How do first down chains work?

Asked by: Kelli Mayen

The chain connects two signal poles to indicate how far the team on offense must go to get the first down. The chain crew is comprised of three members, one who holds the pole in the rear, another who holds the pole in the front, and a third who holds a pole indicating the location of the line of scrimmage.

Where on the chain is a first down?

Well, to avoid this, most officials will tell the chains to not only set up on a specific yard line — rarely in between yard lines — they will also tell the chains to set up on the back edge of that yard line. That way, the officials know that if the ball is across any part of the white-yard marker, it is a first down.

How is first down determined?

Distance is the number of yards a team needs to get a new set of four downs. If they make the ten yards needed within four downs, they are given a new set of downs. This is called getting a first down. If they don’t make it the required ten yards, the other team’s offense takes possession of the ball.

How does the NFL chain work?

In the NFL, members of the chain crew must have credentials entitling them to access to the field, and must wear white shirts. The home team pays them; some teams pay an hourly wage and others pay a flat rate to work a game. The chain crew does not wear protective gear as players do.

How does a down marker work?

A down marker in football is an object used to display which down a team is at. Downs include 1st down, 2nd down, 3rd down, or 4th down; therefore having plaques with the numbers one, two, three, and four in it. The down marker is operated during a game by the “chain gang,” and more specifically by the box man.

How much do NFL chain movers make?

Chain crew members make around $100 dollars per game, but since they are employees of the team and not the league, payment is not standardized.

How far is a 1st down?

ten yards

1st Down. The offense gets a first down when they reach the first down line. The first down line is placed ten yards away from the new line of scrimmage. If a team is within ten yards of the end zone, the goal line becomes the first down line.

How do football players know where the first down is?

First downs often decide games, but collegiate and professional football officials often measure them using a decidedly antiquated length of metal chain attached between two poles. Television viewers have had trouble figuring out where the first-down line is in relation to the offense.

How does the yellow first down line work?

On television, the Virtual Yellow 1st & Ten® line magically appears on the TV screen and displays down and distance, without interfering with the game. This gives viewers an easy way to identify where the first down marker was located on every play.

What color is the first down line?

yellow

Developed by Sportvision and PVI Virtual Media Services, it is best known for generating and displaying a yellow first down line over a live broadcast of a football game—making it easier for viewers to follow play on the field.

Does the ball have to cross the line for a first down?

Football Yellow Line

You’ll notice that the yellow line doesn’t move often. The offense must reach or go past the first down line for it to be moved. The first down line or yellow line on TV always shows the distance the offense needs to go to get a first down.

How much does the yellow first down line cost?

The yellow first-down line shown during football broadcasts costs networks roughly 5 million dollars.

Who invented yellow line in football?

Stan Honey

Yellow Line Origin
Stan Honey is credited with the invention of the yellow line, working with a company called Sportvision. The technology was called First and Ten and generated an overwhelmingly positive reaction from football fans.

What is the orange line in football?

On the field, the 1st down line is marked by the 1st down marker, an orange arrow-shaped marker held on the sideline held by officials called the chain crew.

What does the blue line mean in football?

the line of scrimmage

The blue line in football is a computer-generated visual aid that marks the line from where the snap was made at the start of the play, which is the same as the line of scrimmage. The line moves as the play moves, adjusting to wherever the line of scrimmage is for that down.

How much does the yellow line in football cost?

NFL Stats on Twitter: “The Yellow Line costs $20,000 per football broadcast, which adds up to $5,340,000 per season” / Twitter.

How do they paint lines on football fields?

Traditional methods of football line marking involve a manually operated hand-pusher which applies the paint, also known as a walk-behind. These line marking machines come in a range of different designs, including transfer wheel marking machines and spray markers.

What does 1st & 10 mean in football?

If you watched the Super Bowl you might have seen the words ‘1st and 10’ written in the corner of your TV screen. That means it’s the 1st down with 10 yards to make. If a team makes three yards, for example, then next it’s 2nd and Seven, 3rd and Four etc.

How do stadium cameras work?

How Does Skycam Actually Work? The SkyCam works by hanging the high-level camera from four computer-controlled reels, each holding @ 1,400 feet of cable that powers and flies the camera. Each of the four reels are located outside of the stadium, typically on the ground.

Has a football ever hit the overhead camera?

In the 2011 Insight Bowl on December 30, 2011 between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Oklahoma Sooners, Skycam crashed onto the field with 2:22 left to play, almost striking Iowa receiver Marvin McNutt. The game was delayed for about 5 minutes as a result, as the camera and its cables were removed from the field of play.

Does the NFL use drones during games?

The NFL uses drones and was, in fact, the first major American sports league permitted to fly drones. Drone use by the NFL is limited to filming documentaries and practices. They are not used to film regular-season games. Drones are also used to clean stadiums in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

How much do football cameramen make?

Salaries can be much higher than the average for those cameramen working in high profile sports. According to paysa.com, the average annual NBA cameraman salary is $66,192, the average annual ESPN cameraman salary is $74,542, and the average annual NFL cameraman salary is $93,316 .

How much does a NFL Waterboy make?

On average, NFL waterboys make $53,000 per year (according to Stack.com). However, that’s just the salary for beginners. For professionals, their salary can be higher as any other highest paid NFL waterboy.

What do NFL refs make?

$205,000

Although the official figures are not usually revealed publicly, after the last agreement between the league and the NFL Referees Association it was known that in the 2019 season, referees received earnings of $205,000 on average. This equates to around $12,000 per game, a pretty significant figure.