Ladies football in the picture with RefCam

Ladies Gaelic Football Association chiefs have announced an exciting innovation for this summer’s TG4 All-Ireland championships as RefCam will hit TV screens from July 27.

A camera fitted to the referee’s headpiece will beam images back to TG4 programmers, who then have the option of using this footage to show highlights of key decisions or passage of play, from the official’s viewpoint. The headpiece is 150g in weight and the entire apparatus, which also consists of a state of the art neorpone body vest with a power back, weighs 1.1kg.

Leading Ladies football referee Maggie Farrelly showed guests how the equipment will be used at yesterday’s TG4 championship launch at Croke Park. LGFA President Pat Quill hailed RefCam as a “very important development” for the Association and Pól Ó’Gallchóir of TG4 added: “This roving camera can be used a coaching tool and to provide better understanding for prospective new referees. It will also serve as an extra camera for our live matches, giving us another slow-mo or view of the action.”