Should the instant replay used in the NFL be applied to other sports - Essay Example

Introduction Instant replay can be defined as the act of replaying video footages of an activity or event immediately after it occurs, (Berman 1683). In broadcasting sports events, these replays highlight a passage of play which was considered remarkable or was unclear in the first instance. In some organizations, which deal with sports, referees are allowed to consult these replays before making a crucial decision, (Gamache 101). Some sporting organizations do not. When a referee is allowed to consult with these replay footages, then it is called video refereeing, instant replay official video umpire, television match official and third umpire. There are organizations that allow use of video only after the game, (Wiederhold and W Sutphen 54). In this case, the video footage is used as the evident of taking a particular decision e.g. misconduct. In 1955, hockey night, in Canada, was able to broadcast on CBC television. By that time, producer George Retzlaff used a kinescope replay which was also known as wet film. It used to air minutes later. A few years later, ABC initiated the slow motion replay, (Kramer 194). In 1960 during the winter Olympics, officials requested CBS to allow them review a videotape of men’s salmon race. This was due to a controversy touching on one skier. It had been alleged that the skier missed a gate. One of the members of the staff, Tony Verna, returned to the CBS New York headquarters and developed the first instant play system. This system debuted at the army-navy game in 1963. This became the source of inspiration for the CBS to develop instant replay. Part 1: Problems that exist. Instant replays were necessitated by the need to be accurate, (Verna 21). There was a problem when teams were awarded titles and trophies they did not deserve. One point can make a significant difference, (Wiederhold and W Sutphen 54). One score can be the difference between the winner and the loser. It has been observed that teams have been given points they did not score. All because the referee thought the ball went past the score line. In 2010 FIFA world cup, for instance, in South Africa when England was playing against Germany England was denied a goal by the referees. Yet replays confirmed the ball went past the goal line. Before a team wins a championship, it costs the team a lot of money, effort and time, (Kramer 194). Teams invest up to millions of dollars in these activities so that they can win. When an unfair decision by a referee denies a team a crucial victory, then it causes anger and frustrations. Yet the referees cannot be in every place within the field of play, (Wiederhold and W Sutphen 54). The other problem involved cases of discipline in the field of play. There are instances in which players attack each other in a way that is malicious, (Verna 21). Some of those incidences can result to injuries. The referees are not always in a position a see some of these incidences as they happen. Most of these incidences are captured by video cameras. These footages are aired in the course of the game, (Gamache 101). This sparks a wave of outrage from fans and supporters. Sometimes the referees are accused of being biased. This happen when it is perceived that the referee is being unfair to one team. The referees need to be at a position to see things as they happen in the field of play. Referees involve instant replay technology. Instant play helps to sort of some of these challenges. Tournaments must be a fair platform. This is because they must show genuine effort being rewarded. Technology must be used to solve the problems that exist if it has to make sense to us. There should be a way of spotting and monitoring all the incidences in the course of the game. This makes sure that all cases that require disciplinary action as handled in the right way, (Verna 21). The other serious problem is on the bases of security of the players in the field. This also extends to the security of the fans watching the game in the field. There have been instances when fans run into the field of play and attack the players. This happens by wrestling a player before the security team reacts. In some cases, objects are thrown at the players. Sometimes it is the referee being attacked by angry fans, (Kramer 194). Through the use of replays, the security team is can spot the actual perpetrators of these acts. When players fight and the whole incident deteriorate into a mob fight, the instant replays help in finding out the instigators. Replays give a sense if direction in such occurrences. There are instances where racial attacks have been directed to players, or coaches have become involved in fights with players while on the bench, (Gamache 101). All these events are captured and replayed for people to watch and know. All these challenges need to be monitored closely. This shall make people more involved since there is a perceived justice in the refereeing of the game. Part 2: solutions and advantages Replays solve the problem of cheating from players. In sports where we emphasize cheating is unacceptable, it becomes illogical not to use replays, (Hanson 51). There is no much controversy as to whether the referee can fail to spot some incidences of cheating, (Kramer 194). There are times players do unpleasant things and the referee, no matter how professional he may be, fails to spot, (Verna 21). We have seen players using hands where they are supposed to be using feet and vice versa. Players hit each other without any good reason. Some of the injuries end up destroying a player’s career. We have to minimize an unfair advantage. For instance, a team invests millions of dollars into a championship final, (Berman 1683). Afterwards, the anticipated final comes, and after too much publicity the rival teams and fans meet to play. Five minutes into the game, a player pretends to have been unfairly hit by another player. Upon watching instant replay, we see that the two players never had contact in the first place. Yet one of the players is off leaving the rival team with an outright unfair advantage. Such instances can be eliminated or at least minimized. The pain and anguish that the player, team and even fans go through is sometimes too much, yet it is avoidable. Replay is about players, fans and the teams. Teams stay for long without winning major tournaments yet fans stick by their teams no matter what. The other solution is accurate awarding of points and marks or score, (Wiederhold and W Sutphen 54). In hockey, for example, instant replays are used show the movement of the ball near the goal line. The same case happens in basketball, where instant replays help to show whether the ball had gone from the palms of the player earlier than time ran out on him, (Hanson 51). It is intriguing to note that, in both cases, there is a no or yes verdict, (Verna 21). This means that, at the end of the game the losers have none to blame. The team retreats and works hard to improve on the next game. If a team feels it lost unfairly, then it can easily become demoralized. This is because a refereeing mistake can cost a team a place in history of successful teams. In extreme cases, referees have been accused of conspiracy against some teams. Within the past ten years, the national football and hockey leagues have adopted the use of instant replays to avoid altercations, (Kramer 194). There altercations sometimes arise from a mistaken call during the time the game is ongoing. The national basketball association also uses it too, (Verna 21). Some of these altercations give rise to fights on the pitch which spills into the fans. This leads to greater loses. Such incidents lead to security breaches. Replays have a proactive role, (Hanson 51). This helps to avert unnecessary anger. They convince the coaches, players and fans that they won or lost fairly and, therefore, there is no need for violence, (Gamache 101). While replays can be used to monitor the behavior of fans with in the stadium, and to assist in arresting violent fans, it has a bigger role in preventing ugly instances from happening. Instants replays have helped in preventing deaths. How? Diehard fans are known to commit suicide where there teams go through an extreme fate. The same case applies to players. There is a history of players committing suicide just because a life changing call was made. Don Moore, of the American league, took his life in 1980’s. This was subsequent to blowing match five of the competition to the ‘red sox’ team. There could have been other reasons that led to this. However, a missed call could end up having the same result. Bad calls are known to change the course of history. Therefore, instant replay helps in assuring players and fans that something is being done about their concerns, (Berman 1683). This is because justice must be seen to be done. Too many coaches, players and fans this is what fair play is all about. Some of these parties do not mind the delays involved as long as their concerns are being addressed. Works Cited Gamache, Ray. A History of Sports Highlights: Replayed Plays from Edison to ESPN. 1st ed. McFarland, 2010. Print. 5 Sept. 2012. . Kramer, Jerry. Instant Replay: The Green Bay Diary of Jerry Kramer. 2nd ed. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2006. Print. 5 Sept. 2012. . Verna, Tonny. Instant Replay: The Day That Changed Sports Forever. 1st ed. Creative Book Pub International, 2008. Web. 5 Sept. 2012. . Wiederhold, Arthur, and Charles W. W Sutphen. instant replay. 1st ed. iuniverse, 2001. Print. 5 Sept. 2012. . Hanson, Christopher. "instant replay." The Instant Replay Time and Time Again 28.2 (2008): 51-60. Web. 5 Sept. 2012. . Berman*, Mitchell N. "Instant Replay in the NCAA: The Three Verdict System ............." replay 99.1 (2011): 1683-1742. Web. 5 Sept. 2012. . Read More