Why does NFL still use chains?

The NFL is no different, but one critical area of the game has not embraced technology: measuring first downs. The NFL still uses “chain gangs” to determine whether a team reached the first-down marker, even though technology could improve the process.

How accurate is chain measurement?

The most accurate chain-wear method is direct mea- surement. Since chains are on an inch standard, if the distance between the pins on either end of a set of 24 links measures 12-1/8”, rather than 12”, the chain length has grown by one percent (since 0.125” is approximately 1 percent of 12”).

How do they know where to put the chains in football?

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.

What are the chains in football called?

The chain gang is a group of assistants to the officials whose job is to mark where a team begins a series and how far they need to go to get a first down. They do this by holding vertical marking poles on each of the field’s sidelines. The chain gang is also commonly referred to as the chain crew.

Why is a link 7.92 inches?

In US customary units modern definition, the link is exactly 66⁄100 of a US survey foot, or exactly 7.92 inches or approximately 20.12 cm. The length of the foot, and hence the link, varied slightly from place to place and time to time.

Why does the NFL still use chains to measure first downs?

The NFL still uses “ chain gangs ” to determine whether a team reached the first-down marker, even though technology could improve the process. So why do NFL chains still exist? This is the 100th season of the NFL, and the league has used chains to measure first downs for most of this time.

Why do they put yard markers on first down in football?

That’s because on first down, the officials place the ball in such a way that it will make it easy to know if a player gained a first down or not. If the officials know exactly where the chains start, then they already know exactly where they end, and yard markers give them this advantage.

Why are chains set at the back of the yard line?

The yard markers are 3 to 4 inches wide, and if they are being used to judge first downs, that’s a big margin of error. 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.

Why doesn’t the NFL have a lightning bolt on the goal line?

But there are actually a couple of reasons the NFL has never made the switch. First, there is a problem with using something more accurate than two chains and a stick. The chain is not the biggest margin of error in the equation — it is the officials’ eyes. An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.

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