Optical Tracking System for 2024

[RedAlice]

NFL to test optical tracking system for line-to-gain rulings in preseason with eyes toward 2024 implementation​

A successful trial run could yield a big change in the NFL in 2024​

The chain may no longer keep us together.

The NFL is moving forward this preseason with an optical tracking system for line-to-gain rulings, sources tell CBS Sports. The system had been tried out in a few NFL stadiums this past season, and it will get a full preseason trial this summer.

If the trial goes well and everyone's on board, the tracking system will be implemented full time for the 2024 NFL regular season, sources say.

In March, the NFL's competition committee quietly approved its use across all teams in the preseason. But before the league fully implements it for the full season, it wants to make sure the system works well enough to be trusted.

All game footballs are microchipped and have been for years. But this technology doesn't employ the chip and instead relies entirely on optical tracking. The system, which was used at MetLife Stadium and Hard Rock Stadium last year, would need to be installed across all 30 NFL stadiums as well as any international stadium where NFL games are played.

NFL to test optical tracking system for line-to-gain rulings in preseason with eyes toward 2024 implementation

A successful trial run could yield a big change in the NFL in 2024

www.cbssports.com

Seems like a good idea.

 

[projectorfreak]

They should just insert a chip in each end of the ball
Problem solved without all the expense , till the patriots cheat again , probably inevitable lol

 

[AROS]

Glad to see this. I've been clammoring for the NFL to adopt this kind of technology for years. Take the guess work and human error part out of it. The ball either made it or it didn't. No judgment calls.

 

[JustTheTip]

Glad to see this. I've been clammoring for the NFL to adopt this kind of technology for years. Take the guess work and human error part out of it. The ball either made it or it didn't. No judgment calls.

Yup, it's ridiculous to rely on officials who can't even see the ball half the time and mistake a white helmet for the ball the other half.

 

[AROS]

Yup, it's ridiculous to rely on officials who can't even see the ball half the time and mistake a white helmet for the ball the other half.

The What Have Been game. For better or worse, I always wondered what would have happened had the Seahawks won that game.

 

[sutz]

Oh, c'mon guys. Who doesn't love seeing a ref come in from 20 yds away to spot the ball, and then measure it to the thickness of a credit card?

 

[Kamcussionator]

I'm curious how this will work.

Scenario 1 -- Running back falling forward: his knee touches, but his body continues forward with momentum.
Scenario 2 -- Tush Push: Ball is in a scrum of bodies, no line of sight to the ball.
Scenario 3 -- Running back stood up and then driven back (forward progress).

At what point does the system decide he's down and spot the ball?

 

[CalgaryFan05]

I'm curious how this will work.

Scenario 1 -- Running back falling forward: his knee touches, but his body continues forward with momentum.
Scenario 2 -- Tush Push: Ball is in a scrum of bodies, no line of sight to the ball.
Scenario 3 -- Running back stood up and then driven back (forward progress).

At what point does the system decide he's down and spot the ball?

It's like computer based voting!

Just trust what the computer says..... it'll be alright....

 

[JPatera76]

Or when the ref who was no where near the play runs up when it should be a 4th down after a 3rd down signals 1st down after gifting an additional yard or two (bad spot/no gain/loss of yard/s)

 

[chris98251]

So this will work like calls up to the booth, the helmet speakers, the audio for the Referees to call plays and the sidelines communications for "visiting" teams, what could go wrong ????

 

[BlueTalon]

They should just insert a chip in each end of the ball

I've been advocating this since SBXL*.

 

[RedAlice]

It says in the article that the balls have microchips. They just dont seem to be doing anything with it.

 

[Kamcussionator]

To be honest, I don't like it for the same reason I don't like replay. I preferred the old days when sports were messy and imperfect. A good/bad call could change the complexion of the game and you rolled with it.

Instant replay didn't get rid of controversy, it got rid of the idea that officiating will be imperfect. And now we all suffer with some games having more time spent in "under review" than in live action.

 

[RiverDog]

I've wondered why they haven't utilized technology more than they have. You could easily replace first down markers with some sort of laser sighting device. Same with a QB being past the LOS when he lets loose of the ball. Putting a chip inside a football might be a little difficult.

I don't ever want to see officiating completely automated to the point where it's all done by robots, but they should be able to have more tools at their disposal.

 

[BlueTalon]

To be honest, I don't like it for the same reason I don't like replay. I preferred the old days when sports were messy and imperfect. A good/bad call could change the complexion of the game and you rolled with it.

Instant replay didn't get rid of controversy, it got rid of the idea that officiating will be imperfect. And now we all suffer with some games having more time spent in "under review" than in live action.

I could live with the occasional bad call, as long as there didn't seem to be any outward bias. Bad calls go both ways, oh well. Bad calls all going in one direction, different story.

 

[RedAlice]

I could live with the occasional bad call, as long as there didn't seem to be any outward bias. Bad calls go both ways, oh well. Bad calls all going in one direction, different story.

Yep. This is where it gets frustrating.

 

[AROS]

I've wondered why they haven't utilized technology more than they have. You could easily replace first down markers with some sort of laser sighting device. Same with a QB being past the LOS when he lets loose of the ball. Putting a chip inside a football might be a little difficult.

I don't ever want to see officiating completely automated to the point where it's all done by robots, but they should be able to have more tools at their disposal.

My thoughts exactly! A multi multi multi billion-dollar sport should utilize the technology that is available to make the game as accurate as possible.

 

[AROS]

It says in the article that the balls have microchips. They just dont seem to be doing anything with it.

I heard they have had them since 10 years ago but the problem is they can't seem to get them as accurate as they need. See RiverDog's post above...They need to change the way they are approaching the technology.

 

[sutz]

I heard they have had them since 10 years ago but the problem is they can't seem to get them as accurate as they need. See RiverDog's post above...They need to change the way they are approaching the technology.

Well, I don't believe GPS is accurate enough to spot a football on a field quite yet. You need to have the local field gridded out electronically somehow, and in a way that is not line of sight. Spotting the ball in the bottom of the pile has to be better than the current system, not worse. Then, of course, you have to transmit that info to the refs on the field when they position the ball after the play.

I worked in high tech for a lot of years and it seems a bit tricky to me. I've been out of it for a while, though. Seems it should be doable.

 

[RiverDog]

Well, I don't believe GPS is accurate enough to spot a football on a field quite yet. You need to have the local field gridded out electronically somehow, and in a way that is not line of sight. Spotting the ball in the bottom of the pile has to be better than the current system, not worse. Then, of course, you have to transmit that info to the refs on the field when they position the ball after the play.

I worked in high tech for a lot of years and it seems a bit tricky to me. I've been out of it for a while, though. Seems it should be doable.

Agree about GPS.

But even so, there's off the shelf technology that they should be able to utilize. Having a laser on one sideline and a reflector at the other to determine if a ball is at the first down marker or to define the LOS should be relatively simple. It would also speed up the game, take a little pressure off the refs.

They might be able to utilize AI to spot a ball at the bottom of a pile or determine if the ball crossed the plane. Take a mosaic of pictures from different angles and deduce where it must have been. They sort of do that now on reviews, but AI should be able to get the right call faster.