One of my favorite books is Instant Replay. The author, Jerry Kramer, was a guard for the Green Bay Packers and is now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In 1968, he kept a diary of what turned out to be a championship season. It was a breakthrough book for its time, full of behind-the-scenes information that let fans know what life as a pro football player was really like.
A recurring theme throughout the book involves the team’s use of film to review players’ performance and as scouting material for upcoming opponents. In fact, Kramer’s observation that Dallas defensive lineman Jethro Pugh could be moved off the line of scrimmage in a short-yardage situation was a key element in the Packers’ victory in the famed Ice Bowl game that propelled Green Bay to Super Bowl II.
Much of the anxiety surrounding watching film was centered on the players’ concerns about whether a mistake would be visible when coaches examined the tape after the game. “How’s that going to look on film?” was a common question. The modern official likely asks himself or herself that same question during a season. That’s because advances in technology have drastically altered the way we go about our jobs.
Although “Make it be there” is still a valid pregame admonition, it might be more correct to urge crewmates to “Make it so big it shows up on film.”
After the game, when Kramer saw his block on Pugh for the winning touchdown on television several times, his thought was, “Thank God for instant replay.” It propelled his already stellar reputation into the stratosphere and undoubtedly boosted his book sales the next year.
By the same token, officials often feel a great sense of relief when one of their rulings is as obvious in the game film as it was on the court or field. I know I did.
One of the concerns pro supervisors and major college coordinators have regarding the use of instant replay as an officiating tool is that officials sometimes adopt the attitude, “It doesn’t matter what I call because replay will straighten it out either way.” Another drawback to the explosion of technology is what is known as “officiating to the video.” Contact or violations that would or should be called are not being called because officials fear the video won’t support them.
Whether or not that is a valid concern is debatable. It may vary from official to official, coordinator to coordinator and level to level. What is not in dispute is the glut of video available to us. When, once upon a time, we had to beg a coach to send a copy of a game tape including providing the tape or disc and a self-addressed stamped envelope, we are now able to view many of our games free online. In some cases, the video is posted before we return home. Talk about instant gratification.
I have long enjoyed video as a review and training tool. I’ll admit that my first look at the tape of my own game involved finding the fouls I called and any close or controversial plays in which I was involved, just to see if I was correct. Call it vanity if you wish. I preferred to think of it as self-evaluation. I would then go through it a second time in its entirety and look for things I may have missed during the game. It was rare that I didn’t look at a play multiple times to check my positioning and mechanics.
As a longtime educational chair for our local association, I used video extensively in our meetings. Feedback from members indicated that video was the officials’ favorite part of the meetings and certainly the portion from which they felt they got the most benefit.
Video can also be used as a preparation tool. Find videos of other games involving the teams and watch them to get a flavor of their strategies and tendencies. Which players seem to garner the most attention from opponents? Do the teams do anything outside the norm such as two passes and hoist up a three or a hurry-up offense? A little time on the front end can save you from being surprised on the back end.
I have no idea what the next big thing in officiating will be. I doubt we have reached the zenith of technological or other advances. But I do know this: Video made me better informed, better educated and a happier official overall.
Jeffrey Stern was Referee’s senior editor, he recently retired. He formerly officiated high school and college football and high school baseball.
