Instant replay

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Instant replay is a technology that allows broadcast of a previously occurring event using recorded video. This is most commonly used in sports; by on television to replay previous plays for the viewer, often from other angles than shown in the main broadcast, and also on video screens at live events. The footage is often played at a slow motion frame rate to allow more detailed analysis by the viewer and commentators. More advanced technology has allowed for more complex replays, such as pausing, and viewing the replay frame by frame.

Several sports leagues have taken advantage of the long-utilized tool by introducing a rule which allows the use of instant replay by officials. This allows them to review plays and ensure the correct call has been made. Leagues using instant replay include the National Hockey League, National Football League, Canadian Football League, National Basketball Association, and Major League Baseball.

[edit] History

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation invented the first form of instant replay in 1955, when director George Retzlaff used a "hot processor" to develop kinescope footage of goals within 30 seconds to replay on Hockey Night in Canada.^{[1] [2]}

Instant replay using videotape technology was still being developed by Ampex in the mid-1950s.^{[citation needed]} The company would eventually come up with one of the first devices dedicated for this purpose.^[3][4]

The first instant replay occurred December 7, 1963 during the Army-Navy Game played in Philadelphia and telecast by CBS-TV. It was invented by CBS Sports' top director, Tony Verna.^[5] Verna's account of how he was able to combine the limited abilities of the videotape machines can be found in two of his early books, Live TV and Global Television (both Focal Press) and the 2008 book release: Instant Replay, the day that changed sports forever from Creative Publishers International. A personal account of the telecast can be found in the autobiography of the game announcer Lindsey Nelson (Hello Everybody, I'm Lindsey Nelson).

[edit] Use by officials

[edit] American football

[edit] Canadian football

The Canadian Football League board of governors approved the use of instant replay starting in 2006.^[6] The CFL system appears to be modeled largely on the NFL's, although some differences have been incorporated to accommodate differences between the two codes:

• CFL teams are allowed two challenges per game - there is no provision for a third challenge.
• Since CFL teams are only allowed one time out per half (as opposed to three in the NFL), the first challenge has no effect on time outs whether successful or not. Only if the second challenge is unsuccessful will the time out be charged.
• Teams cannot challenge in the final three minutes of the second half or in overtime, however a replay official may initiate a review during these times (the CFL uses a three minute warning, not the two minute warning used in the NFL).

[edit] Basketball

In NBA basketball, the officials must watch an instant replay of a buzzer beater to determine if the shot was released before time expired. Since 2002, the NBA also has mandated installation of light strips on both the backboard and the scorer's table that illuminate when time expires, in order to assist with any potential review.

Beginning with the 2007-08 season, replay also can be used in determining players being ejected from contests involving brawls or flagrant fouls. In the 2008-09 season, replay may also be used to correctly determine whether a scored field goal is worth two or three points. It may also be used to determine the correct amount of free throws awarded for a missed field goal. ^[7]

In college basketball, the same procedure may also be used to determine if a shot was released before time expired in either half or an overtime period. In addition, NCAA rules allow the officials to use instant replay to determine if a field goal is worth two or three points, who is to take a free throw, whether a fight occurred and who participated in a fight. The officials may also check if the shot was made before the expiration of the shot clock, but only when such a situation occurs at the end of a half. Such rules have also required the NCAA to write new rules stating that, when looking at instant replay video, the zeros on the clock, not the horn or red light, now determine the end of the game.^[8]

In Italy, host broadcaster Sky agreed with LEGA A for the adoption of instant replay for special tournaments and playoff games, and in 2005, for the entire season. Instant replay would be used automatically on situations similar to the NCAA, but coaches may, like the NFL, have one coach's challenge to challenge a two or three point shot, officials may determine who last touched the ball in an out-of-bounds situation, or back-court violations.

The adoption of instant replay would be crucial in the 2005 LEGA A championship between Armani Jeans Milano and Climamio Bologna. Bologna led the best-of-five series, 2-1, with Game 4 in Milan, and the home team leading 65-64, as Climamio's Ruben Douglas connected on a three-point basket at the end of the game to apparently win the LEGA A championship.

Officials, knowing the 12,000 fans on both sides would learn the fate of the series on their call, watched replays of the shot before determining it was valid.

The ULEB will adopt instant replay for the 2006 Euroleague Final Four and made a rule change determining the lights on the backboard, not the horn, will end a period, thus assisting with instant replay.^[9]

On April 6, 2006, FIBA announced instant replay for last-second shots would be legal for their competitions.

"The referee may use technical equipment to determine on a last shot made at the end of each period or extra period, whether the ball has or has not left the player's hand(s) within the playing time."^[10]

[edit] Ice hockey

In the National Hockey League, goals may only be reviewed in the following situations:

• puck crossing the goal line completely
• puck in the net prior to end of period
• puck in the net prior to goal frame being dislodged
• puck being directed into the net by hand or foot
• puck in the net after deflecting directly off an official
• puck deflected into the goal by the high stick by an attacking player

The review may only be initiated by the on-ice referees or by the video replay judge; neither team can initiate a review. Such a review must take place immediately (if play is stopped) or at the next stoppage in play (if play continues). In the Winter Olympics ice hockey tournament, all goals scored are automatically reviewed to ensure they were legitimate. The NHL also reviews all goals. In addition to goals scored, many plays in the NHL are monitored in "the war room" at the NHL league office in Toronto by head replay official (and former Winnipeg Jet) Kris King and his assistants, who can contact replay judges at games (usually high-level local referees) and ask them to review the plays, or to mete out punishments to players for illegal on-ice actions that were not noticed by the on-ice officials.

[edit] Major League Baseball

Box containing the console for MLB instant replay reviews at Safeco Field. This console is located in the tunnel between the field and the umpires' clubhouse.

Major League Baseball implemented a system similar to that in the NHL for the last month of the 2008 season and beyond. Instant replay may only be used to review boundary home run calls to determine:

• fair (home run) or foul
• whether the ball actually left the playing field
• whether the ball was subject to spectator interference

A technician and an official (either an umpire supervisor or former umpire) monitor all games occurring at any given time from MLB.com's office in New York City (similar to the NHL system). Though a player or coach may argue for a review, final determination of whether a review will occur lies solely with the umpire crew chief, usually after consultation with the rest of the umpiring crew. If a crew chief believes a replay is warranted, he will go to a special console installed at every ballpark – accompanied by one or more members of the umpiring crew – and call the technician using the phone attached to the console. The technician in turn will feed the appropriate footage to the television screen. Upon reviewing the footage, the umpire must see "clear and convincing evidence" that the call on the field was incorrect in order to reverse it. Additionally, in the case of a home run call that is reversed (e.g., to a double), the crew chief is responsible for the placement of baserunners where they should have ended up had the correct call been made. ^[11]

General managers voted 25-5 in November 2007 on this system.^[12]

Further to their advertising deal with MLB during the 2008 season, all monitors used for the instant replay will be Sharp Aquos models. ^[13]

Instant Replay in MLB actually had been used once before in the 1999 season during a Florida Marlins home game at LandShark Stadium. This was the first instance in which instant replay was utilized in Major League Baseball. ^[14] While playing the St. Louis Cardinals, Cliff Floyd hit a ball off of the top of the left field scoreboard. Originally ruled a home run, NL Umpire Frank Pulli reversed the call to a double, after consulting a TV monitor in the Marlins dugout. The Cardinals would win the game, 5-2, and after the game, the Naional League Office declared the umpires erred in using Instant Replay. MLB would not use Instant Replay again for almost a decade.^[15]

Replay made its official, sanctioned MLB debut at Tropicana Field on September 3, 2008 after Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees hit a ball near the left-field foul pole that was initially ruled a home run by third base umpire Brian Runge. Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon and catcher Dioner Navarro argued that the ball was foul and asked for a review. After a conversation among the umpires, crew chief Charlie Reliford allowed the replay to take place and after review, upheld the home run call.^[16]

The first instance of an umpire's call being overturned by instant replay also occurred at Tropicana Field. On September 19, 2008, in the bottom of the 4th inning with two men on, Carlos Peña of the Rays hit the ball just over the fence in right field. The umpires originally ruled that there was spectator interference, but after several minutes of viewing replays, the umpires returned to the field and signaled it a home run, extending the Rays' lead to 9-0 at that point.^[17]

Aside from the two aforementioned reviews at Tampa Bay, review was used four additional times during the 2008 regular season: twice at Houston, once at Seattle, and once at San Francisco.

On March 16, 2009, during the 2009 World Baseball Classic, instant replay appeared to have been used for the first time in the tournament's history at Dolphin Stadium to give Venezuela a home run against Puerto Rico. The play in question involved the ball being hit into a space between the top of a left field wall and seats in the stadium only used for football games, with the ball coming back into the field of play. Initially ruled a base hit, the umpires went into the third-base side dugout where the replay would normally be reviewed. Crew chief Ed Rapuano stated in a postgame press conference that there was never any replay, because the "war room" in New York City was unable to send him a replay of the play in question. The umpires, two from the United States and two from Japan, then worked with a translator to make a final ruling. Three of the four umpires said they believed it was a home run, and when third-base umpire Hitoshi Watarida was asked by Rapuano if he was "110 percent sure" that it was a home run, Watarida said yes. Nearly 10 minutes after first entering the dugout, the umpires returned to the field and awarded the Venezuelan team with a home run.^[18]

On June 19, instant replay was used twice in a game, during the game of the Detroit Tigers vs the Milwaukee Brewers, the first time in league history. ^[19]

[edit] Tennis

In tennis, systems such as MacCAM Auto-Ref and Hawk-Eye are used to replay close or controversial line calls during network broadcasts of the game, although Hawk-Eye replays are 3D renderings and not actual footage. Starting in 2006, the USTA began using Hawk-Eye to allow players to challenge close calls in some professional matches, starting with the NASDAQ-100 Open. Players are allowed two incorrect challenges per set, and one extra for a tiebreak. This technology made its Grand Slam debut in the 2006 US Open. In 2007 Wimbledon installed Hawk-Eye on centre court and court 1, leaving the older Cyclops on the remaining courts.

[edit] Rugby

Instant replay has been widespread in the rugby codes for many years, especially rugby league. Replay calls, from the referee, can vary from the correct grounding of a ball at a try or to decide whether a player is onside before they catch the ball, when they score. However, in rugby union, the video referee can only be called to adjudicate on a possible scoring play or events in the in-goal area. The decision to call on the video referee (now called "Television Match Official (TMO)" is made by the referee, then the call is made by the replay referee, who takes his place in the stand of the host team. He either tells the pitch referee by radio link-up or by the use of a big screen during televised matches. Unlike in the NFL, a coach cannot challenge a call made by the pitch referee.

[edit] Cricket

Cricket also uses an instant replay. It is used in the areas of run outs, stumpings, doubtful catches and whether the ball has crossed the boundary for a six or short of a four.

The International Cricket Council^[20] decided to trial a referral system during the Indian tour of Sri Lanka through late July and August 2008. This new referral system allows players to seek reviews, by the third umpire, of decisions by the on-field umpires on whether or not a batsman has been dismissed. Each team can make three unsuccessful requests per innings, which must be made within a few seconds of the ball becoming dead; once made, the requests cannot be withdrawn. Only the batsman involved in a dismissal can ask for a review of an "out" decision; in a "not out", only the captain or acting captain of the fielding team. In both cases players can consult on-field teammates but signals from off the field are not permitted.

A review request can be made by the player with a 'T' sign; the umpire will consult the TV umpire, who will review TV coverage of the incident before relaying back fact-based information. The field umpire can then either reverse his decision or stand by it; he indicates "out" with a raised finger and "not out" by crossing his hands in a horizontal position side to side in front and above his waist three times.

The TV umpire can use slow-motion, ultra-motion and super-slow replays, the mat, sound from the stump mics and approved ball tracking technology, which refers to Hawk-Eye technology that would only show the TV umpire where the ball pitched and where it hit the batsman's leg and it is not to be used for predicting the height or the direction of the ball. Snicko and Hot Spot are not to be used.

[edit] Rodeo

The Professional Bull Riders organisation, beginning with the 2006-07 season, has instituted an instant replay system in cooperation with the Versus network.

A bull rider, a fellow competitor, or a judge may request a replay review by filing a protest to the replay official within 30 seconds of any decision.

Any competitor (it does not have to be the rider who is riding the bull in question, as fellow riders can observe the action and spot fouls by bull or rider) may file the complaint to the replay official by sounding a signal at the arena and pay a fee of $500 to PBR before explaining to the replay official why he is filing the request.

The replay official (usually a former bull rider) may request different angles and/or slow motion, as well as freeze particular frames. The replay judge will use all available technology to assess the call in question and supply his ruling. This includes using his own hand-held stopwatch to time bull rides, as the official eight-second clock used in PBR competition starts when the bull usually exits the bucking chute.

The replay will be used to evaluate timing issues, fouls against the rider for touching the bull or ground with his free hand or using the fence to stay on the bull, or fouls by the bull, such as dragging the rider across the fence.

If an appeal is successful, the $500 is returned to the competitor filing the request. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the $500 is forfeited and sent to PBR charities such as the Resistol Relief Fund to assist injured bull riders.

[edit] Other sports

NASCAR has instant replay rules for use in to determine if a car had crossed the pit entrance before the pit was closed for a yellow flag, and to determine final race positions when a race ends with a caution because the flag waved on the final lap, when the flag waves during the final two-lap sprint.

[edit] Notes