Linesman here is a helpful hint which may help your white hat and the game get along smoother.

Our linesman works the Big XII games in Ames on the Chain Gang.

So he passed this secret to us and I am sure many of you experienced linesman may already do this.

Before the game when you check the chains for the correct length take some tape and wrap it around the mid point of the chain. This allows our crew to know when we have an offsides call against the Defense and the down marker is farther than 5 yards that the down will remain the same. If past the tape then it will be a first down. Saves time in having to bring out the chains and measure or go to the sideline for proper measurement.

White hats I like this because I had a situation where we had running into the kicker (5 yard penalty) deep in the kicking teams side of the field. With the tape I could quickly explain to the captain/coach that it would not result in a first down and they declined the penalty and we moved along quickly to the other end.

Hope you may find helpful.

BoBo,
Thanks for the little tidbit, but not to be a smart *** or anything, that comes right out of the mechanics manual. When I first started officiating about 7 years ago, the white hat I worked with most was very adament about this. Even to the point when I saw him work the wings in a couple games he would "remark" the chains.

No offense here.

Here in Iowa we have not been able to get new Officials Manuals the last couple of years. We used to get them all the time the beginning of the year but now we can but have to make a special request.

Is this happening in other places?

we get new ones every year here in WY...

We don't get them in MN very often either. I just order one from the NFHS website. Order them for your entire crew and split the costs. They make a great gift!