The gridiron league now uses a single overhead camera suspended by two diagonal guide-wires directly over the field (about 40 feet above the field) to show some VERY interesting camera views of the action. The operator of this camera has a joystick to move the camera position anywhere above the field of play and a second control to directionally point the camera. Could this work and would it be desirable for our football? One negative consideration is if a player clearing the ball (or a keeper sending the ball long) might have the ball strike one of the guide-wires (which, according to FIFA rules, would result in a drop ball below that point where it struck the wire). And I'm sure the teams might insist on the camera only being allowed between 30 yard points of the field to keep the camera away from the penalty box. Possibly MUCH more interesting would be two cameras 40 feet above each touchline about a foot out of play that could constantly track offside. Have the camera face the field with the touchline Assistant Referee at the opposite side of the field from the camera. In this case, if the ball strikes the guide-wires, it is out of play and a throw-in. With Home Depot and Crew Stadiums, MLS could consider doing this for a few venues to try to offer something new and compelling for the diamondvisions/TV. Is it worth it?
I'd rather see the camera's on the tracks that follow the play on a motorized cart. Those bring some awesome shots.
the reason this works for american football is that the camera is always behind the line of scrimmage, and there's virtually no chance of the ball going airborne in that direction. It's mounted far too low to be practical for soccer. The thing would get hit 2-3 times per game.
well of course we want the overhead camera view but really the only place we could do that is behind the goal or near the corners. i think what we need is a mini helicopter flying around right by the players
a motorized camera at either end would be better i think. now,i know this is off the subject, but has the nfl trademarked the 'yellow line' for the 1st down? soccer broadcasts could definitely use that when showing replays of possible offsides. i don't imagine it would be difficult or expensive to employ.
Thing with the "yellow line" is that the guy that invented that get's like $20k or something for every game it's used in. If you're willing to spend the money, there's no reason it wouldn't work. The guy that invented it is the same one that did that colored streak for the hockey puck.
I've seen things similar to this used in EPL and South American matches on FSW. Not for tracking the offsides line, but for free kicks. The real reason we don't see it on MLS broadcasts is because those broadcasts are technically infomercials, paid for by MLS. NFL games are paid for by advertising - in fact, the TV networks pay the NFL tons of money for the privilege. MLS has to buy airtime, and gadgets like this (or even the white "chalkboard" line to show the path a player or the ball will take, during a replay) would just cost extra and not be worth it to MLS. Once MLS becomes so big that the money equation reverses and networks have to fight over the opportunity to pay for the rights to the games, then we will be able to talk about things like this.
Some foreign leagues, Brazil comes to mind, employ this type of software with respect to the 10 yard betwen a free kick and a wall. Doesn't really seem to add anything in my opinion. (The worst part about the Brazil broadcasts is they use a fruity pastel thing in the corner of the screen for the score and clock, and it's virtually unreadable. They would be better off putting the money into fixing that.) Mexican broadcasts have the thing where the anouncer can draw on the screen, usually to point out offside calls. (In the US we usually use the gridiron lines for this. LOL) I doubt we'll see anything like this until there's a bit more broadcast revenue coming in.
I wonder if the guy who invented that realizes that that line thing is used in every football (American and soccer) video game out right now, for first down markers and offside rulings.
The Sky Cam, is what you are refering to. It actually has been arround a long time. It was first tried out back in the 80s, but was rejected because it was thought to be intusive and did not work, sometimes. With modern improvements, it has ovecome these problems. The problem with Sky Cam, and with any unusual camera placement, no matter the sport, is the directors are too timid to stick with them. Eventually they switch back to the cliche mid field shot, time and again. This is especially disapointing in real football because as anyone who ever attended a match can tell you the best place to sit is behind the goal. It allows you, most of the time, to watch the build of play, and you get the closest view of the most important action of a match -- namely the scoring, or not scoring, of goals. In time, as on demand and interactive TV become common place, viewers will select which camera they want to view play. When those who do these things start to notice that goal and end zone cameras are the first choice, we will all be relieved of the hackneyed mid field shot. Finally, we will watch the game in the direction of play the players see. Then, it will be a lot more interesting and satisfying, as well.
I sersiously cant stand all the Eurosnob purist who hate everything that Americans do to try & improve the game. Ties suck.