Checking for a Frist Down

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

This is not really an App football question but just a general football question. But people will see it here

Is it just me or if there hardly ever a need for the chain gang to check for a first down. It seems like years ago there would be a few a game, and now it is once a season I see a check. Or is my memory that off.

[BambooRdApp]

Do not check very often..that is for sure

[AppState1]

It's almost like every game is being played at Wofford now. They were the worst.

[AppinATL]

This is not really an App football question but just a general football question. But people will see it here

Is it just me or if there hardly ever a need for the chain gang to check for a first down. It seems like years ago there would be a few a game, and now it is once a season I see a check. Or is my memory that off.

Funny that you bring this up. I was just thinking the same thing yesterday.

[AppGrad1]

I used to work the chains for the arena football League team Charlotte Rage. We had to meet with the officials before every game to go over their guidelines. Every official we ever met with told us the exact same thing. There will not be measurements during the game unless it could be a game changer. They said anything close will be called a first down. Said they would only measure towards end of game situations.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

I used to work the chains for the arena football League team Charlotte Rage. We had to meet with the officials before every game to go over their guidelines. Every official we ever met with told us the exact same thing. There will not be measurements during the game unless it could be a game changer. They said anything close will be called a first down. Said they would only measure towards end of game situations.

I am not surprised by this. For TV this is just a delay that can be better used for a commercial, as we don't have enough media timeouts. I thought maybe there could be some communication from the booth over am earpiece that can communicate some of the drawn line info that is available now with tech over the last decade but that only works on televised games that are using that tech. I know that is unofficial but it is pretty close it seems.

I appreciate you posting an answer.

[huskie3]

I think it is because the sideline official marks the ball on sideline and can determine from that. (As a coach I never liked officials.)

[bigdaddyg]

I've run the clock for a whole bunch of high school games here. The officials just eyeball it- "close enough move the chains!"

Conversely how on earth do they look at the video and decide to move a ball back 3"?

[ArmantiWaterSafety]

A game based on an eyeball spot and a game being decided by a precise guesstimate. The beauty of football.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

I think it is because the sideline official marks the ball on sideline and can determine from that. (As a coach I never liked officials.)

Was that a rule change to move the priority of the ball location from the ball location to the sideline official back heel?

[goapps93]

I think it is because the sideline official marks the ball on sideline and can determine from that. (As a coach I never liked officials.)

Never?

[huskie3]

Yes to both questions. Had a fb official as assistant coach in basketball, told we weren’t friends if he called my fb game.

[AppSt94]

One has to wonder if the replay reviews that have lengthened games have caused them to use chains less as a compromise.

[AppinVA]

Officials now generally set the ball on the closest hash for a first down. If a punt is returned to the 32.75 yard line, the initial spot will be the 33. If a runner then runs 10.25 yards to pick up the first down, the ball is set on the 43. This makes the judgment easier to eyeball.

[AppSt94]

Officials now generally set the ball on the closest hash for a first down. If a punt is returned to the 32.75 yard line, the initial spot will be the 33. If a runner then runs 10.25 yards to pick up the first down, the ball is set on the 43. This makes the judgment easier to eyeball.

Great point. I have to wonder if this was a compromise to speed up the game due to replay.

[AppinVA]

Officials now generally set the ball on the closest hash for a first down. If a punt is returned to the 32.75 yard line, the initial spot will be the 33. If a runner then runs 10.25 yards to pick up the first down, the ball is set on the 43. This makes the judgment easier to eyeball.

Great point. I have to wonder if this was a compromise to speed up the game due to replay.

Maybe. I started noticing this some five years ago. They do it at the high school level too, so it might be a way to help speed up the game, period. Having worked a chain crew a few times, I can see the value in it as long as there are a full set of yard marks (two along the sidelines and two down the hashes). The team still has to go 10 yards to convert, and having the chains on the closest yard mark helps in many different ways.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

I was thinking about that when I posted but I did not want to tip my hat too much as I was not sure, but in hindsight they are clearly related. Speed that part of the game up for replays and more of those precious commercials and even more precious "We will be right back" announcements on ESPN+.

[TheMoody1]

What is a Frist Down?

[BambooRdApp]

I think he meant to put a "k" instead of "t" at the end of Frist...

[Mjohn1988]

I’m really surprised they haven’t come out with a laser system to check for first downs. I guess getting that perfect 90 degree angle could be an issue.