Official Towel Usage

[NickelDeuce]

I've never seen anybody use a towel in an AFL or AF2 game. I've been to a lot of them.

[Jim D]

It varies on the weather. On a normal fall evening, I might have a small thin towel folded to about 3 or 4 inches wide and 10 inches long showing. If it's very wet, I'll have a larger towel (not a bath towel) foled over a few times. If it's really raining, I'll have a couple of spares in a bag and change them at the end of each quarter.

[SWFLguy]

I was a U for 32 years in CNY and never brought my own towel
to games, they were provided when needed by the home team.
Down here in SW FL I found out they "require" the U to bring a
towel. I usually pack a couple in the car and tuck one hand-sized
towel into my belt. When it is raining, I usually carry it in my hand
allowing me to put it over the ball during time outs etc. and to let
the center wipe his hands. There are plenty of places to buy cheap
towels, but I don't see why the home team can't provide them.

[Jim D]

I learned to bring my own towel early on. I asked the school for a towel on when it started to rain and the best they could come up with is a piece of plaid cloth that used to be someone's shirt. After working a game with the plaid "towel" tucked in my pants, I started bringing my own.

[BigGref]

thanks all for those good ideas; I like the idea of having a dry towel at the ready for changing every quarter. Luckily I used to work at a hotel with a small waterpark and was able to get a few "cough" dozen, perfectly sized towels. Right now I am the only one on the crew with a towel in any situation,
does anybody's wings have a towel on mudbath nights and how has that worked?

[Jim D]

As a wing, I don't carry a towel even on rainy nights. The ball boy will either provide a fresh ball or I'll relay the ball in and let the umpire deal with it. He can get the spot from me and, while we are all doing our between-play chores, the U can wipe the ball and spot it.

[PSU213]

...and if the ball boy is "toweling" balls not in play, make sure he does not wrap them too tightly in the towel, so that he (or she) can easily get you one between plays.

[GBFBUmp]

Originally Posted by SWFLguy

I was a U for 32 years in CNY and never brought my own towel
to games, they were provided when needed by the home team.
.

Here in WI, I only use a towel during rainy games. By FB Season, most of our humidity has diminished to where the ball boy can wipe the ball off during swaps. I have yet to bring my own towel, I just ask the home coach during prelim meeting, or the home AD prior to inspection, on a night I expect to need towels and ask to have a number of dry ones on the home field sidelines. Sometimes they give me bath size towels fit for the sleek body of an umpire.... most times they are smaller hand towels.

I prefer the smaller hand towels, kept tucked in front, and left long enough that if I have to cover the ball between plays, my belly and the towel will keep it toasty and dry.