instant replay

For other uses of the term "Instant replay", see Instant replay (disambiguation).

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (June 2008)

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.

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]

Another early 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).

Use by officials

Gridiron football

American football

Canadian football

Basketball

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (October 2009)

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.

Instant Replay came to the NBA in 2002-2003 season. In Game 4 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals end of the 2nd quater, Lakers Reserve Power Forward Samaki Walker threw up a half court heave that went in. Replays show that Walker shot was late. The clock at 0.0 seconds in Walkers hand and the red flashing behind the backboard. The Start of Instant Replay was instituted after this game. Costing the Kings the Game which losing by 1 (Robert Horry game winning shot game. 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. It may also be used in cases where the game clock malfunctions and play continues to decide how much time to take off the clock^[6]

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 or an overtime period. 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.^[7]

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.^[8]

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."^[9]

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.

Major League Baseball

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.

Rugby league

Instant replay has been used for many years in rugby league where it is known as the "video referee". 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 caught the ball, when they score. Decisions are usually relayed by a big screen and the referee communicating with the video referee through earpiece and microphone.

Rugby union

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.

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^[10] 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 can also be used.

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.

Motor sports

NASCAR utilizes instant replay to supplement their electronic scoring system. Video replays are used to review rules infractions and scoring disputes.

• Video replay is used to determine if a car has cross the pit entrance before the pit was closed for a yellow flag.
• Video is used to supplement electronic scoring to determine the positions in which cars exit the pits (during cautions).
• Video is used to supplement electronic scoring to determine the final race positions (particularly the race winner) when a race ends with a caution flag on the final lap or under a green-white-checker finish.

The Indy Racing League utilizes video replay to supplement electronic scoring, primarily to confirm final finishing positions. At the 2008 Peak 300, the video system was used to overturn the original scoring of the winner. At the finish line, Scott Dixon was scored the winner due to a faulty transponder. However, after reviewing high-speed video replay, it was determined that Helio Castroneves was the winner by 0.0033 seconds (approximately 12⅛ inches).[1]

Notes