The strap in question does not seem to be attached to anything. At first I thought that it was the strap for their whistles, but they wear the whistle around their necks. The strap seems to serve no function but I see it every time I watch a football game. It seems to loop around one finger and then disappears up their sleeves. I'm perplexed. Any ideas?
2007-01-25 07:33:08 · 8 answers · asked by Icarus 6 in Sports ➔ Football (American)
It's a "down counter". After each play and administration of any penalties that might be involved, the officials move the strap over the number of fingers corresponding to the down in order to keep up with the down so that there's less of a chance of a counting error being made. I've worn one every snap of my 18 year career as a football official.
2007-01-25 07:53:25 · answer #1 · answered by bigvol662004 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's a down indicator. Each official has one to keep up with the downs. If it's first down, the loop that's not around the wrist is placed on the forefinger. For second down, it's on the second finger. Third down, third finger. Fourth down, either hanging loose or around the entire hand.
2007-01-25 07:59:20 · answer #2 · answered by linroy62 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To keep track of what down it is.And I'd like to know how every official got it wrong when Colorado beat Missouri on 5th down a few years back.And they still didnt get in the endzone,but the bone heads gave them a TD anyway.by the way colorado won the National Championship that year.What a JOKE.
2007-01-25 08:02:11 · answer #3 · answered by Ricky Lee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Which official are you seeing it on? I believe what you are referiing to is the strap for the timeclock kept by the official on the field. Have you ever heard the official ask the stadium time keeper to reset the clock to a certain time? The officials on the field keep track of play clock, and game time. I believe the head linesman also tracks downs - in addition to the sideline crew. So it could be what you are seeing is the strap to his clicker - similar to what baseball umpires use., or the timeclock
2007-01-25 07:56:04 · answer #4 · answered by halibut man 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They keep the down on each finger, I asked a ref in a game one time and he said he moves it to the next finger each play. The index finger would be 1st down, middle 2nd, ring 3rd and pinky 4th.
2016-03-14 23:50:30 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Okay my first thought was a whistle to which i still think it is. I don't think it is around their neck. But it s I would say maybe its some type of communication device.
2007-01-25 07:46:47 · answer #6 · answered by path2631 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is their whistle... easy access rather than hanging around your neck. Has a whistle attached to that strap
2007-01-25 07:44:28 · answer #7 · answered by daven71 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It helps them keep up with what down it is.
2007-01-25 08:01:59 · answer #8 · answered by juicetke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋