4th and 5+/-inches then Def. Encroachment

[Snake~eyes]

I figured you'd guys use the "tape" which I can understand that, so I now present Situation Bravo:

4th and 10 from A20 +/- inches, A1 runs for a TD, holding called at A30 +/- inches. How do you handle that? Again LTG/flag are not on a yardline/tick. Do you just guess? Do you measure (please don't tell me this)?

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by Snake~eyes

I figured you'd guys use the "tape" which I can understand that, so I now present Situation Bravo:

4th and 10 from A20 +/- inches, A1 runs for a TD, holding called at A30 +/- inches. How do you handle that? Again LTG/flag are not on a yardline/tick. Do you just guess? Do you measure (please don't tell me this)?

Before enforcing the penalty, figure out where the ball will be placed before marking off the penalty. On a well marked field, you should be able to figure out if it's going to be a 1st down before you mark off the penalty. If it's that close or the field is not well marked, then I'd think you have to measure. I guess you could use the chains to mark off the 10 yards if the field is really poorly marked since you'll have the clip to reset them but that seems like a last ditch effort to me.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Snake~eyes

I figured you'd guys use the "tape" which I can understand that, so I now present Situation Bravo:

4th and 10 from A20 +/- inches, A1 runs for a TD, holding called at A30 +/- inches. How do you handle that? Again LTG/flag are not on a yardline/tick. Do you just guess? Do you measure (please don't tell me this)?

Measure what? Walk it off, place the ball, it's 4th and 10 again. Place your down marker, and then YOU know if the next play needs more or less than 10 - just like you did on the previous play.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Measure what? Walk it off, place the ball, it's 4th and 10 again. Place your down marker, and then YOU know if the next play needs more or less than 10 - just like you did on the previous play.

I'm guessing he meant holding was called at the A40 -- in other words after the mark-off it would be close to a first down.

No, I'm not using the chains. I'm going to eye up the penalty yardage along with the umpire and we're going to decide if it's a first down or not and make sure the ball's spotted clearly short or clearly ahead of the line-to-gain.

[jTheUmp]

Originally Posted by richmsn

i'm guessing he meant holding was called at the a40 -- in other words after the mark-off it would be close to a first down.

No, i'm not using the chains. I'm going to eye up the penalty yardage along with the umpire and we're going to decide if it's a first down or not and make sure the ball's spotted clearly short or clearly ahead of the line-to-gain.

+1

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I'm guessing he meant holding was called at the A40 -- in other words after the mark-off it would be close to a first down.

No, I'm not using the chains. I'm going to eye up the penalty yardage along with the umpire and we're going to decide if it's a first down or not and make sure the ball's spotted clearly short or clearly ahead of the line-to-gain.

If he meant the 40, I agree.

[kdf5]

We make sure we have tape on the chain pregame. Then during the game, our HL makes the decision after the ready. If he points his thumbs together (tip to tip) then we have less than 5 yds. If he places the edges of his hands together (thumbs pointing in opposite directions) we are outside the tape. We know before the snap if we're inside or outside the tape. If you're on field turf you should NEVER have to guess. Place the ball on a yard line and you'll never have to measure.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by kdf5

Place the ball on a yard line and you'll never have to measure.

Ugh. This again?

[kdf5]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Ugh. This again?

I guess you're right. I only see all NFL and NCAA crews doing it. What do they know?

[wisref2]

You tape the middle of the chain for a reason. If the downbox is past the tape - it will be a first down. If it's before the tape - the down remains the same.

If you have to - measure it as we did once this year. Just bring the chains out as you normally would do - and then look to see the if the ball is beyond the tape. If not, count the links (or otherwise determine how far the ball will be from the stake), move the stakes to the hash, and place the ball at the right distance from the stake.

Best way to make it look good is to make it look like you know what you're doing.

[Snake~eyes]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I'm guessing he meant holding was called at the A40 -- in other words after the mark-off it would be close to a first down.

No, I'm not using the chains. I'm going to eye up the penalty yardage along with the umpire and we're going to decide if it's a first down or not and make sure the ball's spotted clearly short or clearly ahead of the line-to-gain.

Yes, meant A40. I agree with you and this is what I would do. Curious to see what others would do since this came up in a discussion.