Abstract:
A method for conducting the game of football is disclosed. In this method, each player is given a designation consisting of a combination of a single letter and certain selected numbers worn on his uniform that directly identifies the player and his assigned position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a method for conducting the game of football. More particularly, this invention relates to a method of designating a player and his assigned position by a combination of a single letter and certain selected numbers worn on the player&#39;s uniform during the game. 
     Certain rules in the game of football place restrictions on players of certain specific positions. Because of these rules, it is often necessary to be able to ascertain at a particular moment during a football game, what position a given player assumed before the ball was put in play. It is also desirable for the fans convenience, as well as that of the sports media (e.g. television) covering the game, to designate players by certain uniform indicia so that each player on every team and his position may be readily identified by reference to the uniform indicia alone. 
     Currently, this is done by placing numbers on various locations of the uniform and, in some instances, by placing the players name on the upper back portion of his jersey. In recent years, a relatively uniform system of numbering has been developed so as to designate positions by a number within a certain range (e.g. quarterbacks Nos. 1-20). While this has worked to some extent, there is a need for further improvement. For example, the present system fails to immediately convey the specific position of a player, whether he is a member of the offensive or defensive team, and whether he is a first team player or a reserve. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object and purpose of this invention to fulfill this need and to provide this further improvement. Other objects and purposes will become more apparent to the skilled artisan once given the following disclosure. 
     Generally speaking, this invention comprises a method for playing football which comprises designating each player with a combined single letter-number code located prominently on a portion of his playing apparel. In preferred embodiments, the letter code designation precedes the number code designation. In further preferred embodiments, the letter code designates the player&#39;s position, while the number code designates offense or defense (e.g. odd numbers for offense, even numbers for defense). In further preferred embodiments, the letters used are the initials of the position played (e.g. Q for quarterback) and the code is located on the helmet and jersey (front, rear and shoulders) of the player. In still further preferred embodiments, the number code also designates whether a player is on the first team or is a reserve and the letter codes are all different. 
     This invention will now be described with respect to certain embodiments in accompaniment with the attached illustrations wherein: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of a head and helmet of a player. 
     FIG. 2 is an upper torso view of the player of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 4 is a partial, front perspective view of the player of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a player prominently displaying a typical letter-number code according to this invention. As illustrated, the code is displayed on his helmet 3 and his jersey 5. The code is prominently displayed on jersey 5 on the rear (FIG. 2), front (FIG. 4) and side shoulders (FIGS. 3-4). The player&#39;s name (e.g. CROW) can also be displayed front and/or rear if desired, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the letter T precedes the number 4, designating T for tackle position and 4, an even number, designating defense. Other combinations can, of course, be used. For example, odd numbering could instead be utilized to designate offensive players with defensive players designated by even numbers. Additionally, the number designations used in connection with each position can also carry a particular meaning. For example, they could be used to designate first team and second team players at a given position (e.g. Q-1 for first team quarterback and Q-3 for second team quarterback). Alternatively, the number designations could also be used to indicate details concerning a particular position of a player (e.g. G-21 and G-23 for left guards and G-25 and G-27 for right guards). 
     Exemplary of designations that can be conveniently used for a team are as follows: 
     EXAMPLE I 
     
         ______________________________________Offense           Letter With Odd NumberQuarterback       Q-1; 3; 5; 7; 9Center            C-11; 13; 15; 17; 19Guards            G-21; 23; 25; 27; 29Tackles           T-31; 33; 35; 37; 39Tight Ends        E-41, 43; 45; 47; 49Wide Receivers    W-51; 53; 55; 57; 59Half Backs        H-61; 63; 65; 67; 69Full Backs        F-71; 73; 75Kickers, Punters  K-81; 83; 85; P-87; 89Defense           Letters With Even NumbersTackles           T-20; 22; 24; 26; 28Ends              E-40; 42; 44; 46; 48Middle Linebackers             M-60; 62; 64; 66; 68Outside Linebackers             L-70; 72; 74; 76Defensive Backs   B-90; 92; 94; 96; 98Defensive Safetys S-2; 4; 6; 8______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE II 
     Forty-Man Squad 
     Key: 
     1) Letter identifies position followed by: 
     2) Odd number for offense 
     3) Even number for defense 
     
         ______________________________________                    NO. OF                    PLAYERS______________________________________OFFENSE     LETTER WITH ODD NUMBERQuarterbacks       Q-1; 3; 5          3Centers     C-11; 13           2Guards      G-21; 23; 25       3Tackles     T-31; 33; 35       3Tight Ends  E-41; 43; 45       3Wide Receivers       W-51; 53; 55       3Half Backs  H-61; 63           2Full Backs  F-71; 73           2Kickers, Punters       K-81; P-87         2       Total              23DEFENSE     LETTER WITH EVEN NUMBERTackles     T-20; 22; 24; 26   4Ends        E-40; 42; 44       3Middle Linebackers       M-60; 62; 64       3Outside Linebackers       L-74; 76           2Corner Backs       B-90; 92; 94       3Safeties    S-2; 4             2       Total              17       Grand Total        40______________________________________ 
    
     It is also possible to use the present invention in combination with teams of greater than forty players. An example of this embodiment of the present invention is set forth below where the rosters of three professional football teams were reviewed to determine the average number of players of each position. A code containing a single letter and a single number was then assigned to each position. It should be noted that the designations in the code also provided an indication of whether each player was on the first or starting team. 
     EXAMPLE III 
     Forty-three Man Squad 
     
         ______________________________________         Total Positions         of Three Teams                    Average______________________________________OffenseCenter        6          2Guard         10         3Kicker        3          1Tackle        8          3Punter        3          1Quarterback   9          3Running back  16         5Tight end     9          3Wide receiver 12         4         76         25DefenseCorner back   9          3Defensive end 10         3Tackle        8          3Linebacker    17         6Safety        9          3         53         18         129        43______________________________________Code as follows:                First Team     Letter-Number                  Total           Total     Designation  Pstns   Designations                                  Pstns______________________________________OffenseCenter    C5, C7       2       C5      1Guard     G1, G3, G5   3       G1, G3  2Kicker    K1           1Tackle    T5, T7, T9   3       T5, T7  2Punter    P1Quarterback     Q5, Q7, Q9   3       Q5      1Running back     R9, R7, R5   5       R9, R7  2     R3, R1Tight end E9, E7, E5   3       E9      1Wide receiver     W1, W3, W5, W7                  4       W1, W3  2                  25              11DefenseCorner back     B8, B6, B4   3       B8, B6  2End       E2, E4, E6   3       E2, E4  2Tackle    T6, T4, T2   3       T6, T4  2Line backer     L2, L4, L6,  6       L2, L4, L6                                  3     L8, L10, L12Safety    S8, S6, S4   3       S8, S6  2                  18              11Total                  43______________________________________ 
    
     In another embodiment of the present invention the better portion of the letter-number code utilizes a different letter to designate each position. In this manner each player of a given position has a letter designation different from players of all other position, regardless of whether they are on the offensive or defensive teams. An example of letter designations that could be used in such a letter-number code are as follows: 
     
         ______________________________________OFFENSE           DEFENSE______________________________________Quarterback Q         Tackles        TCenter      C         Ends           DGuards      G         Middle Linebackers                                MTackles     T         Outside Linebackers                                OTight Ends  E         Corner Backs   BWide Receiver       W         Defensive Safetys                                SHalf Back   HFull Back   FKickers,    K or PPunters______________________________________ 
    
     Once given the above description, many other features, modifications and improvements will become apparent to the skilled artisan. Such other features, modifications and improvements are, therefore, to be considered a part of this invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the following claims: