The Canadian Football League has teamed up with SkyCoach to become the first professional football league in the world to use sideline instant replay video during regular season games. The league had used SkyCoach during the preseason games and has now opted to continue for its complete regular season schedule.
Coaches and players are now able to view game video on the sideline and in the press box during games. The system consists of a camera and TV system that monitor games and practices. The TV connects to a tablet or smart phone so coaches can select what they want to have reviewed and control what is seen. Then it is viewed on a TV or directly on a tablet.
Sideline studies?#CFLGameDay #roadtrip pic.twitter.com/hSLmPZyyJd
— Toronto Argonauts (@TorontoArgos) July 8, 2016
SkyCoach provides sideline instant replay to many teams around the world, although the Canadian Football League is the first professional football organization to enable reviewing of game video on the sidelines during regular season play.
Link to Sports Illustrated article.
The NFL will only use replay video in exhibition games this year, while the NCAA has postponed the use of in-game video until the 2017 season.
The system enables coaches and players to review the last play immediately after it occurred, as well as filter for prior plays based on specific selections tagged by spotters.
Keith Simpson, CEO of SkyCoach:
“SkyCoach revolutionized high school football by providing in game video replay to coaches and players. We knew it was only a matter of time before professional sports organizations would implement similar technology. The CFL is paving a path to the future for professional sports organizations by adopting in game video review. We are very excited to work with such a forward thinking organization.”
Photo: AP
Glen Johnson, SVP Football at the CFL:
“We continuously evaluate new technologies and methods to improve our game. Our Competition Committee was convinced that being able to view game video via tablets on the sideline would improve the product on the field. The SkyCoach solution gave us the opportunity to prove them right in a very timely and cost effective way.”
CFL Teams began using SkyCoach during exhibition games, as well as preseason practice beginning in June.
Ross Folan, Director of Video Operations and I.T. Coordinator for the Calgary Stampeders:
“The SkyCoach instant replay system has proved to be a real asset to both our players and coaches this season. We use SkyCoach on both the sideline and in the spotters’ box to review video and make immediate adjustments during the game. The system has been deployed successfully at each CFL stadium meaning the coaches can count on having their SkyCoach video on the road as well as at home. The Calgary Stampeders are pleased not only with the product but also with the SkyCoach team’s strong level of support that comes with it.”
Sources: SkyCoach, Sports Illustrated