Tablets on the benches will be the technological innovation at Zurich 2015
Zurich, Switzerland, May 5, 2015 – Expanding the trend in recent years, technology is at the forefront of yet another FIVB event. The 2015 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship will see a few innovations introduced in the push to take full advantage of the technological means to further develop the sport.
For the first time ever in an FIVB event, interaction between the bench and the referees/scorers will be done through a tablet connected wirelessly to the electronic scoresheet. Coaches (or their assistants on the bench) will be able to enter starting lineups and request substitutions, time-outs or video challenges through these tablets.
Jan Rek of the FIVB Refereeing Commission introduced the new system, last night, to the clubs participating at Zurich 2015. Mr Rek explained that as this is still a testing phase for the use of the new software and hardware, the referees will be instructed to be tolerant—at least in the first phase of the competition.
All this is in addition to previously implemented elements, such as the use of tablets for the two referees to control the scoresheet and the use of wireless intercom between them.
The video challenge for Zurich 2015 has also been highly upgraded and a total of 23 high definition cameras will be used. “I am very happy that we can now challenge everything,” said Mr. Rek at the teams meeting. This will include:
• Ball in/out for all lines
• Back line server foot fault
• Centre line
• Net touch according to new rules
• Block touch
• 3m line
• Antennae
As Emilio Spirito, representing Data Project, the company that provides the software and the support for the systems explained the intricacies of the new technologies to the teams, coaches and staff got some hands-on time with the tablets they will be using during the World Championship.
“The goal is to make everything completely integrated and through the technology to give support to organisers—not to create more problems for them in their attempt to implement everything,” said Mr. Spirito. “My vision for the future is through technology to give spectators on TV or inside the venues the possibility to better understand what is happening on the court.”