The NFL has slowly but surely begun to embrace the use of technology on the sidelines in recent years, most notably when it gave coaches and players tablets to use during games two years ago. That was a huge step forward for the league, but the use was limited to still photos of the game action. Video footage on the sideline was still not allowed.
NFL won’t allow sideline video in 2016, but will continue to study it
The league has tabled the proposal that would allow the use of video on the sideline.
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That won’t be changing for the 2016 season, as the owners voted at the recent quarterly meeting in Charlotte to table a proposal that would have allowed coaches on the sidelines and in the booths to watch videos on their tablets. The proposal, put forth by the Competition Committee, was also tabled at the annual meeting in March.
The league wants more time to investigate the potential benefits and stumbling blocks associated with allowing video on NFL sidelines before they make a rule change allowing it. Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer reported that teams will be permitted to access video replays on the sidelines during preseason games this summer as sort of a trial run. The league also allowed access to video replays on the sidelines during exhibition games prior to the 2015 season as well as the most recent Pro Bowl, so this is just an extension of that initial trial.
Traditionalists have long resisted the move to motion pictures, harkening back to the days when teams rolled out the chalkboard on the sidelines and drew up plays with pen and paper on clipboards. However, once the NFL relaxed its rules on the use of computers in-game, the ability to access video during games seemed inevitable. Perhaps it is, but not for the coming season, and some people may be disappointed.
“Longstanding policy prohibited any use of computers on the sidelines,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told Sports Business Journal’s Daniel Kaplan last week. “Commissioner Goodell has embraced technology and encouraged its use to improve the game.
“Football personnel have debated the use of technology on the sidelines. Some people did not want technology to infringe the human element while others wanted to see if it could help the coaches and players.”
The NFL is still near the front of the pack among the four major pro sports league in terms of technology. MLB allowed tablets in dugouts for the first time this year, but like the NFL, video is forbidden. The NBA does not permit access to tablets or computers by coaches courtside. The NHL, on the other hand, does allow access to in-game replays on the bench.
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