Newbie chain clip question

[Mike L]

Whoever sets the clip should be keeping up with that. Of course it's still the HL's responsibility to know where it is anyway in the event you allow the chains to move before they are supposed to move.

As for which type I use, I like the slider. Once had someone step on the plastic disc and broke it. Hard to break fabric.

[FBullock]

I work HL & have the chain crew use a 2 clip system. Keep the orginal clip on until the next play after you've moved the chains. When using 2 clips, I have one of each. That way I can take a quick look back & see if they are doing it & if the chains get moved, we'll know which one to go back to.

At sub-varsity level, I only use one & hope we have crew that will use it & stay with us.

[With_Two_Flakes]

I'm on the same page as Mike L. Nowadays I prefer the fabric clip with the slider as I too have had a plastic disk type trodden on and broken. I like to carry a spare lightweight home-made clip just in case. I bought the cheapest doglead I could find and simply cut off the clip part, discarded the rest of the lead.

A related tip I would give you about working the HL position is about zip ties.



I have my local area guys carry a zip tie for emergency chain repair. I keep one inside the band of every one of my hats. I might forget to put a zip tie in my pocket, but I'm unlikely to forget my hat!

Maybe once a season you'll have a chain set break on you. Panic ensues....
You walk up and fix it in seconds with a zip tie.

In addition, I use a coloured zip tie (I find that yellow is the most visible) for the halfway mark on the chain as atletic tape can get dirty and be less visible. That way the HL can let your White Hat know before the snap whether we are short - i.e. 5yd penalty marched against the D gives us a new 1st down or long (5 ain't enough).

[Welpe]

Great suggestion about the colored zip ties, Two Flakes. I got that tip from you a couple of years ago and picked up a set of neon zip ties. They work really well.

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Great suggestion about the colored zip ties, Two Flakes. I got that tip from you a couple of years ago and picked up a set of neon zip ties. They work really well.

Our HL uses a neon yellow or pink electrical tape rather than athletic tape. Works just as well and we are usually covering someone else's athletic tape.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

Our HL uses a neon yellow or pink electrical tape rather than athletic tape. Works just as well and we are usually covering someone else's athletic tape.

I like that too.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by With_Two_Flakes

In addition, I use a coloured zip tie (I find that yellow is the most visible) for the halfway mark on the chain as atletic tape can get dirty and be less visible. That way the HL can let your White Hat know before the snap whether we are short - i.e. 5yd penalty marched against the D gives us a new 1st down or long (5 ain't enough).

Consider the idea of using a coloured cable tie stolen.

[With_Two_Flakes]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

Consider the idea of using a coloured cable tie stolen.

That slight disagreement we had about the tea is long forgotten, so happy to help out our American cousins across the pond.....

[FBullock]

I carry a small piece of bright yellow & a piece of red electrical tape on the vynil folder I keep my penalty card in. We have some chains that are orange & I'll use the red tape on those. I have options. It's a great conversation starter with the chain crew as well.

[Reffing Rev.]

Originally Posted by FBullock

I carry a small piece of bright yellow & a piece of red electrical tape on the vynil folder I keep my penalty card in. We have some chains that are orange & I'll use the red tape on those. I have options. It's a great conversation starter with the chain crew as well.

On the rare occassions I get to work HL anymore if the chain is not marked, I just mark it with the nearest available athletic tape and then I tell the box man to tell me "under 5" I hate turning my back on the field, my partners can tell me when a box isn't showing the correct down (We flash the correct down at HL until he gets it fixed), and if the box man can tell me we're under five I don't need to be looking for a piece of tape or a colored zip tie and miss that late substitution or what ever else might accidentally happen.

On our Friday night crew our HL usually is checking the equipment and we've gotten dinged twice for him having his head turned away from the field, and I agree it looks unprofessional. Just my 2 cents.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by With_Two_Flakes

That slight disagreement we had about the tea is long forgotten, so happy to help out our American cousins across the pond.....

You're aware, I trust, that Jug is Canadian, and so in only a degenerate sense an "American."

[With_Two_Flakes]

Originally Posted by mbyron

You're aware, I trust, that Jug is Canadian...

Thanks for the heads-up! My apologies to JugglingReferee....

[movingthechains]

Originally Posted by With_Two_Flakes

I'm on the same page as Mike L. Nowadays I prefer the fabric clip with the slider as I too have had a plastic disk type trodden on and broken. I like to carry a spare lightweight home-made clip just in case. I bought the cheapest doglead I could find and simply cut off the clip part, discarded the rest of the lead.

A related tip I would give you about working the HL position is about zip ties.



I have my local area guys carry a zip tie for emergency chain repair. I keep one inside the band of every one of my hats. I might forget to put a zip tie in my pocket, but I'm unlikely to forget my hat!

Maybe once a season you'll have a chain set break on you. Panic ensues....
You walk up and fix it in seconds with a zip tie.

In addition, I use a coloured zip tie (I find that yellow is the most visible) for the halfway mark on the chain as atletic tape can get dirty and be less visible. That way the HL can let your White Hat know before the snap whether we are short - i.e. 5yd penalty marched against the D gives us a new 1st down or long (5 ain't enough).

I carry a spare key ring in my pants, it is approx the same size as a chain link. Zip ties work as well.