathy, it must be torture!!

I do hear what you are saying, it does seem like a backward way of doing things. You are the pro, what is a better solution?

 

[stevenpensacola]

I'm thinkin' they could install some sort of GPS-type device in each end of the ball, but I'm just thinkin'....

 

[poohandwendy]

LOL....too funny.

 

[Chicago526]

Bad or generous spots have had huge impacts on many a teams' season! I don't think that the chains will be changed anytime soon. I actually hate to see too much technology get into the game.

But since all teams are affected equally by this eyeballing, doesn't it all work out in the end? One game the refs might place the ball to help you, other games it's against you.

But what the heck, I'm just a girl and don't watch football much...what do I know?

 

[HayGan]

But since all teams are affected equally by this eyeballing, doesn't it all work out in the end? One game the refs might place the ball to help you, other games it's against you.

No it doesn't. Bad spots have ended teams' chances at advancing to the playoffs or even winning the Super Bowl.