Say that some pro sports team (maybe in the NFL) got ahold of an AI system that would, in real time, calculate and determine what would be the most suitable play-call for a given situation (i.e., “throw a screen pass on this 3rd-and-6” or “call a cornerback blitz here.”) Is there currently any league prohibition against this?
Do offensive and defensive coordinators generally rely on nothing but intuition/experience when calling plays?
Don’t know about the first part (I suspect it’s allowed), but the answer to the second part is no. Analytics absolutely affects play calling, although maybe not as much as it should. An example would be coaches referring to FG vs go for it charts. Basically calculate the expected points for either based on field position and there you go.
It probably would be against the rules in the NFL. Not that there’s necessarily a specific rule against it, but as far as I’m aware everything they do on the sideline is limited to what is explicitly allowed. Anything else is not allowed. Back in the day they would have photos on the sidelines to look at. Tablets were eventually introduced, but not until it was explicitly allowed by the league.
For example, I would bet you a dollar it is against league rules to have a cell phone on the sidelines. Only approved devices allowed, and those are either specifically enumerated, or provided by the league itself.
However, much like tablets, I don’t think the NFL would have a problem allowing AI on the sidelines. It’s just that they haven’t yet.
I have no cite for any of this, so corrections welcome.
I was just thinking about this today, as I was reading speculation that Aaron Judge was getting signals from the dugout right before blasting a 446 ft homer last night. Technology in MLB is tightly regulated. There is PitchCom, which is an electronic communication device for the pitcher and catcher to decide on pitches. Coaches are allowed someone in a replay booth to help the head coach determine if they are going to challenge. But other than that, that’s it. Coaches can’t even wear an Apple Watch.