SEC approves collaborative process for instant replay



Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--The Southeastern Conference will implement a collaborative process for instant replay in the sport of football beginning with the 2016 season, following a unanimous vote of the league's athletics directors and approval by the SEC Executive Committee.

In February, the NCAA Football Rules Committee approved a request submitted by the SEC to allow conferences to use a collaborative process for instant replay on an experimental basis. Under this experiment, personnel operating from SEC Headquarters will assist the in-stadium Instant Replay Officials when replay decisions are made.

The technology needed to support the collaborative replay process and deliver the games in real time to the SEC Video Center was successfully tested during an SEC spring football game in April.

"Our goal is to continue to use the best-available resources to support correct outcomes when instant replay is used," said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. "We believe the collaborative effort, which will involve additional officiating experts during replay reviews, will enhance the Conference's football officiating program. I believe this update to the instant replay review process will better support football officiating in the SEC through the use of technology."

Detailed plans and complete logistics for the new replay process have been developed and will be presented to coaches and school administrators during the upcoming SEC Spring Meetings in Destin. Replay details will be announced publicly during a media briefing in Destin by Steve Shaw, the SEC's Coordinator of Football Officials.

"This is an important and positive step for our officiating program and I look forward to implementing our plan to combine advanced technology with officiating expertise," said Shaw. "Our successful test in the spring gave us the comfort level to move forward with execution of the plan for this fall. I look forward to communicating with my colleagues in other conferences to discuss best practices and the most effective use of collaborative replay."