# Football: Why not just start the play exactly between the hashes each time? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 21, 2021, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-why-not-just-start-the-play-exactly-between-the-hashes-each-time/951075 "2021-09-21T18:42:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 3
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2021, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-why-not-just-start-the-play-exactly-between-the-hashes-each-time/951075/3 "2021-09-21T19:18:13Z")
Here’s a previous thread on the subject of hashmarks: > [@Moving the hashmarks in the NFL](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-the-hashmarks-in-the-nfl/930221): > > In the NFL, the hashmarks are the same as a width of the goalposts, 18.5’ apart. In NCAA, the hashmarks are 40’ wide. Aside from the kicking game which would be obviously impacted near the goal line, what would be the impact to the game if the NFL hashmarks were widened again? Would offenses develop that take advantage of the extra space on one side of the field? Lots of pulling guards and leading blockers on the wide side? Flooding the wide side with receivers? Would teams develop O-lines and … --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-why-not-just-start-the-play-exactly-between-the-hashes-each-time/951075)._