Instant Replay In the NFL: A Look Back - Essay Sample

Introduction

The National Football League was the first professional body to incorporate instant replay to review officials. After testing the instant review system in the preseason games, the NFL approved the system in the regular season starting in 1986. In its early days, there were long delays in the games during the reviews, and fans were furious about the system. The fans would stay glued in their seats as the match officials reviewed the tapes. This process was tedious, and few rulings were changed after the review. That is why the instant replays were abandoned in 1991 (Grumet, 1999). Therefore, this paper will be discussing the NFL's instant replay system and its impact on the sport.

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At the outset, what is Instant replay? Instant replay refers to the video recording of live-action, such as a play in a sporting event, that can be played back immediately after the original game has been completed. In other words, instant replay allows the on-field referee to review his decision or decision of his crew during the match. Instant replay is used to assist match officials in reviewing controversial plays in the game from multiple angles. On the other hand, instant replays can be used to shed light on an incorrect call from the referees. The review is essential in reducing wrong calls in a sporting event.

Currently, the instant replays are fast, and this time they are without hassles and delays of videotapes. Brand new digital systems have been introduced in the game, and they allow the officials to review the play effectively without much delay. NFL task force led by Dennis Lewin, came up with this system because they believe that Instant replay is helping the game. In the early days, instant replay was a slow-moving process, which caused a lot of delay in the game. The process involved replay official rewinding the tape and watching the play again to see what he had missed. During this time, players on the field, as well as fans watching from home will be waiting for quite some time before the play resumes. The new system is faster and more complex. It involves a lot of workforces as well as equipment. New policies have also been put in place by the NFL to ensure discipline in reviews. Coaches now can demand officials review, and the NFL has given them two calls per game. NFL has also implemented a policy to control the coaches in challenging the ruling. If a coach challenges play and the review proves that he is right, the call is overturned, but if proved wrong, his team loses one timeout. This is working to avoid unnecessary challenges by the coaches, which may delay the play (Grumet, 1999).

So, should NFL instant replay stay of go? The on-field review is essential in ensuring fairness in the game. With the growth in technology, it is necessary to incorporate it into our professional sports. This does not mean we remove the human element in the game. We all understand officials can make mistakes in the game, and it is essential to correct these errors as soon as they happen. Instant replays may as well be faulty, but that does not mean we eliminate them. We should instead improve it and develop it to the required standards (Greenberg, 2003).

Elsewhere, in my opinion, I believe Instant replays are necessary for the NFL and all other professional sports. Instant Replays help in increasing the integrity of the games and ensuring honesty in the game. However, more updates should be made to ensure smooth reviews during the game. Despite the rejections of instant replay, NFL should not eliminate instant replay systems from the game for the reason that it ensures right decision and accuracy in officiating. For me, instant replay is the key for fair results in NFL match.

Works Cited

Greenberg, Steve. "SHould NFL Instant Replay Stay or Go?" Sporting News, vol. 227, no. 46, Nov. 2003, p. 14. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=11394111&site=ehost-live.

Grumet, Tobey. "Second Down for Instant Replay." Popular Mechanics, vol. 176, no. 10, Oct. 1999, p. 68. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=2264966&site=ehost-live