Instant Replay in HS Championship Games?

[stiffler3492]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

While it may not give a reason to impose instant replay, as the only good angle would have been a goal line camera and assuming that most states are only going to be able to use a live tv feed- as it would be mega-expensive to do otherwise-would it not be cheaper to use a 7 man crew and thus have a better chance the wing is able to cover the pylon?

For this particular play, there are a couple of replays that show the ball clearly out well before the goal line.

But you're right...that wouldn't be the case for every play. Not sure whether or not the state would pay the TV crew to add a couple of goal line cameras to review scoring plays or whatever they would need.

[maven]

Originally Posted by stiffler3492

Not sure whether or not the state would pay the TV crew to add a couple of goal line cameras to review scoring plays or whatever they would need.

If it's a choice between a couple $hundred to add 2 officials or a couple $thousand to add a couple cameras, which do you suppose they would choose?

The problem with switching to 7 for playoffs is that most HS officials don't know those mechanics and have few opportunities to work them during the season. It's risky to switch during the tournament.

[HLin NC]

The problem with switching to 7 for playoffs is that most HS officials don't know those mechanics and have few opportunities to work them during the season. It's risky to switch during the tournament.

Went through it last year- we did 7 man for the regionals with little to no "show prep" for which it was obvious. By the following week's final, we did much better.

I had downloaded the CCA 7 man manual and think I looked at the GHSA manual online too.

[CT1]

Our state now mandates 7-man crews for all playoff games after the first round. In the first round, 7-man is the default unless both coaches agree to use only 5.

The last regular-season week here has no playoff implications, so many associations will use that week as a "practice week" for their playoff-eligible officials to get some 7-man experience.

[stiffler3492]

I know baseball (at least in Illinois) adds an extra umpire at some point in the postseason.

In Wisconsin, not every conference uses three officials for regular season varsity basketball games. That changes at a certain point in the playoffs.

Seems to only make sense for football to do the same. I get it's a money issue, but someone, somewhere is going to look really bad one day because a missed call could have been prevented by having more officials on the field. It's a small price to pay to get more calls right, IMO.

[Rich]

As someone who's worked as a college deep wing the past two years, it's not a position you can just throw someone on and expect they'll do more good than harm.

[PAUmpire]

In PA most leagues use 6 regular season, and 7 for post season. We dont usually have any hiccups when going to 7. Every playoff official has to go to a 7 man mechanics meeting prior to playoffs.


Having worked deep wing at the HS and College level. I dont want to belittle the position, but it is not the hardest of them to pick up if you apply a ounce of thought to it, and you are a good official to begin with.

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by stiffler3492

For this particular play, there are a couple of replays that show the ball clearly out well before the goal line.

But you're right...that wouldn't be the case for every play. Not sure whether or not the state would pay the TV crew to add a couple of goal line cameras to review scoring plays or whatever they would need.

Keeping in mind High School Football, even at the State Championship level, is an interscholastic athletic event, if better coverage is the actual objective there are other far more consistent ways to achieve the goal.

Some areas still provide coverage for HS games with 4 man crews, many have expanded coverage to 5 man configurations with some recognizing the significant improvements in the talent and complexity levels of the current era game itself, and now assign 6, or even in some circumstances, 7 man crews.

The one factor all 3 major rule codes are in total agreement on is the size of the field football is played on.

It would seem far more productive, as well as cost effective and consistent, to increase the size of the officiating crew than inject an inconsistent external review mechanism there are currently no specific rule guidelines to follow.

Television replay is a cat, when let out of a bag without a lot of careful planning and control, can cause a lot of consequences nobody is capable of handling.