Remember the pylon is your "friend"

[ljudge]

I heard this phrase before and never more true than last night.  I'm actually a FJ.  I developed my screen name when working federation ball several years ago.  I saw the pylon laying on the ground on a play in a D-II game I was working last night.  After a play from around midfield I sprinted to the EZ when I saw the pylon laying there and reset the darn thing.  The very next play was a 41-yard touchdown pass and the extended goalline rule came into play.  The player was met at the one and his right leg hit the pylon while extending the ball just past the pylon.  Had the pylon not been there who the hell knows what call I would have had. Turned out to be an easy call.  Lesson learned - don't be lazy guys.  Glad I wasn't in this case.  Not tooting my horn by any means as I've had my share of snafus.  Thought to share because you simply "never know" when you need that pylon to be your "friend." 

[clydesummers]

Great point. A couple of the fields we use have those weighted pylons and on windy days it is a constant job re-setting them.

[James]

We often seen ones that are basically non-weighted - just something someone knocked together.
They droop, they fall over without any wind, they are more hassle than they are worth.

One team set up pylons exactly correct according to the rulebook with the 2" space between the ground and bottom (with a springy rod to hold it) and was told by one of our most experienced refs they had to go (because of the metal). No one had ever seen them here before.

[Diablo]

Instead of the wing official hustle down, reset the pylon, then hustle back to the LOS before the snap, he can graciously request the ball person who has the defense team's ball to do the chore.