Wheel of Fortune or Wheel of Death?

[Andy]

This is NFHS only....that's all I do.

I used the lineup card for several years, never tried the wheel. I got to a point where I was comfortable with it and it worked for me.

About five years ago, I went to my assigned match and discovered that I had neglected to replenish the supply of cards in my bag. I did the match without using the card, it was difficult at first, but as the match went on, I found that I was not having trouble recognizing alignments and keeping track of the servers and setters in my head. From then on, I just stopped using the card.

I know that NFHS requires that the umpire have a lineup card, but our higher-up HS officials here are also College and USAV officials and the usage of the card is unofficially looked down on.

If you like the wheel, continue to use it. If you want to start getting away from it (your decision), keep it during the match, but try not to look at it and trust yourself to keep the stuff in your head.

[jkumpire]

IMO,

There ought to be a way to use a Palm PC or something to keep track of this stuff. If I had the skills I could write a program pretty easily.

Just dump the roster in the database, pick out a lineup by number, and hit rotate or click on a sub/position twice. Ten have a place to hang it or post where R1/R2 can see it. the all of a sudden you have easy proof of IA's, illegal servers, etc. with no problem or hassle. And if it on a screen, R2 or R1 just needs a quick glance, and away you go.

Yes, you can keep it in your head, except for that team that runs 8 different people in a game with 15 subs.

[Grrrrller87]

jku,
the software exists, coaches use it to track stats all of the time. I don't know of a ruleset that would condone this at this time!!!

and, speaking as a software developer, it's not quite as easy as one would think!

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by Grrrrller87

jku,
the software exists, coaches use it to track stats all of the time. I don't know of a ruleset that would condone this at this time!!!

and, speaking as a software developer, it's not quite as easy as one would think!

It's kind of an intriguing thought, though. Tie it in with an electronic scorebook system, or the scoreboard system. The scorekeeper/scoreboard operator does the data entry so the R/U doesn't have to. Provide a suitable display for each official. The Palm hanging from the pole won't do it. Palms are too fragile (and I keep busting mine) and too small to read at any distance. It would have to be something larger, and sturdier.

[TimTaylor]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

It's kind of an intriguing thought, though. Tie it in with an electronic scorebook system, or the scoreboard system. The scorekeeper/scoreboard operator does the data entry so the R/U doesn't have to. Provide a suitable display for each official. The Palm hanging from the pole won't do it. Palms are too fragile (and I keep busting mine) and too small to read at any distance. It would have to be something larger, and sturdier.

Why stop there BITS? We can incorporate multidimensional laser interferometry scanning to cover the lines and net, RF id tags on each player to track their positions on the court in real time and RF linked velocity and pressure sensors in the ball to monitor ball velocity and contact information in real time - all integrated into a high speed SCADA system that provides real time feedback to the R1 via a ruggedized display screen.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by TimTaylor

Why stop there BITS? We can incorporate multidimensional laser interferometry scanning to cover the lines and net, RF id tags on each player to track their positions on the court in real time and RF linked velocity and pressure sensors in the ball to monitor ball velocity and contact information in real time - all integrated into a high speed SCADA system that provides real time feedback to the R1 via a ruggedized display screen.

You actually sound like some other guy I know named Tim Taylor...lives near Detroit, I think.....

Seriously, keep up this line of thought and you will have us all out of a job soon......

[TimTaylor]

Originally Posted by Andy

You actually sound like some other guy I know named Tim Taylor...lives near Detroit, I think.....

Seriously, keep up this line of thought and you will have us all out of a job soon......

I wouldn't worry any time soon...

In reality, the technology already exists & the integration wouldn't be all that difficult - I've done far more complex systems. The biggest technical hurdle would be instrumenting the ball - miniature ruggedized sensors do exist, but designing & integrating the package would be a challenge, so perfecting that could take a while. Everything else is pretty much available off the shelf.

Oh, did I mention the cost? I roughly guesstimate the first systems would likely be around $500K each, but you could probably cut that in half with volume production. Know anyone that wants to fund it?