Ladies football in the picture with RefCam
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.”
Steve Overall from Sydney-based Globecast was at Croke Park yesterday to showcase RefCam, which is supplied by the company’s secondary division Globe-Cam.
This technology has already been used in other sports such as cricket, Super 15 rugby, Australian Rules Football and V8 Supercars.
Meanwhile, Cork captain Anne Marie Walsh admits the All-Ireland champions are “all at sea” as they prepare for the back door. The Rebelettes were denied a 10th successive Munster title on Saturday as Kerry beat Cork for the second time in the year’s provincial championship. Walsh conceded: “We’re at sea at the moment. We’re wide open. Our forwards are too packed and our defence is too exposed. More games might help us in the long run, hopefully. We’ve been given a break off for the week and we’ve been told to relax. We’ll regroup and try to talk about where we can go from here. I’m hoping the hunger is there within the players. It’s last chance saloon now and I hope that drives players on.”
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