NFL set for MAJOR technology change next season… but it must be pass trials in preseason before getting green light
- The NFL could implement optical tracking technology for the 2024 season
- The progress is already being applied in sports such as football and tennis
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
The NFL plans to test an optical tracking technology for line-to-gain calls this preseason.
According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, the league is preparing to test the advanced method in the preseason, with a chance to implement it full-time in the regular season.
If the trial run goes well, it could mean a demotion for the chain gang. However, Jones added that chain officials would remain on the field as a backup if the technology struggled.
Jones reported that the NFL’s Competition Committee quietly approved optical tracking in March. Nevertheless, as noted earlier, the entire implementation will depend on how well or terribly the test run goes.
Despite its dominance in the sports market, the NFL is significantly outdated compared to other leagues when it comes to the use of technological advancements.
The NFL will test optical tracking technology this preseason in hopes of full implementation
Fans fear that full implementation of the rule could mean a demotion for the chain gang
The NFL reportedly plans to keep the chain officials on the field as a backup for the technology
Incorrect line-to-gain calls have long been responsible for changing games throughout NFL history. So optical tracking could prove to be a game-changing advance if all goes according to plan.
While optical tracking technology is new to the NFL, several sports leagues have adopted it in previous years. Sports such as football and tennis were among the first to benefit from the innovation.
In 2012, goal-line technology was first implemented in football during the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan. In 2014, GLT became widely used in domestic and international competitions around the world after the Premier League implemented it in the 2013–14 season.
Two years later, the International Football Association board approved the use of a video assistant referee (VAR). The VAR is essentially an additional official who can view the game from multiple camera angles, providing an extra set of eyes for the referees on the field.
In March 2006, the ATP introduced the Hawk-eye system. The technology, developed by Dr. Paul Hawkins, was a game changer in tennis because referees could automatically detect where the ball landed on the court during matches.