Bill, My thought is that having primary, numbered lines of 9, 18, 27, 36, etc meters would look a little strange and not very "metric." It is a convenience that the ten yard progress agrees with the 10 yard primary markings. However, a chain and three chainsmen are devoted to a more precise measurement on the field, even when the ball is between hash marks. I think numbered lines every 10 m, lines every 5 m, and hash marks every meter would be more consistent with the message we want to make.
I also think in the near future, it would NOT be well accepted and would not represent a public relations coup. We need to be considerably more metric as a nation before we do that. The advantage of the 90 m field is that it fits within existing dimensions. I think the other choices revolve around pretending meters are yards and having a 100 m grid + endzones. Canadian football has a 110 yd grid, which is more nearly 100m. However, I think few American stadiums are designed to accomodate the Canadian grid dimensions. ________________________________ From: Bill Hooper <billhoope...@gmail.com> To: U.S. Metric Association <usma@colostate.edu> Sent: Fri, December 31, 2010 9:20:53 PM Subject: [USMA:49371] American Football in Metres The way John's suggests to convert American Football to metres is about the same as I have suggested privately to some of you (maybe a little bit to this list, I forget). Plus, I agree that there are more important things to change before we tackle American Football. One thing I would change in John's description, I would divide his field (which is 90 metres long) by lines every 9 m, similar to the lines every 10 yards in current American football. Then further subdivide those lines by two lines at the 3 m and 6 m distance from the 9 m lines. In addition, "hash" marks* (I don't know why they're called that) could be added to mark each 1 m distance between the 3, 6, and 9 m lines. This would be similar to the current arrangement of lines every 10 yard (to correspond to the distance the team needs to gain) plus lines half way between the 10 yard lines (resulting in lines every 5 yards) with hash marks every 1 yard. However, although I agree that there are more important things to change before we tackle American Football, getting the NFL** and the NCAA** to make the change as part of a plan to introduce and familiarize the public with metres would be a marvelous publicity bonanza for metrication. (Didn't the Australians do something like that?) As is often the case, I am quick to note that I am NOT proposing that the NFL and NCAA do this or that we recommend that they do it. I'm just playing with the idea of how it could be done. If they ever decide to do it, I'll be ready with my suggestions. (And I will admit that mine are not the only viable ideas.) Bill Hooper 1800 mm tall (50 of my height equals a metric football field of 90 m) Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA *Hash marks are short lines parallel to the main lines on the field. The main lines end all the way across the field while the hash marks are short lines located at each edge of the field and at a distance of 70 ft 9 inches in from each side in Professional football and 60 feet for college football. Te has marks make it easier for the game officials (as well as fans and players) to estimate distance between the main l;ines. **National Football League (NFL), the professional football organization and the Nationals Collegiate Athletic Associations (NCAA), the primary college football organization. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On Dec 31 , at 4:51 PM, John M. Steele wrote: That would be a possibility. Two 40 m lines, an unlabeled 45 m line at mid-field, rather like Canadian grid. Give the chainsmen a 9 m chain for measuring first downs. The field would be slightly shortened, 1.44 m, allowing more seating, and no big tearup. Progress for a 1st down would be shortened by 144 mm. It could be made to work, but I don't know if anyone would accept it. > >We have a lot more important metrication to do first, such as metric beer, >meat, >produce, and highways, or telling the DMV my height in meters, to two decimals. > > > > ________________________________ From: Pat Naughtin <pat.naugh...@metricationmatters.com> >To: U.S. Metric Association <usma@colostate.edu> >Sent: Fri, December 31, 2010 4:22:52 PM >Subject: [USMA:49366] Re: metric gallon > > >On 2011/01/01, at 01:44 , John M. Steele wrote: > >Back to the "tradition." I understand why football would be hard to convert >to >metric without changing the game. It is played on a grid that provides ready >measurement reference, and the 10 yd of forward progress for a first down is >rather fundamental to the game play. I can see ways to change it if all >stadiums were changed at once, but it is not obvious how to change it so games >can be played fairly at a mix of Customary and metric standiums except by soft >conversion. Go the whole nine metres! >
