Fifa Goalline Technology

Fifa to test technology

World's governing body to assess systems from September

Fifa have announced a two-stage testing programme for goalline technology as the pressure builds for its introduction.

Fifa changed their stance last year after Frank Lampard's disallowed goal in the World Cup for England in their defeat to Germany.

The Chelsea midfielder was also at the centre of the latest controversy this weekend when he was awarded a goal against Tottenham even though the whole of the ball had not crossed the line.

World football's governing body now accept the need for goalline technology, if companies can demonstrate complete reliability.

Prototype systems will need to have 90 per cent accuracy rates in order to get through the first phase, which will take place between September and December, and then return a 100 per cent rate in the second - between March and June next year.

Companies have until June 3 to register their interest with Fifa, who will share the costing of the testing, while each firm can select which stadium they would like the tests to take place.

A Fifa statement read: "A higher volume of tests will be conducted to ensure a more precise evaluation of the fitness of a technology and to provide a full statistical analysis.

Match scenarios

"This will include more simulated match scenarios as well as other factors including: software reliability; transmission signal quality; performance under changing weather conditions as well as on different pitch surfaces."
The tests will be divided into three parts - shots into an empty net, 'dynamic' tests against a wall in front then behind the line, and also 'static' tests with a ball placed on a sledge and moved at slow motion across the line.
For each test, an immediate signal that the ball has crossed the line must be sent to a referee's watch.
The International FA Board, the game's law-making body, will be presented with the results of the testing at a special meeting in July 2012, and successful systems could be in place for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Cricket Technology

Over the years cricket has incorporated into the game a few of the technological advances available. There have been some rejections of technology, such as the use of aluminum cricket bats, but generally the ICC have been rightly cautious about making changes to the game that will impact the players and spectators. Here are discussions about a few of the technological innovations that are in cricket or are being discussed about being included.

Third Umpire

In international cricket, the third umpire has been used to supplement the role of the two umpires on the ground. The third umpire is equally qualified, and sits off the ground with access to TV replays of certain situations (such as disputed catches and boundaries) to advise the central umpires. The umpires out on the field are in communication via wireless technology with the other umpire. The third umpire is also asked to adjudicate on run out decisions, which he makes without consultation with the two central umpires.

Cricket Referrals

Cricket has joined some other sports and have played around with an umpire referral system. It was first trialed in 2008 (in a Test series between Sri Lanka and India). Unlike in tennis where the challenge and referral decision is clear cut using hawke-eye technology, the cricket referral is adjudicated by the third umpire, and is open to further errors. The actual way it works may change and develop, but when it was first brought in this is how it worked.

Players are allowed to challenge decisions made by the on-field umpires, and have them referred to the TV official. For each innings of the Test, each team can challenge any decisions, though they will be limited to three unsuccessful challenges per innings. Only the batsman on the receiving end of the umpire’s original decision or the captain of the fielding side can appeal by making a “T” sign with both forearms at shoulder height. The third umpire uses the technology of the hot spot and slow motion replays at different angles to gain information and make decisions.

It all sounds great for the players and viewers at home, but the pressure is on the umpires. In reality, the process takes too long and can distract from the game. When there are challenges left near the end of an innings, players tend to make frivolous challenges on the off chance of getting a decision overturned. So there are still problems that need to be ironed out, but a great step forward for cricket.

TV Technology

Hawk-eye is the name of a computer system which traces a ball's trajectory, with a claimed accuracy of 5 mm, and sends it to a virtual-reality machine.

Method

Hawk-Eye uses six or more computer-linked television cameras situated around the cricket field of play. The computer reads in the video in real time, and tracks the path of the cricket ball on each camera. These six separate views are then combined together to produce an accurate 3D representation of the path of the ball.

History

The Hawk eye system was launched in 2001. It was first used in television coverage of sporting events such as Test cricket, and has now reached the stage of being used by officials in tennis to assist in adjudicating close line calls.

Uses

The system was first used during a Test match between Pakistan and England at Lord's Cricket Ground, on 21 April 2001, in the TV coverage by Channel 4. Since then it has been an indispensable tool for cricket commentators around the world. It is used primarily by the majority of television networks to track the trajectory of balls in flight, mostly for analyzing leg before wicket decisions. In this case, Hawk-Eye is able to project the likely path of the ball forward, through the batsman's legs, to see if it would have hit the wicket. Currently this information is not used by the umpires to adjudicate on LBW decisions - it is only available to television viewers, although in the future it may be adopted by the third umpire. Currently the central umpire only get to see it once - and they have to make their minds up instantly.

The ball by ball tracking by the Hawk-Eye system allows the broadcasters to showcase many other features of the game, such as comparing the bowlers' speeds, spin, swing, line and length.

Criticisms

Although Hawkeye is very accurate in measuring the actual path of a ball, when it comes to predicting the future path of the ball, such as in LBW decisions, it is not as clear. If the ball is heading to the pitch, there's no way Hawk-eye can tell if a delivery is going to skid a bit more than normal or hit a crack, bit of grass, or worn patch of the pitch. The predicted path of the ball is based on the average and expected pathway.

 

SPORTS GOODS AND TECHNOLOGIES

The world of sport is continually changing over the years, and the use of technology is just one of those areas that has made an impact on many sports in the modern day. One criticism of the use of technology is that it can slow down the speed of the game.

Assisting the Umpires / Referees

Most professional sports in the world and United States have long used instant replay and other high-tech aids to help referees make the right call. Gridiron has used video replay systems to check referees' calls for many years. Basketball referees use replay systems to make sure players are shooting within the time allotted by the shot clock. In international cricket, the third umpire has been used, one sitting off the ground with access to TV replays of certain situations (such as disputed catches and boundaries) to advise the central umpires. The umpires out on the field are in communication via wireless technology with the other umpire. The third umpire is also asked to adjudicate on run out decisions, which he makes without consultation with the two central umpires. One sport that has resisted the use of high-tech assistance is soccer/football. Replays could be used to decide off-side decisions, whether a ball passes over the goal line, and clarify penalty decisions.

Soccer Goal Line Technology

There has been a need for goal line technology in soccer, particularly as TV replays are showing in retrospect wrong decisions by the referee. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has laid down four criteria that they want to see in goal-line systems:

• The technology should only apply to goal-line decisions.
• The system must be 100 per cent accurate.
• The signal sent to the referee must be instantaneous.
• The signal is only communicated to the match officials.

A promising prospect has been a "smartball" loaded with an computer chip, jointly developed by German companies Cairos Technologies and the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits, an engineering research and software development company, along with the Adidas athletic clothing and shoe company. The companies' technology uses a network of receivers around the field designed to track the ball's precise position in real time - including exactly when it has fully passed the goal line. That information would be relayed in less than a second to a watch-like device worn by the referee. However, this system has had its setbacks, and another system using, The Hawk-Eye, is being looked at.

Hawk-Eye Technology

Hawk-eye is the name of a computer and camera system which traces a ball's trajectory. It is being used in international CRICKET and TENNIS, and many other sports are also looking at making use of this technology. The system is also being trialled in soccer. The Premier League of Football in the UK has agreed to the introduction of goal-line sensors after being given approval by football's rule-makers. The system being developed by the UK company Hawk-Eye, would give a definitive decision on whether the ball had crossed the line. The Hawk Eye uses a camera taking 600 frames a second on the goal-line. The information is analyzed by computer and sent to the referee's headset or a device on his wrist.

Computer Software

There are numerous software packages that are designed for fitness and nutrition professionals to organize data and produce reports, ideal for visitors to this site. Here are a couple of packages that come recommended by Topend Sports.

• Team Beep Test— the most versatile and useful software for conducting and recording results of the bleep / beep test, with results recorded directly onto your computer.
• Body Byte— a universal standalone computer software program specially developed to comprehensively organize and manage all the information associated with nutrition, training and fitness.