Instant Replay 1

Heading: Instant Replay

Your name:

Course name:

Professors’ name:

Date

Instant Replay 2

Outline

Introduction

Thesis Statement: Instant replay technology has both positive and negative effects on

professional football

Definition of instant replay

How instant replay has changed professional sports

Ways in which the use of instant replay has affected football

Ways in which the use of instant replay has impacted basket ball

How the use of the employment of instant replay has affected base ball

The impact of using instant replay technology in tennis

How sports use challenges

What is the impact of using these challenges in sports?

Instant Replay 3

Introduction

Technology has played a great role in shaping sports in the modern world. There has been a

significant change in the world sports over years, and the employment of technology is part of

the contributors of this transformation. Some of the technological applications in sports today are

instant replay, soccer goal line, hawk-eye, computer software technologies. These technologies

have been influential in enabling referees and umpires make appropriate calls, improve accuracy,

enhanced human judgment, and regulated pace of the game. Nevertheless, some people argue

that these technologies have negative effects on sports in that they slow down the game, can

break or make the game, can go wrong, ruins the game’s momentum, and costly. This essay

attempts to examine the impact of introducing instant replay in football, and other games like

baseball, basketball, and tennis. Additionally, it sheds light on how challenges are used in sports,

and the effects of using these challenges in sports.

Thesis statement-Instant replay technology has both positive and negative effects on

professional football.

Definitions

According to Raney and Bryant (2006, pp. 34-36), instant replay refers to an act of replaying

video footage of an incident or event immediately after it has happened. In television sports

events broadcasts, instant replay is usually used during a live broadcast. This helps to

demonstrate a passage that was significant or remarkable, or that was inexplicit at first sight.

Various sports firms allow referees and other officials to check with replay footage prior to

making or changing a decision about dubious or unclear play. This can be referred to as video

Instant Replay 4

umpire, video referee, third umpire, television match official, or instant replay official. Other

organizations only allow video evidence after the end of the competition, for instance, in

penalizing a player for misbehavior that was not seen by officials in the course of the play

(Austin, 2008, pp. 124-127).

How instant replay has changed professional sports

Instant replay has brought a variety of changes in sports in the contemporary world. Instant

replay’s initial implementation took place in the National Football League (NFT) in 1986. The

main purpose of this technology then was to help in the review of controversial calls, a blend of

griping coaches and effective cameras resulted in its early collapse in 1992. The rise of modern

technology and changed rules paved way for newly modified system in 1999. The system has

been instrumental in the promotion of fairness in the league by allowing top coaches to confront

two plays in every game (Austin, 2008, pp. 124-127).

Through the employment of the new system, coaches can challenge catches, fumbles,

touchdowns and the ball’s spot. Nonetheless, a coach cannot challenge penalties, fore-outs, the

clock’s status, and inadvertent whistles. Besides, referees may now review plays via a monitor in

a field that uses six distinct camera angles. They are also allowed 90 seconds to stick to their first

ruling, or reverse it. The major aim of using instant replay technology by referees is ensure that

right calls are made in the game’s main junctions. It is highly imperative since one team’s

playoff hopes or championship can depend largely on a single play (Raney & Bryant, 2006, pp.

34-36).

Even though instant replay has changed the professional football positively, the objective f

making an appropriate call has not been achieved. As a result, there has been flurry of

controversy that surrounds non-reviewable and reviewable plays. Over the last decade, the

Instant Replay 5

results of the five playoff games have been fully altered by the rules, alongside bad ruling by

referees. Consequently, NFL commissioner has executed the tuck rule and considered field goals

together with unlawful forward handoffs as analyzable plays so as to facilitate the alleviation of

controversy (Austin, 2008, pp. 124-127).

Positive effects of instant replay in football

Instant replay has a number of benefits in football. To begin with, it facilitates the reduction

of human error in the game. Human beings are prone to making mistakes most often, but this

nature is inadequate excuse for the adverse effects of their mistakes. Austin (2008, pp. 124-127)

says that when referees make inappropriate calls, there is a likelihood of negatively affecting the

whole game. Instant replay technology gives referees, umpires and other officials an opportunity

to have a close review of dubious or unclear plays prior to making their final calls. Gamache

(2010, pp. 120-125) asserts that the ability of zooming in and running the play in slow motion

helps them to determine with greater accuracy if plays were done appropriately. For instance, in

a football competition, instant replay enables sports officials to determine whether a football pass

was completed. This technology is enhanced by the fact that coverage is done from all angles of

the field; thus officials can make accurate and appropriate rulings unlike if they were depending

on their own vantage perspective (Raney & Bryant, 2006, pp. 34-36).

In addition, Grant (2008, pp. 357-360) says that the use of instant play technology in

professional football has enabled the game to keep up with technology. The fact that technology

has transformed almost all parts of society, sports incidences or events must be exempted from

these developments. Originally, sports largely relied on referees’ and umpires’ in the judgment

of plays and making of calls since this kind of technology was inexistent. Grant (2008, pp. 357-

360) notes that with the increase in the ability to watch every play closely, instant play has

Instant Replay 6

become one of the most effective tools to use; thus it allows officials do their jobs effectively and

precisely. Therefore, instant replay has been highly indispensable in sports, particularly in

football for it moves with technological advancement.

Grant (2008, pp. 357-360) also maintains that instant replays can provide a team that could

not beat a blown call initially with another chance of winning. It does this because it enhances

accuracy in reviewing of plays by officials. This is considered as the key benefit of the system in

football since it allows officials make the right decisions (Austin, 2008, pp. 124-127). This

mostly favors the team that gets a call made on them reversed after the review. Interestingly, this

implies that a team cannot get away with an incident that it would have escaped in the past. The

fact that this system is right most of the times has helped in making proper decisions as regards

football plays. It also reduces the referees’ burden of having an extra skill of perfection in the

game. This is because most of them largely depend on the system in making significant decisions

in the games involved (Austin, 2008, pp. 124-127). Thus, instant replay has been instrumental in

sports because it promotes fairness among teams of a particular game.

Negative effects of using instant replays in football

Like any other technological system, instant replay in football has its share of drawbacks.

Firstly, use of instant replay technology in sports, especially in football does not completely

alleviate human mistakes (Grant, 2008, pp. 357-360). Despite the fact that it was developed with

a key objective of facilitating right calls from referees and other officials, the technology has

failed to remove all the human errors in sports. This, therefore, requires that game officials

review instant replay footage in an appropriate manner so as to avoid interference of the game.

With the continuous advancement of modern technology, cable, network and fans recordings can

capture the play from various perspectives than the officials have access to at the time the call is

Instant Replay 7

made (Hanson, 2008, pp. 51-60). If eventually video clarifies that the instant replay call was

inappropriate, then the fans might wonder why the league wasted money and time on the

employment of the technological system (Grant, 2008, pp. 357-360). Therefore, instant play has

negatively affected football because it does not help reduce or remove wrong calls made by

game officials.

Secondly, Austin (2008, pp. 124-127) notes that the employment of instant replay technology

in football games is inappropriate. This is because it causes a lot of disruptions in the game;

hence discouraging the players and the fans. In a football game, every instant replay consumes a

lot of time in the replay and review. Often, the game must be replayed a number of times before

officials make their final decisions or judgments. Consequently, the process delays the game by

slowing it down and detracting from the flow of spectators’ experience (Browne, 2001, pp. 774-

775). Although this can be very enjoyable for the viewers at home who watch broadcasts, this is

unpleasant for the live viewers since they want to watch the game with little interference.

Additionally, despite the fact that instant replay of games can enhance making right calls by

officials, some games do not rely on a single call; hence it results in unessential interruption most

of the times (Hanson, 2008, pp. 51-60).

Thirdly, Harris (2009, pp. 155-158) says that some individuals argue that instant replay

technology is not a perfect way of making judgments in football games. This is because the

system eliminates human element in the game and relies on machines. Some of the opponents

also assert that the system is interruptive in that coaches and referees spend a lot of time trying to

make u their minds on what they view in the video footage (Raney & Bryant, 2006, pp. 34-36).

To this group of people, mistakes are normal in life and so to sports, in fact, they assert that such

mistakes as inappropriate calls made by game officials are part of the game. Besides, the system

Instant Replay 8

might soon render referees and umpires in sports useless since their judgments are always

considered inappropriate without consultations with video footage (Browne, 2001, pp. 774-775).

Even though instant replays provide accurate rulings, the game still needs an act of a

sensory and mental interpretation form the replay official. Two people can view the same video

footage and come up with varied conclusions in most instances, just as two individuals can watch

the same play live and draw different conclusions. The process of slowing down a play by the

instant replay technology truly brings out a distinct perspective, which is not essentially correct.

Impliedly, it offers a different explanation; hence a varied interpretation of the incidences

depicted (Hanson, 2008, pp. 51-60).

Effects of instant replay in basketball

In terms of basketball, application of instant replays technology has been so influential. This

is because it allows referees to ensure that players are making shots within the allocated time as

per the shot clock (Grant, 2008, pp. 357-360). The referees can also employ instant replay

technology to determine who is in possession of the ball and the amount of time that still remains

before a playoff. However, determination of the ball’s possession is not too obsessive to make

the officials spend a long time in the video. Instead, the process of making reviews is obsessive,

and it can ruin the flow of the game and discourage the fans (Hanson, 2008, pp. 51-60).

Therefore, in spite of ensuring the making of correct calls and right rulings, the technology is

distractive to the game. Besides, just like in football, the application of instant replay technology

in basketball may not always lead to correct calls.

Effects of instant replays in baseball

Just like in other games, Hanson (2008, pp. 51-60) argues that the employment of instant

replays in baseball is beneficial in improving accuracy of the judgments and calls made by

Instant Replay 9

referees, umpires, and other officials. It helps the referees to determine whether the bases made

are genuine or stolen. Additionally, it clarifies if the base-runner scores or fails to score

throughout the game, or in the innings. This is also beneficial in that it keeps sports video in

entirety. Moreover, it helps officials in the determination of whether a team scores runs or fails.

It also helps examine the strike zone, and the beginning of seventh inning in home plate and all

other bases (Trombulak, 2011).

Despite these advantages, instant replay remains unsuitable for baseball. If instant replay

system is being abused and executed for each close call, it can irritate the live viewers. Though

the speed of the technology is being consistently improved, it needs further development so as to

make things bearable (Hanson, 2008, pp. 51-60). In fact, there have been situations in which the

process took seven minutes for an instant replay. Nevertheless, this period of time cannot be

termed as instant under any circumstance. Therefore, there is fear that too much focus on instant

replay in baseball can weaken the efficiency and role of umpires. What is more, Grant (2008, pp.

357-360) says that fans may no longer want to believe in their own judgment anymore. Although

it is true that umpires can make mistakes, superseding their rulings when the call was very close

to human eye may negatively influence their credibility.

Effects of instant replay in tennis

In tennis game, hawk-eye technology, which is an instant replay digitalized system, has

brought a number of benefits to referees, teams and spectators. The technology was produced by

corporation information 10 cameras with high speed, which individually capture the ball’s

position at 50 frames per second. Further, the technology operates as every camera computer

calculates the ball’s real center in each frame, and that 2-dimensional information is

communicated into mainframe situated in a control room. Instantly, exact landing spot and

Instant Replay 10

trajectory of the ball are shown in 3-dimensions and high definition. Owing to the technology’s

immediacy and efficiency, the replay system is increasingly getting popular with tennis fans.

Additionally, the instant replay system facility is so entertaining that the game officials have

requested technicians in the control rooms to pause for some seconds, so as to allow the build-up

of suspense, prior to showing the replay to audiences watching television and those in attendance

(Hanson, 2008, pp. 51-60).

Nevertheless, this technology has its critics too, just like in other games. These individuals

are worried about go beyond the line of adjudicators authority in search for accuracy and

correctness. They view this as unhealthy to tennis game in that it eliminates human element,

which is crucial in the game. In fact, without this element, the game is rendered mechanical.

Additionally, they assert that the cost of implementing the technology is very expensive; hence,

the spectators are compelled to pay extra charges so as to watch sports.

How to use challenges and their effects on sports

In instant replay technology, a coach who opposes the referee’s call may request referees to

review the call with instant replay. Coaches are allowed to challenge at most two calls in every

game. Nevertheless, if they challenge a call and referees rule after the review that the call holds

the team that gave a challenge loses a timeout (Browne, 2001, pp. 774-775). In order to

successfully challenge a call, a coach should make the challenge before the snapping of the ball

and the beginning of the next game. To signal a challenge, a coach raises a red flag or throws a

red flag onto the playing field. However, the must wait for replay’s review by the referees or

watch the replay in the big screens in the stadium prior to giving a challenge (Hanson, 2008, pp.

51-60).

Instant Replay 11

These challenges have both negative and positive sides in the games involved. To begin with,

they are positive in that they facilitate fairness in the games. Because of the high speed of the

modern games, referees often make inaccurate calls. Therefore, these instant replay challenges

provide teams with a chance to reverse the rare wrong calls. On the other hand, these challenges

can slow down the game; thus they are never instant. Similar to common interruptions, such as,

clock stoppages, timeouts and penalties, instant replay challenges alleviate what fans like about

football; its excitement and speed.

Conclusion

Technology has been influential in the development of modern sports in society. Explicitly,

technology has caused a great impact on professional sports in the world. The use of instant

replay technology is has been instrumental in enhancing accuracy, human judgment, pace, and

making appropriate calls by umpires and referees. In spite of these benefits, instant replay

technology eliminates excitement, speed and human element in a game; hence discouraging

spectators, teams and officials. They have also weakened referees’ credibility and strained

spectators’ belief in their own judgment. Owing to this technology, coaches have managed to

issue challenges so as to reverse certain mistakes made by referees.

Instant Replay 12

References

Austin, M.W. (2008.). Football and philosophy: going deep. Lexington, KY: University Press of

Kentucky. Pp. 124-127.

Browne, P. (2001). The guide to United States popular culture. Bowling Green, OH: Bowling

Green State University Popular Press. Pp. 774-775.

Harris, R. (2009). A cognitive psychology of mass communication. New York, NY: Routledge.

Pp. 155-158.

Gamache, R. (2010). A history of sports highlights: replayed plays from Edison to ESPN.

Jefferson, N.C: McFarland & Co. Pp. 120-125.

Grant, R. (2008). The economics of intercollegiate sports. Singapore Hackensack, NJ: World

Scientific. Pp. 357-360.

Hanson, C. (2008).The Instant Replay Time and Time Again. Spectator 28(2), 51-60.

http://cinema.usc.edu/assets/096/15633.pdf

Raney, A.A. & Bryant, J. (2006). Handbook of sports and media. Mahwah, N.J: L. Erlbaum

Associates. pp. 34-36.

Trombulak, I. (2011).Batting Around: Baseball must embrace modern technology. Addison

Independent County. http://www.addisonindependent.com/node/8374.

Instant Replay 13