Author Topic: Line to Gain Indicator  (Read 5754 times)

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Offline Kevin Durst

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Line to Gain Indicator
« on: August 14, 2017, 02:28:15 PM »
Rule 1-3-5 talks about the yardage chain which joins 2 rods 10 yards apart "or any other 10 yard indicator with a visible line to gain indicator" shall be used as the official line-to-gain equipment.  We talked about this a little bit in one of our meetings.  Anyone have any experience with "any other 10-yard indicator" or can share thoughts on what this could be?  We were not sure what it might be unless it was 2 sticks tied together with a 10 yard long rope.

Offline FLAHL

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Re: Line to Gain Indicator
« Reply #1 on: August 14, 2017, 03:22:23 PM »
I vaguely remember a short lived league (USFL, WFL, World League of American Football, XFL) that had some kind of gizmo that only used one pole to indicate the line to gain.  It had an arm that could swing in either direction from a major 5 yard line and land on the specific LTG.  I tried to google it, but came up empty.

Offline Etref

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Re: Line to Gain Indicator
« Reply #2 on: August 14, 2017, 04:18:10 PM »
It was called a DickerRod ( yeah I know)
Our chapter at the time made a copy of it. It worked ok but looked weird,we never used it.
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Offline scrounge

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Re: Line to Gain Indicator
« Reply #3 on: August 14, 2017, 04:37:50 PM »
It was called a DickerRod ( yeah I know)
Our chapter at the time made a copy of it. It worked ok but looked weird,we never used it.

yea....I'm not googling that.... :D

Offline FLAHL

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Re: Line to Gain Indicator
« Reply #4 on: August 15, 2017, 09:05:00 AM »
Here it is, in action.

« Last Edit: August 15, 2017, 09:07:48 AM by FLAHL »

Offline Rulesman

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Re: Line to Gain Indicator
« Reply #5 on: August 15, 2017, 11:06:03 AM »
I'd forgotten those striped shirts we so godforsaken ugly.
"Gentlemen, we are going to relentlessly chase perfection, knowing full well we will not catch it, because nothing is perfect. But we are going to relentlessly chase it, because in the process we will catch excellence. I am not remotely interested in just being good."
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Offline Etref

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Re: Line to Gain Indicator
« Reply #6 on: August 15, 2017, 12:51:25 PM »
Nearly all about the WFL was ugly!
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Offline KWH

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Re: Line to Gain Indicator
« Reply #7 on: August 15, 2017, 03:41:34 PM »
Check out this link to see a color version of the WFL Officials Jerseys

http://www.milehighcardco.com/ItemImages/000026/23_26164a_lg.jpeg

They look like something that would be better suited for a bowling team to wear.
« Last Edit: August 15, 2017, 03:45:45 PM by KWH »
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Offline Ump62

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Re: Line to Gain Indicator
« Reply #8 on: August 15, 2017, 05:53:45 PM »
The name of the device was "Quick Stick".
I've scoured Google Images and can't find anything.
Anyone with a contact for Dotson Lewis in Texas might have some luck getting a picture of one.

Offline TxSkyBolt

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Line to Gain Indicator
« Reply #9 on: August 15, 2017, 06:41:45 PM »
Actually called the Dickerod, patented by George Dicker in 1973. USAFA used it for a while. http://www.uni-watch.com/2010/07/22/how-hard-can-it-be-to-measure-ten-yards/

Of course USAFA also used the "Double Grip" football invented by Oakland A's owner Charlie Finley. http://mvictors.com/the-reverse-dimple-rawlings-double-grip-football-storytime-with-sap/


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Offline Etref

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Re: Line to Gain Indicator
« Reply #10 on: August 15, 2017, 08:48:04 PM »
The name of the device was "Quick Stick".
I've scoured Google Images and can't find anything.
Anyone with a contact for Dotson Lewis in Texas might have some luck getting a picture of one.

Quickstick was the homemade version of the DickerRod sometimes was called "the Dickerstick"

And I do remember Dotson having interest in it but short lived
" I don't make the rules coach!"

Offline jason

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Re: Line to Gain Indicator
« Reply #11 on: August 16, 2017, 07:29:43 AM »
Check out this link to see a color version of the WFL Officials Jerseys

http://www.milehighcardco.com/ItemImages/000026/23_26164a_lg.jpeg

They look like something that would be better suited for a bowling team to wear.

This is a situation that calls for a vomiting emoji.

Offline jason

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Re: Line to Gain Indicator
« Reply #12 on: August 16, 2017, 07:31:01 AM »
In all seriousness, I have always thought a smarter design for the chains would be something like a tape measure that self contracts when a quick release is triggered. The tape itself would obviously have to be more durable, but the idea remains the same.

Offline refjeff

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Re: Line to Gain Indicator
« Reply #13 on: August 16, 2017, 01:57:24 PM »
What?!  For 1974-'75 fashion those shirts are rather mild.

Offline Grant - AR

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Re: Line to Gain Indicator
« Reply #14 on: August 16, 2017, 04:23:34 PM »
This is a situation that calls for a vomiting emoji.

Something like this???

 :puke:

Offline Rulesman

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Re: Line to Gain Indicator
« Reply #15 on: August 16, 2017, 06:06:55 PM »
Man does that ever open a can of worms.  ;D
"Gentlemen, we are going to relentlessly chase perfection, knowing full well we will not catch it, because nothing is perfect. But we are going to relentlessly chase it, because in the process we will catch excellence. I am not remotely interested in just being good."
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Offline Birddog

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Re: Line to Gain Indicator
« Reply #16 on: August 17, 2017, 09:54:51 AM »
Guys that ran "chains" at Sam Houston State and HS games played there used the quick stick up until about 10 years ago.  Guy that ran the stick was really good and quick to set it up, I was the HL and just basically had to trust that he knew what he was doing. 

Offline Ralph Damren

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Re: Line to Gain Indicator
« Reply #17 on: August 18, 2017, 08:26:23 AM »
WHO NEEDS CHAINS ??? ??? ?

Back in my daze of youth (late 50's) we would go to the local high school every Sunday where our heroes played the previous afternoon (no lights back then). There were no forms to fill out, permission to be granted, or adult observers to be sure we weren't naughty. We would play tackle on a field that have yard lines every 10 yards and the line-to-gain was always more then 10 but less then 20 (new series @ A's 18 = LTG = A's 30). A kid brother or sister would lay a jacket down said yard line. The game would continue until suppertime but some would leave to watch OUR New York Football Giants on their 12" TV with rabbit ears (The Patriots didn't show up until later). Never any measurements...all went smoothly.

Some football fields are used by some booster clubs as a fund raiser with an extremely exciting game of Cow Flap Bingo. Line-to-gain are not needed for said event.

Offline the clown

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Re: Line to Gain Indicator
« Reply #18 on: August 19, 2017, 12:48:06 PM »
Best line to gain indicator is a turf field.  However, worked a game a few years ago and one team had very few players.  The head coach was smart enough to put a very "well proportioned" gal on the chain crew.  He figured he might gain a little extra rest for his players if there were a few more measurements.  It worked.