Abstract: A football yardage chain apparatus for more accurately detecting first downs includes a unit housing having a pole aperture extending from a top side through a bottom side and a channel extending through to the pole aperture from proximal the bottom side to the top side. A pole is coupled through the pole aperture and a chain connector is coupled proximal a bottom end of the pole. A marker bar has a hinge coupled within the channel and swingingly moves between a stored position parallel with the pole and an alternative extended position configured to extend to a height proximal a nose of a football resting horizontally on the ground. A back side of the marker bar lies coplanar with a tangent plane of the pole at a point of union with the chain connector.

Abstract: A football yardage chain apparatus for more accurately detecting first downs includes a unit housing having a pole aperture extending from a top side through a bottom side and a channel extending through to the pole aperture from proximal the bottom side to the top side. A pole is coupled through the pole aperture and a chain connector is coupled proximal a bottom end of the pole. A marker bar has a hinge coupled within the channel and swingingly moves between a stored position parallel with the pole and an alternative extended position configured to extend to a height proximal a nose of a football resting horizontally on the ground. A back side of the marker bar lies coplanar with a tangent plane of the pole at a point of union with the chain connector.