When was the first down line invented?
September 27, 1998
On September 27, 1998, Sportvision debuted its yellow first down marker on ESPN’s broadcast of the Ravens-Bengals game.
What is the first down line called?
goal line
If there are not ten yards on the field between the line of scrimmage and the opposing team’s end zone, the goal line becomes the first down line. You’ll sometimes hear announcers say first and goal. This means the first down line is now the goal line.
Who invented the first down marker?
Stan Honey
Stan Honey, Inventor of the 1st & 10 Yellow Line First Down Marker.
What is the first-down marker?
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. There is another orange marker held at the line of scrimmage.
What is a first-down?
1 : the first of a series of usually four downs (see down entry 5 sense 3a) in which a football team must net a 10-yard gain to retain possession of the ball. 2 : a gain of a total of 10 or more yards within usually four downs giving the team the right to start a new series of downs.
What does 1st and down mean?
If you have ever watched American football before 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.
Why is the first down line orange?
If you’ve watched any football games since 1998, however, you’ve probably noticed that fluorescent yellow or orange line that seems painted on the field from one sideline to the other. In fact, the line is computer generated, representing the exact spot that the offense must reach for a first down.
How tall are first down markers?
Down Box Marker Number Height: 11.5in (29.2cm) Side-line Chain Set Height: 8ft (2.4m)
What is the first down marker?
What is a first down?
How is a first down measured?
It was intentional. By moving back a half yard, the chain can now be placed exactly on the 21-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. Look again at the measurement in the Cowboys-Raiders game.
Where did the first down line come from?
According to Allen St. John’s 2009 book The Billion Dollar Game: Behind the Scenes of the Greatest Day in American Sport – Super Bowl Sunday, the first-down line actually emerged from the ashes of one of sports broadcasting’s bigger debacles: the FoxTrax system for hockey, which was designed by a company called Sportvision.
Who was the inventor of the yellow first down line?
Engineer Stan Honey helped the company Sportvision develop the yellow first down line that is now a staple of football telecasts.
How does a virtual first down line work?
The computers know exactly where the cameras are located in the 3-D model and can orient the virtual first-down line on the field accordingly. The model also accounts for things like the crest of the field and the location of the yard lines on the field. Color palettes are also critical to the system.
Is the first down line painted on the field?
When you watch a football game on television, you’ll notice that the first-down line appears to actually be painted on the field; if a player or official crosses the line, he doesn’t turn yellow. Instead, it looks like the player’s cleat is positioned on top of an actual painted line.