Sunday, July 20, 2014

ACC asks the NCAA to allow in-helmet communication in 2015



The ACC will not be allowed to use helmet cams and coach-quarterback communications systems this season, but ACC commissioner John Swofford said the NCAA rules committee would discuss it in February 2015.


In June, the ACC asked the NCAA if it could experiment with communication devices, but the NCAA rules committee turned down the request because there wasn’t enough time to evaluate it before the season kicked off in August.


One of the other issues for the NCAA is how coach-quarterback communication systems would be used and whether it is something that would be attainable for every team.


"This has been something we've talked about at a national coordinator discussion," said Steve Shaw, the SEC coordinator of officials, told CBSSports.com. "We think it could help clean up sidelines because coaches don't have to come out and signal plays. What's the cost of it? Could every team purchase it?


"But it's become a topic."


The ACC will, however, experiment with biometric systems this year, which can measure the overall health of each player. The most common system used is called Catapult, which says it can measure and track performances in real time as well as performance over time. It can track hydration, sleep status and overall wellness, as well. In short, a training staff can learn everything it needs to know about the health and wellness of every athlete on the team.


Florida State wore Catapult vests last season and coach Jimbo Fisher said they contributed to the Seminoles’ national championship.


“It's allowed [in games by the NCAA] anyway,” Doug Rhodes, ACC coordinator of officials, told CBSSports.com. “It's never been formalized. You can use it in practice all along. It's always been fuzzy about the game.”


The NCAA allows the use of biometric vests as long as they provide only one-way data and the data is only used for health tracking purposes.


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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter!Follow @YahooDrSaturday


From Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo Sports - ACC asks the NCAA to allow in-helmet communication in 2015


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