Electronic Flag Football Marker With Play, Go, And Throw Clocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for enforcing the rules in flag football have several flaws. First, even enforcement of conventional delay-of-game rules in flag football have several flaws. Second, existing methods for enforcing the rules above (as well as play clock rules) in flag football have several flaws, including the lack of stadium and electronic scoreboard facilities for many flag football games, leading to improper or non-optimal enforcement and strategic influence on the game due to lack of play clock visibility.
Innovation Solution
An electronic down-marker system with integrated timers and displays configured to display a play clock, go clock, and throw clock, and accept user inputs via input devices, capable of wireless communication with remote computing devices to automatically start and stop timers, increasing accuracy and freeing officials to observe the game.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional timing methods (stopwatch, wrist-watch) are used to enforce delay-of-game rules, then officials can time the game, but enforcement accuracy decreases and officials are distracted from observing the game
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic down-marker system automatically times and displays play clock, go clock, and throw clock periods without requiring official intervention. The system serves itself by automatically starting, stopping, and displaying timing information, freeing officials to focus on game observation while maintaining high timing precision through electronic measurement.
2Measurement precision
If multiple dedicated officials are assigned to time different periods (play clock, pass-rush period, throw period), then timing accuracy improves, but device complexity and operational burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic down-marker system performs multiple timing functions simultaneously through a single device. It displays play clock, go clock, and throw clock periods on separate displays, eliminating the need for multiple officials to coordinate timing. The system universally handles all timing requirements for different game periods, reducing operational complexity while maintaining precision.
3Device complexity
If no electronic scoreboard or play clock facilities are provided, then device complexity decreases, but enforcement reliability and player visibility of timing information deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic down-marker acts as an intermediary device that bridges the gap between simple portability and reliable timing enforcement. It provides electronic display capabilities for accurate timing information without requiring full stadium scoreboard infrastructure. The device can be positioned on the sideline to provide visible timing information to players and officials, ensuring reliable enforcement while maintaining portability.
4Ease of operation
If officials manually signal timing expiration, then communication to players is achieved, but error probability increases and game flow is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic down-marker system provides automatic visual feedback to players and officials when timing periods expire. The display shows when the play clock, go clock, or throw clock reaches zero, eliminating manual signaling errors. The system continuously monitors and communicates timing status, ensuring accurate enforcement while maintaining smooth game flow without requiring official intervention for each timing event.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic sideline marker for use in football comprises a first display configured to display an indication of a down and a second display configured to display one or more timers. The second display may be configured to display a play clock, a go-clock, and/or a throw-clock. A play clock may first be displayed, and the marker may then receive an indication (e.g., a button press) that the football has been snapped, at which point display of the play clock may be replaced with display of a go-clock. The marker may be configured to output indications when the play clock, go-clock, and/or throw-clock expire. The marker may be configured to electronically communicate with one or more other markers for use in the football game, or one or more other remote electronic devices such as sensors in flag football belts, flags, and/or footballs.