End of Quarter Mechanics...

[Bullycon]

Originally Posted by umpirebob71

How do you get the exact spot to place the ball? The way I see it, the only way is to use a tape to measure where to spot it. Maybe that isn't important in the Chicago area, but in northeast Ohio, it is.

When recording the yardline, we also note how far the point of the ball is from the next hash. It's not exact, but I don't think the location changes any more than when the umpire spots the ball on an inbounds spot based on the foot of a wingman in the side zones.

If it's close to the line to gain, we'll use the chains to measure the exact spot, similar to moving the ball from a side zone to the inbounds spot after a measurement.

This reminds me of a funny scene from a preseason scrimmage about a month ago. The only lines on the field were the boundary lines, goal lines, 20s and 50. Yet, the format called for regular series-based possessions. Once, it was close enough to require a measurement. Fortunately, the ball was very close to the 20. The referee noted that the point was exactly one foot length from the 20. He then ran over to the sideline, noted the line to gain was half the length of his foot from the 20, and signaled first down for team B. It was the most unique measurement I've seen.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Bullycon

When recording the yardline, we also note how far the point of the ball is from the next hash. It's not exact, but I don't think the location changes any more than when the umpire spots the ball on an inbounds spot based on the foot of a wingman in the side zones.

If it's close to the line to gain, we'll use the chains to measure the exact spot, similar to moving the ball from a side zone to the inbounds spot after a measurement.

This reminds me of a funny scene from a preseason scrimmage about a month ago. The only lines on the field were the boundary lines, goal lines, 20s and 50. Yet, the format called for regular series-based possessions. Once, it was close enough to require a measurement. Fortunately, the ball was very close to the 20. The referee noted that the point was exactly one foot length from the 20. He then ran over to the sideline, noted the line to gain was half the length of his foot from the 20, and signaled first down for team B. It was the most unique measurement I've seen.

Same stuff for us at our scrimmages. Except we had no chains at all. So anything close was a first down. Nobody said a word. I wondered if we could do that in the regular season.

[jjrye22]

I think it is interesting that most of you who have mentioned it say you flip the ball then set the chain and clip if it is first down.

I go the other way. Set the chains and clip, then flip and set everything based on the clip. We have some horribly marked fields however, so maybe it is a local thing, but I think the chances of the U being off are greater than of the chain.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by jjrye22

I think it is interesting that most of you who have mentioned it say you flip the ball then set the chain and clip if it is first down.

I go the other way. Set the chains and clip, then flip and set everything based on the clip. We have some horribly marked fields however, so maybe it is a local thing, but I think the chances of the U being off are greater than of the chain.

Interesting.