# Does it seem that they measure for first downs less than they used to? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 18, 2015, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-seem-that-they-measure-for-first-downs-less-than-they-used-to/734975 "2015-10-18T02:19:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-seem-that-they-measure-for-first-downs-less-than-they-used-to/734975/21 "2015-10-21T14:49:51Z")
It seems like they’ve drastically reduced the amount of measurements that were clearly not even close. 10 years ago, I swear we were constantly seeing measurements that were nearly a yard short of a first down. IMO, if feels like we don’t see those anymore. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-seem-that-they-measure-for-first-downs-less-than-they-used-to/734975/22 "2015-10-22T11:14:26Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Its impossible to have a 1st and inches except at the goalline. You can have 1st and short after an offensive penalty (eg: holding) down the field. You get credit for the yards you gained until the penalty, which is enforced from that spot. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-seem-that-they-measure-for-first-downs-less-than-they-used-to/734975/23 "2015-10-25T15:43:39Z")
It also seems to me that referees have become more generous with their spots than they used to be. This is particularly noticeable when it comes to determining forward progress. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-seem-that-they-measure-for-first-downs-less-than-they-used-to/734975/24 "2015-10-26T15:15:06Z")
Nah, the refs are only generous with the spot for the other team. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-seem-that-they-measure-for-first-downs-less-than-they-used-to/734975/25 "2015-10-26T15:15:39Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > So its OK to undermine the integrity of the game to just speed it up? Absolutely. Otherwise, we’d give coaches unlimited challenges, and fans wouldn’t bother showing up. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-seem-that-they-measure-for-first-downs-less-than-they-used-to/734975/26 "2015-10-26T16:09:47Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > From the officials’ spotting the ball, to marking the spot on the sideline, to clipping the marker on the chains at a yard marker, there’s enough fuzziness at each step of the process that “bringing out the chains” isn’t nearly as precise a thing as you might think. > > When you have a key 3rd or 4th down measurement, and the chains show it’s a couple of inches one way or another - the chains may not have been precisely placed for the 1st down, not to mention the spot may have varied a little from the actual end of the play on 2nd and 3rd down. It’s a very imprecise process, made to look like it’s exact. I don’t think they do it any more, but I always liked how, after a measurement that came up short, the referee would grab a particular link of chain, then march the chains to the hash mark, re-stretch them, and carefully place the ball on that link. And then randomly spot the ball after the next play from scrimmage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-seem-that-they-measure-for-first-downs-less-than-they-used-to/734975.md?page=1)