Growing up, I often dreamt of making it to the NFL, so when I heard about the infamous NFL Combine, I was dying to learn more. After all, the Combine is the ultimate test of athleticism and physical aptitude for aspiring NFL players. With that said, one thing I’ve always been curious of is how they measure heights during the Combine? Well, it turns out there’s a very particular way they do it, and here’s why it matters.
When it comes to measuring height, Combine officials have to strike a balance between accuracy and convenience. To start, athletes don’t simply stand against a wall. Instead, the official utilizes what’s called “the Vertec method,” a method that relies on three simple rules. The first is very straightforward – athletes stand in a military attention position, with the heels together and the arms at the sides. Second, the athletes are positioned next to the Vertec bars. The bars are like rods or dials with varying heights; this allows the official to adjust the precision of the measurements, down to a quarter of an inch. And jake franklin nfl the third step is to move the bar to the height of the athletes’ heads. What’s unique about this method is that it avoids unnatural positions for the athlete or official while still yielding an efficient measurement.
I was also interested to learn how do i know my nfl ticked it working players are being incentivized to present a true height. To be sure, the NFL requires that all athlete’s height be in the “NFL verified database”. This is a collection of athletic measurements that have been collected over the years and stored in one location. The athletes’ listing is only as accurate as the data is, so there’s no masking or fudging of data. This is why the Vertec method is so important – it helps to ensure accuracy with the measurements.
Furthermore, the height measurements being taken during the combine are “Yards Per Inch” or YPI, which is a statistical measurement of height. This helps to set a standard for any players who’re attempting to increase their height while still remaining within the acceptable limits. It’s not only important to place appropriate measurements but also important to keep in mind the athleticism and physical capabilities of the players. YPI helps to ensure that any measurements taken are reliable and players have an added incentive to give the actual heights.
Lastly, it’s worth noting that the height measurements taken at the Combine aren’t just for the athletes’ benefit. The NFL itself also relies heavily on the accuracy of these measurements, which is why they’ve established and refined the Vertec method for taking them. This ensures that players are accurately measured and placed into the correct position and that any changes in height from the time of the Combine and the time of the NFL Draft are accurately accounted for.
