Football fans, why do they put that yellow line across the field?

[Deja Q]

They clearly superimpose that image. Why do they? They've never needed to during football's 30,000 year history. :shrug:

[La_Serpiente]

1. It allows the players

and the audience to see when the offensive team makes a 1st down. Visuals are good.

[underpants]

5. The players and fans at the stadium can't see it

It is superimposed on the image recorded by the camera.

[Character Assassin]

2. It's there to more easily indicate the yard marker needed for a 1st down

So that the viewing audience can see it more readily than having to visually judge by using the place markers/chains.

[Systematic Chaos]

3. Just makes it easier for the fans to see the 1st down marker

Nice visual aid in case you aren't up close to the TV I guess.

Don't they also put computer generated "tails" on hockey pucks on TV so it's easier for people to follow it? I heard that somewhere but I'm not a hockey fan.

[zbird]

4. Yes, the do put the tails on hockey pucks.

I find it really annoying and distracting. My husband, on the other hadn, thinks it's great.

[northzax]

6. they stopped the hockey thing

I like the first down line. When the action is in the middle of the field, or on the opposite side from the first down marker, you can easily lose track of where the first down line is (since you only get a limited view of the field) and this makes it easier. gotta give FOX some props for that one...

[Hokie]

10. Not Fox

I think ESPN started this 3 or 4 years ago. Others like Fox jumped on the bandwagon. I think an independent company called First Down Technologies developed this. ESPN was the first network to buy it.

On edit:

it is not always accurate. It does not seem to handle cases where the field slopes from the center to the sideline for drainage. It is handy but on close calls it can be deceiving.

[StClone]

7. Got technology?

...and what's with those helmets? I guess Fred Flinstone wore one. :-)

[Wednesdays]

8. It indicates a "no-passing zone"

Ya see, that way the traffic going on the right side won't collide with the traffic on the left.

:silly:

Seriously, it shows how far the offence has yet to go to make a "1st down." They started doing this on TV a few years ago. When I first saw it, I thought to myself, "how do they re-paint those lines on the field so fast?" :D

[Waistdeep]

9. Here's how they do it

It's a surprisingly complex technology which requires calibration of the pan/tilt/zoom of each of the cameras relative to the football field. here's how the technology works.

[glarius]

11. Personally, I resent the jock straps!

hahahahahahaha...:)