As I indicated last week, over the next few weeks I hope to take a look at a number of issues related to officiating that get commented on by fans. This week I will take a look at the manner in which the NFL and NCAA handle replay and my thoughts regarding which system is better for the game.
For those who are not clear, there are many significant differences between the way the NCAA handles replay and the way that it is addressed in the NFL. In the former, every play is reviewed by a team of officials in the replay booth. Typically it is a three man team, a Replay Official (RO), a Replay Communicator (RC), and a Replay Technician (RT). Usually the RO and RC are former officials with extensive on-field experience. The RO makes the final decision whether to stop play and whether to overturn the call on the field although often there is significant input from the RC, especially if the two have worked together for a while.
The coaches can also challenge one call a game but in most instances the challenge is a waste of time (and possibly a time-out) as the play has already being looked at upstairs. In virtually all college conferences the equipment used may be considered to be a little archaic as the TV screens that are used are standard TV’s, not High Definition. This makes decisions a bit more difficult but far from impossible. In addition, the Replay Officials are totally dependent upon the skill of the Director and cameramen. Anywhere from 4 -12 cameras are typically available depending on the nature of the game and the network/station involved.
When a play is run, the RC will view it initially and pass it on to the RO, often with a comment like “Take a look at his foot on the sideline near the 10” or “check whether he got his foot down after possession.” While the RC is taking a first look at the play, the RC is looking at subsequent replays shown by the TV to see if there is a better view of the play in question. Often there is a need to piece together the situation in which case all replays are copied and stored and using a touch screen mechanism both the RO and RC can go back and forth in an attempt to determine if the play was called correctly on the field. All of this is done in the period between the end of the play and the breaking of the huddle for the next play.
If there is a question regarding the call on the field, the RO will hit a buzzer mechanism that alerts 5 of the officials on the field and they will stop the play. The RC will then contact the TV Director to determine whether there are any additional views that are available. Replay officials are limited to using views that are available to the viewing public. The review process continues until the RO makes a determination regarding the play. There are three possibilities:
1. The RO confirms the call on the field. “Replay confirms the call on the field.”
2. The RO makes a determination that there is insufficient information to overturn the call. (The play stands as called on the field”)
3. The RO makes a determination that the play on the field was mis-called and overturns the call. (“The call on the field is reversed and … “
The RO will then communicate the his decision to the Referee who announces it to the crowd. In most instances, the entire process takes less than two minutes from the time the play is stopped although there is no limit on the amount of time that the Replay booth can take to review the play.
All information is recorded on DVDs to be reviewed by the officials and the League Supervisor after the game. In most instances, any delays are caused by a need to get the spot and time correct, not to make the decision. Often this requires a review of the entire play so that the information can be transmitted to the Referee.
The process in the NFL is basically the same although there are some distinct differences. First and foremost is the fact that outside of the last two minutes in each half, not all plays are reviewed. The only plays that are reviewed are those that are challenged by the Coaches. Each coach gets 2 challenges per game with a third only if their first two challenges are upheld. In the last two minutes of each half, the process is very much like the NCAA process with the Replay Official making the decision to stop the game so that a closer look at the play can occur.
The second major difference is that in the NFL, the Referee makes the final decision regarding the play with input from the Replay Official. The latter will often tell the Referee what to look for and what his opinion is but the final decision rests with the Referee. Much of the delay for replay occurs before and after the Referee goes under the hood. Prior to reviewing the play, he is being told by the Replay Official what the situation is, what was seen on the initial review and what he should look for when reviewing the play.
The Referee then has 1 minute from the time that he goes under the hood. The equipment in the NFL is top drawer with HD TV’s both on the field and in the booth. After his decision, there is typically a second delay as the Referee and the official who made the original call write down the verdict, confirm the correct yard line and the correct time on the clock.
The Referee may also wait until told by the commercial network that they are back from a commercial. So much of the delay has little to do with making the decision itself.
As a result of the differences, there are probably more game stoppages on the college level (but not markedly so) and the stoppages in the NFL cause a longer game delay.
Now for the question as to which system is better. In the NCAA, the goal is to get every play correct. In the NFL, the goal is to get plays correct but to also introduce a bit of strategy into the decision of what to challenge and what not to challenge.
Personally, and I will admit that I am a bit prejudiced, I think that the NCAA system is better. To me, the goal should be to get every call as correct as is possible and that should entail a review of every play upstairs. I’d like to know what the readers think about the two processes.
Next week I will address whether I believe that the use of replay should be expanded to address penalties called on the field and judgment calls.
