nfl officiating question

[yankeesfan]

using nfl rules, does the linejudge and head linesman switch sidelines at halftime along with the chains? i was working a semi-pro football game this weekend as a linejudge and when i came out for the 2nd half the chain crew was walking over to my side of the field and they said they are on the home side for the second half, so the linesman and myself switched sides for the 2nd half. is this how it works in the nfl?

[grantsrc]

Yes, they switch at half time in the NFL. Not sure about the SJ and FJ. Some college conferences went to it last year as well.

[irefky]

what is the real purpose of this?

[Bob M.]

REPLY: Just to follow up on grantsrc's post...FJ and SJ switch sides as well in the NFL.

Interesting that some college conferences also have adopted switching the chains at halftime. But C-USA does not move the officials--just the chains. So the HL and LJ essentially switch jobs at halftime. I don't know if they change their shirts to have the correct position placket on their backs.

[grantsrc]

Originally Posted by irefky

what is the real purpose of this?

So both coaches get the chance to chew their backsides!!

[Bob M.]

Originally Posted by irefky

what is the real purpose of this?

REPLY: While I agree with grantsrc's assessment, I think the real reason is so that each coach has a half where he can look across the field to see for himself the distance to the line-to-gain. It's darn near impossible to judge that by looking at the chains when they're on your side of the field.

[Jim D]

In the NFL there is a line to gain marker on both sides of the field. On the HL side, it's the front stake of the chains and on the other side, it's a just a pole. The line to gain guy lines it up by eyeballing the opposite side (remember NFL fields are superbly marked and many crews tend to start a series on a yardline). I think the switch is so each official gets evenly roasted.

[NickelDeuce]

Bob, in Conference USA the chains don't switch sides of the field the officials do. The chains stay opposite press box and the HL,LJ, FJ and SJ switch at half time.