For years, NFL coaches and players have complained about having problems with their communications device on the sidelines. The problems have prevented coaches from being able to communicate with their players from the sidelines, affecting their NFL sports betting odds of winning the game, leading fans to start conspiracy theories about their opponents at the same time.
The good news for NFL coaches and players is that the NFL finally listened to their complaints and the league will implement a new and reliable method for coaches and players to communicate with each other during games.
Once the new system is in place, coaches and players will no longer have to worry about their headsets malfunctioning or having to hear the other team’s communications through their headsets.
The solution to the communications problem is known as the Sideline of the Future project. The NFL will be using a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) system developed over a four-year period by two vendors.
The VOIP system will allow coaches to communicate with themselves and players without any interference because the NFL owns the private encrypted mobile communication system and it will operate on an exclusive frequency provided by the Federal Communications Commission.
NFL coaches and players won’t experience any interference while using the new system because the frequency can’t be shared with any other products.
In an interview, Michelle McKenna-Doyle, the NFL’s senior vice president/chief information officer, said the NFL knew that it had to solve the communications problems coaches and players were having and she believes the league did that with the new communications system.
Since she was hired in 2012, McKenna-Doyle has spent a lot of time trying to help the NFL catch up with technology. Her office was responsible for the league moving from pictures of previous plays to using Microsoft Surface tablets on the sidelines.
McKenna-Doyle’s office is also responsible for the use of sideline replay videos to determine if a player has a concussion.
Over the years, NFL fans have seen teams having problems communicating. Last season, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was upset because he could hear the play-by-play announcer of the New England Patriots through his headset in the season opener last year.
Over the course of the season, other coaches complained about having the same problem. In an effort to have everyone playing on a level field, the NFL implemented the “equity rule.” The rule requires teams whose opponents are having trouble with their headsets to turn off their headsets.
According to McKenna-Doyle, the reason why teams sometimes have problems with their headsets is because the frequencies that are being used change during games. By having a designated frequency, NFL teams shouldn’t have that problem anymore.
One of the benefits of the new system is something coaches have been complaining about for a while. In the past, coaches in press boxes had to relay their plays through a coach on the sidelines. Now, thanks to high speed internet, the coaches can communicate directly with their players.
The new system has been tested at all 32 NFL stadiums last month as well as the Pro Bowl, and it is expected to be approved sometime this week.