Look for it soon - with the next week. I've been adding to it all this past week, and will need another week to finish it.

I'm make sure to check that out. I'm sorta winging my use of the beanbag off what I'm seeing in the CFL and NFL games I watch, and think it'll be great to finally get some clarification on how the bean bag is used in Canadian football. Just a question for you, do many people in your association use a bean bag?? Because I've been noticing a few people starting to use them this year.

I've been using one for about 4 years. We have about 5-6 other guys who started last or this year.

So you're the one that started this trend ;)

Locally, yes. I've even used them on occasion in the OV, if I know that I won't get in doo-doo about it.

I recall the first time I used. Grand River High School is Kitchener. I'm deep convering a punt. I bag the PP - about a half yard into the EZ. Rec'v gets to the 8 or 9 and we bring the LS to the 20. Coach yells and screams that possession was the 1. I said (paragraphing myself...), "Coach, I have a bean bag at the point of possession, it's in teh EZ." He shut up pretty quick.

From then on I was hooked.

My quote in your sig....let me say it again :-)

The first time I saw someone use a bean bag was when I did a game with McColman. It looked cool and I thought about getting one, it's just not everyday that I end up at an official's supply store. It took me a while to get it ;).

The only downside to using the bean bag to mark POP on a punt is that if the recovery is long, you don't have ball boys like the CFL does to get your bean-bag and you end up running 70+ yards down the field for it.

This is true... and part of why sometimes I carry think about carrying two!

Heck, if it's good enough for the pros, it's good enough for me. After all, the same sitch's happen with the 10-year olds as does the future Hall of Famers in the CFL.

I've very often thought about learning about the all-but-one principle, but I don't want to yet in fear that it'll affect my current knowledge of our rulebook.

Unless, of course you need a 6th for a state final... I think I might be in town. ;)

This might seem like a stupid question, but do you use the blue or white bags??

I actually prefer the white bean bag. I can see it from far away. I found that the blue is harder to find. That may be because some city fields don't get cut as often as they should. On turf, like IW or the SkyDome, I think blue would be fine. But I use white. You?

When I bought a starter package in the states, I was offered a bean bag as part of it, I chose blue. I've only lost it once, and that was on a night game on one of those 60 yards punt returns, but I was able to find it in the next quarter.

Next time I go to Honigs, I'm gonna pick up 2 more, because the Honigs ones are much nicer than the one I have.

I'm going to stay away from the white bag, because I don't want to be looking for a bean bag in the snow. ;)

That is true... the snow is a problem. However, I get 1 snow game every 2 years, so I'm not so worried.

The white ones I have are made of vinyl... I think they'll last longer than the blue cloth ones.

I agree, the vinyl will last much longer than cloth.


Speaking of lifespan of equipment, what's your average lifespan for a penalty flag?? And how do you like these new sand filled flags over the old flags with a washer in them. I know that I've had to use a few elastics to turn my sand filled flag into a ball type torpedo flag so I can get throw it high, and aim it at a spot.

I get a number of years form a flag - probably 4. I LOVE the new torpedo flag. I don't use washer flags, and keep a sand filled non-torpedo flag in my back pocket as my 2nd flag. (Yes, I carry two - locally at least.) I carry a torpedo flag liek the NFL guys carry their flag. I throw some flags high, and some I skip along the ground.

I was doing a minor game 2 weeks ago (ages 14,15) and was the BU on a 5-person crew. RB breaks for a 12 yard gain and gets FM'd. My flag comes out, as did the HL's. The LJ was telling us in the post-game that he was laughing his butt off becuase we both threw our flag at the same time, with the same height, and both landed at PBH (UR optionally applied from), about a yard apart. He described both having the same trajectory. But then again, I actually have made it out to Laurier's stadium and practised flag throwing.