# Technology to track ball position

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-to-track-ball-position/530681>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [February 27, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-to-track-ball-position/530681 "2010-02-27T20:36:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-to-track-ball-position/530681/21 "2010-03-10T07:42:17Z")

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> [@ekweizn](#):
>
> I’ve always wondered why they don’t just spot the ball on first down at the nearest yard marker (except on first-and-goal situations). It makes things simpler by eliminating the need for chains with minimal impact on the game itself.

That offers limited utility since there are very many plays that end with the ballcarier nowhere near the hash marks or sidelines.

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**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-to-track-ball-position/530681/22 "2010-03-11T16:11:01Z")

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> [@ekweizn](#):
>
> In baseball, I’d definitely try to use Hawk-eye to get rid of the umps’ calls on balls/called strikes. Still need the umps for all the other stuff, I think.

They’ve tried to do that for years. The umps are still more accurate.

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**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-to-track-ball-position/530681/23 "2010-03-11T16:20:08Z")

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> [@Clothahump](#):
>
> They’ve tried to do that for years. The umps are still more accurate.

How do they know the umpires are more accurate? What are they comparing umpires calls with to check for accuracy?

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**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-to-track-ball-position/530681/24 "2010-03-11T18:24:49Z")

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I’ve long-said there should should be sensors all over the place in football. Two in the ball, kneepads of running backs, shoes of receivers, etc. The less human decision-making there is in the game (from a refereeing point of view, that is), the better.

The big stumbling block to this would be durability. There would likely be longer “pad replacement” breaks than their are currently “under the hood” breaks.  
On a separate note, the correct response to this thread title is “What technology? I just check my shorts”.

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