The dicker-rod (also spelled dickerod) was used in the defunct World Football League in 1974 for the purpose of replacing the first down chains more commonly used in gridiron football organizations. The device was invented and patented by George Dicker of Orange County, California. The dicker-rod was intended for convenience. A full chain crew was not needed, and measurements could be conducted by one person instead of the typical three. However, it never caught on, and the three-man chain crew remains the standard.