NHL officials should wear helmet cams

[Canorcas]

NHL officials should look into helmet cams

Is it time for the NHL Officials Association to consider making technological improvements to the way they manage on-ice activity?

In today's world, technology is all around us. It's easy to see with almost everybody carrying a digital smartphone with wide access to the internet. Even those high definition televisions are stepping aside for new-age "3D" sets. Technology is a huge part of how we live.

So then why isn't that true for the sports we love? It seems to me that it's the world of sports that continues to push technology aside, letting the old game stay the old game for as long as possible.

It's understandable why. People generally fear change and adding technological improvements could very well reshape the structure of any sport. But the same can be said with how technology is applied in any element of life.

So maybe it is time for the NHLOA to consider helmet cameras for their on-ice officials.

What would it change?

Well, not much. At least, not to the actual playing of the game. It changes no rules and makes no new ones. It simply assists in how officials both on and off the ice can scrutinize every whistle with better accuracy.

Referees and linesmen have difficult tasks and are always moving around every inch of the ice to get in perfect positions to make the right call. But they'll be the first to tell you the system isn't perfect.

But now imagine being able to see what they see and to hear what they hear. It would serve to make issues such as questionable goals and penalties easier to review. Even at it's worst, the camera would make for an awesome investment into programming opportunities.

But then again, this is the same Officials Association that fought against mandatory helmets until it was finally grandfathered into the league a decade ago. It's tough to imagine they'll be immediately on board with the idea of putting little windows on their heads for us to peer through.

Officials have a dirty job and they handle it in appropriate fashion. Off the ice, most are gentlemanly and professional. But on the ice, officials are just as tense and so it can be understood that not everything the camera records would be "family friendly."

Even so, it's an idea worth considering. The league is just a few short years removed from installing net cams and they have been a huge success. They have actually lead to decisions that either call in favor or against a goal.

That in itself was a big step forward for the NHL and the game of hockey.. But how far are they willing to go?

[shazzam]

I like it. We can see exactly the angle they see things.

[Hobble]

Doubt the NHL ever does this. Will only make influencing the games harder.

[-AJ-]

I kinda like the idea, though I'm not sure how well it would work. It could be costly depending on how fragile the cameras are. Refs tend to be in the middle of a lot of scrums, so they could get wrecked.

I was also thinking about size and weight problems, but with technology and the size of technology today, that probably wouldn't be a problem.

Overall, it would be worth trying. Maybe test it out in the AHL first?

[Apples]

Doubt they will do that. It would expose who they are playing for

[c00kies]

The ref looks like Chara lol.

[Common sense]

I was also thinking about size and weight problems, but with technology and the size of technology today, that probably wouldn't be a problem.

[CanucksFanMike]

I think its a good idea but I doubt they would do it

[etsen3]

I think it's unnecessary. We can already scrutinize their calls through TV cameras fron every which angle, no need to take it further.

Only thing this would help with is you would be able to tell if the ref has their view of the play blocked or not. But even then, the human eye can pick out things a camera can't. Seems pointless to me when we already have so many cameras near/on the ice.

[King Heffy]

Needs to be done. If the union objects, go with replacement refs; they can't possibly be any worse than the pieces of garbage working the games now.

[naslund.is.king]

Even better shock collars, if it works for dogs it definatly should 4 them boneheads .

[î мцšт вяздк чфµ]

NHL sponsored by GoPro.

[Common sense]

Needs to be done. If the union objects, go with replacement refs; they can't possibly be any worse than the pieces of garbage working the games now.

[Cpt_scary]

they should wear google glass

[Coconuts]

I like the idea, but I doubt it'll ever happen.

[Lychees]

It's also possible to look elsewhere while your camera is pointed forward, therefore what's on the camera is in your peripheral vision and not direct vision. But meh, doubt the NHLOA will take any actions until someone who's in charge makes them accountable.

[Ghostsof1915]

I have a great way for the NHL to save money, and get more consistency.

Go back to the 1 ref system. Give the linesmen more authority to make calls as well. That way instead of 4 officials missing the call, only 3 do. I realize that IIHF, and the NHL have this system. But really I haven't seen any improvement in the way games are called with two referees compared to one. If anything the calls are getting worse. I understand this means less jobs. But it also means you can improve standards.

I agree with Ferraro. Get a goalie, a forward, and defenseman from each team. Get all the referees. Then rent a nice comfy banquet room with monitors for all of them. And using examples on video, go through the rulebook, and get a majority opinion on each rule what is and what isn't a penalty. I bet 80% of the stuff is straight forward. It's the 20% everyone needs to agree on.

Now you have the players and officials agreeing on what should and shouldn't be a call. Have everything logged, and you can have video examples to show teams.

[mpt]

I like it. We can see exactly the angle they see things.

[Edlerberry]

I have a great way for the NHL to save money, and get more consistency.

Go back to the 1 ref system. Give the linesmen more authority to make calls as well. That way instead of 4 officials missing the call, only 3 do. I realize that IIHF, and the NHL have this system. But really I haven't seen any improvement in the way games are called with two referees compared to one. If anything the calls are getting worse. I understand this means less jobs. But it also means you can improve standards.

I agree with Ferraro. Get a goalie, a forward, and defenseman from each team. Get all the referees. Then rent a nice comfy banquet room with monitors for all of them. And using examples on video, go through the rulebook, and get a majority opinion on each rule what is and what isn't a penalty. I bet 80% of the stuff is straight forward. It's the 20% everyone needs to agree on.

Now you have the players and officials agreeing on what should and shouldn't be a call. Have everything logged, and you can have video examples to show teams.