Opinions on this........
 

What are your opinions on carrying a rulebook with you on to the field?

never!

Leave it in the car or bag for discussion in pre-game or post-game. NEVER take it on the field.

You shouldn't have room for it anyway- bag, flag, 2nd bag, 2nd flag, zip ties, golf tee, back up whistle, pencil, back-up pencil, car key, spare coin, game card, gum, game check, handwarmer packs, reading glasses- where am I going to put a rule book?

You HLs carry too much crap. :)

What these guys said, don't carry one. In the middle of the game is the wrong time to be digging through it to prove a point.

From what I understand, Ohio, or certain parts, has a requirement that the chain crew have one with them, which is provided by the officials. Glad I don't work in Ohio in that regard.

Golf tee?

Zip ties, Reading Glasses, Back up whistle?

Zip ties - To facilitate a quick repair on a broken chain

Reading Glasses - You'll find out. Wait til your 45-50.

Back up whistle - Obvious, used to signal those behind you when you're about to back up.

:D

You have to either be an umpire or have been an umpire at one time to utilize this technique. :D

Brandon, when I work HL, I use flourescent colored zip ties for two reasons, one is to mark the half way point on the chains (tape also works) and another is in case the chains break. I mark the half way point on the chains so I can quickly tell if a foul such as encroachment by the defense will result in a first down or not.

Or, Long Island!

Years ago our Interpreter disallowed a field goal when a R player tipped the ball in an attempt to block it but the ball still went over the crossbar. The "brains" that run our Association decided the rule book should be available at each varsity game.

Would have made much more sense to replace your interpreter!

That does make a lot more sense, in many ways.

Zip ties (cable ties) will save your bacon if the chains break. As mentioned, the flourescent ones can also be used to mark the mid-point in the chains- thus allowing you to tell instantly if you are past the mid-point-you can then tell the R on a 5 yard penalty against B that it will be a first down.

Back-up whistle- technically, I wear my back-up on a neck lanyard and my primary is a finger whistle. I broke my primary once, seconds before the opening kickoff, so I had to borrow one off an assistant coach on my sideline. My spare whistle was in my bag in the WH's car. I never take the field now without two.

Golf tees- harder to use now on Field Turf but can be used to mark the box inside the 10 yard line in case he pulls out or also to mark the box on 4th down on a punt where we miss a penalty and the chains have moved. The mechanics manual now tells us to give the box man a beanbag to mark the box location inside the 10.

Reading glasses- as I told an assistant one time on my sideline when he questioned me why I took off my regular glasses after halftime (it was humid that night and they kept fogging up) "Hey, I can see the big stuff, like the ball or your tackle moving. I just can't read my card."