Mechanics Manual: Instant Replay

Replay Field Official (RFO)

• An on field official that the R designates

- Should be a Deep

• If in a crew system the RFO should remain consistent throughout the season

- Use a secondary RFO if the primary RFO is involved in the reviewed play

Duties of RFO During Replay

• Ensure coaches and players are away from the replay area

• In case of reversal record Down, Distance, Yard line, Hash, Time, Clock Status, Charges Timeouts

- Replay result of challenge to rest of crew

• Stay by the R until the announcement is done

Duties of U During Replay

• Stay with the players and ball

Duties of Deeps During Replay

• Communicate with he coaches

Duties of the LOS During Replay

• LOS with the chains: Check with the chains to make sure of the previous status in the case the decision isn’t reversed

• Both: Help deep communicate with the coaches

Coach Challenge Procedure

• Sideline Offical tells the R what the coach is challenging

• The R and sideline official confers with the coach to ensure that the play is challengeable

• The R announces: “(Team) has challenged the ruling of (state the ruling). The play is under further review.”

• Replay officials review that whole play (as normal) and the coaches challenge

• The R announces the result of the review w. a brief explanation if needed

Field Announcements that allow a booth review

• Announcements the R makes that gives information to the replay officials, allowing them to look at a play

• Ruling on the field no roughing or running because of contact with the ball: “There was no foul for roughing or running into because the ball was tipped”

- Replay can now review if there was touching of the kick in the vicinity of the kicker

• Ruling on the field no PI because the ball was tipped: “There was no foul for (OPI / DPI) because the ball was tipped”

- Replay can now review if there was touching of the pass before the possible PI foul

• Ruling on the field no ING because the ball was a fumble: “There was no foul for ING because the ball was a fumble”

- Replay can now review if there was a fumble or pass on the play and create an ING accordingly

Duties of the R During Replay

• Hold the ready for play signal after a score or change of possession until replay clears the play

• Make the announcement that the play is under review

• Review the play on the field

• Make the announcement coming out of replay

Duties of the Sideline Replay Assistant (SRA)

• During replay stoppage

- Bring the replay equipment out and hand it to the R

- Step several yards away to be out of the camera frame

• No replay stoppage

- After replay has replayed information of no storage give the sub signal (signal O12)

All Replay Officials Pregame

• Attend the pregame meeting with the crew to discuss specifics of replay

• Meet with TV to ensure specifics about camera angle and schedule

• Testing pagers before the game and then giving them to the crew

• Testing all communication devices

• Find and talk to the SRA

• Test all replay equipment

• Have a replay only meeting in the booth

All Replay Officials Pre-snap

• Announce: down, distance needed for a first down, line of scrimmage, line to gain, which hash the ball is located

• Count number of players on each team

• Know the status of the game clock and play clock when less than 2 in each half

• Ensure proper enforcement of penalties

Duties of Commentator During Review of a play

• During play: Watch the play live and call out all reviewable aspects as well as the result of the play

• Between plays: Look at monitor and call out helpful angles

• Before next snap: Call out where the team is in the process of running the next play

- “In huddle”, “Going to the line”, “Under center”

Duties of Technician During Review of a play

• Keep a written log of each play

• Inform replay official when the snap is imminent

Duties of Replay official During Review of a play

• Controls the process and make the final decision to stop or not stop a game

• Has complete decision making power on if a play is overturned or is confirmed

- Can make a decision of confirmed without stopping the game “booth confirmation”

Replay Booth Procedure During a Stoppage

• Replay official clearly communicated reviewable aspects of the play to the crew

- Designated crew member calls the TV truck to inform them what is being reviewed

• Communicator reviews there monitor to see if there are any helpful replays coming across

• Replay official talks with the Referee through the sideline headset to clarify the ruling on the field and indicate what is being reviewed

- The R gives all relevant information

• The replay official will review all video replays that provide evidence regarding the play being reviewed and decide if the ruling on the field is upheld or reversed

- Upheld: The R announces that the ruling on the field is upheld

- Reversed: The R announces that the ruling on the field is reversed and communicator and the replay official recording resumption of play information on a replay reversal card

• The information is conveyed to the R and the OFR records the information

Determining impact of competitive balance

• Time, Score, Location of the ball, Weather

Considerations of replay

• What is the ruling on the field?

• Does the play have any reviewable aspects?

• Does the play create significant competitive effect?

• What are the best camera angles to review the play?

• Do the replays provide indisputable video evidence?

• Does this play require a shutdown or can it be a booth confirmation?

• Has each step of the review process been completed?

• Has the decision regarding the review been effectively communicated?