This document discusses the increasing use of technology in various sports to assist referees and officials in making calls. It provides examples of sports that already utilize replay systems and goal line technology, like American football, basketball, cricket, and tennis. While most sports have embraced technology, soccer has been reluctant to adopt it. However, there is now a push for goal line technology in soccer to help referees determine if balls have fully crossed the goal line. The document explores potential goal line technology systems and debates the pros and cons of introducing more technology into soccer.

1. Current Issues
Alan Simpson
Applied Science and Sport

2.  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. Do you
agree?

3.  Most professional sports in the 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.

4.  Basketball referees use replay systems to
make sure players are shooting within the
time allotted by the shot clock.

5.  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.

6.  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
 Do you think football would benefit
from introduced technology?

7.  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

8.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSDhfbj-VSg

9.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-8dOjeVC8
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toc3d09aUu
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxhztMuRG
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Uhe_l1h3w
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=O0YiuSbBdaQ&feature=related

10.  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 trailed in soccer.

11.  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.

12.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=VrjOqICYnIg
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=hYQA4mmdxhE