The USFL will deploy sensors inside its footballs to accurately measure first downs as its inaugural season kicks off Saturday night between the New Jersey Generals and Birmingham Stallions.
The innovation is part of series of technology features for the premier USFL games, including video from helmet cameras and drones.
The football sensor technology will be used to automate first-down decisions and was introduced in a tweet by the league that said it will be “featured this season” although it isn’t clear how frequently it will be used. The sensors will enable “first down measurements that are more accurate than ever,” the league claimed.
Referees will reportedly not use chains to measure first downs. The system is similar to the tennis line-judging system called Hawk Eye.
Zebra Technologies has embedded sensors in the form of RFID tags into NFL game balls since 2016 to track location, but the NFL hasn’t approved the technology for measuring first downs as yet. Pundits said it will be fun to see how the USFL uses the technology. “TV viewers will probably enjoy watching the USFL’s solution to first downs, but no one should expect the actual spotting of the ball to be any more accurate than it is in the NFL,” remarked ProFootballTalk.
In addition to the football sensors, Fox and NBC will have 16 players mic’d up for every game and drones will be used to fly through the action offering video. Helmet Cam video will be a feature as well.