NCAA Football Sideline Tablet Technology Ruling Updates

Over the last couple months we've seen the rise in talks of NCAA football changing the rules & finally allowing teams to use sideline tablet technology like they do in US high school football and the NFL.

 

GameStrat is the market leader when it comes to sideline tablet technology and we've been at the forefront of things throughout this 2024 off season. Plenty of football programs across college football are already utilizing and leveraging GameStrat's technology during their spring practices and scrimmages in preparation for the new upcoming changes. We have also been talking to numerous conference staff all throughout every division, and as a result we decided to create this blog to help educate coaches and any staff throughout all conferences on the latest news and developments that we are aware of.

 

Want to receive these updates in your inbox? Simply click here to sign up for our NCAA Updates Newsletter.

 

Update as of April 19th, 2024 - it's official!

It's official - sideline tablet technology has been approved by the NCAA by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP).

Today, the NCAA News released this article outlining the specifics: "For all three divisions, teams have the option of using tablets to view in-game video only. The video can include the broadcast feed and camera angles from the coach's sideline and coach's end zone. Teams can have up to 18 active tablets for use in the coaching booth, sideline and locker room. Tablets cannot be connected to other devices to project larger additional images and cannot include analytics, data or data access capability or other communication access. All team personnel will be allowed to view the tablets during the game."

 

Update as of April 10th, 2024

We have already shipped several units to NCAA football programs for usage in their spring games. 

 

Film on the tablets will be restricted to the current live game. Any footage from previous games, scouting film, or practice film will be prohibited on the tablets during live competition.

 

While these upcoming meetings do still have the ability to reverse the rule change, or have conferences decide against it, we have been told by several people that the April 18th meeting is more of a formality at this point and is all but guaranteed to be moved forward.

 

Update as of April 3rd, 2024

The Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP Meeting), will be taking place on April 18th and will have the final say on the specifics of the rules surrounding the use of sideline tablet technology and if the proposed rule changes officially pass. 

 

Update as of March 25th, 2024

Every FCS program that we have spoken to all believe that the rules will be going through for sideline tablet technology and that it is just a matter of going through the process of meetings and votes coming up this spring. A number of FCS programs have already signed up to use GameStrat during their spring scrimmages to help their coaching staffs in getting familiar with using sideline tablet technology. 

 

Both Catapult XOS & DVSport will require teams to hardwire or have existing infrastructure in their stadiums to even be able to provide their sideline tablet technology, and will not be providing a portable solution.

 

Through talking with numerous FCS football programs, it seems that DVSport is not offering a portable wireless solution at all, essentially eliminating all FCS and lower division programs as potential teams that they can service. 

 

While still pending approval, lots of Division III conferences have held off on looking into conference wide solutions and are letting teams do their own research. This is subject to change as they are scheduled to meet later in April once the official decision is made by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel.

 

Update as of March 18th, 2024

"All rule recommendations must be approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which is scheduled to discuss football proposals April 18th."

• On April 18th, we should have a definitive answer from the NCAA on if sideline tablet technology is a go for the 2024-2025 season.
• Learn more here.

 

Update as of March 11th, 2024

March 4th, 2024 - NCAA Proposes New NFL-Style Sideline Technology for All FBS Teams

 

March 1st, 2024 - Football Rules Committee proposes technology rules for 2024 season

"For all three divisions, teams would have the option of using tablets to view in-game video only. The video could include the broadcast feed and camera angles from the coach's sideline and coach's end zone.

Teams could have up to 18 active tablets for use in the coaching booth, sideline and locker room. Tablets could not be connected to other devices to project larger additional images and could not include analytics, data or data access capability or other communication access. All team personnel would be allowed to view the tablets during the game." - Athletic Business 

 

November 7th, 2023 - Use of helmet communication & sideline tablets approved for testing in 2023 non-CFP bowl games

"Now it’s coming. At least temporarily. This December, teams will be allowed to use communication technology in non-College Football Playoff bowl games. They’ll also be allowed to use in-game video technology like tablets on the sideline. The use of each will require agreement from both participating teams and their respective conference offices.

The NCAA Football Rules Committee approved the communication technology experiment in the summer, after a request from the Big Ten to allow communication and sideline technology in games during the season. The use of video technology in bowls was just approved last week." - The Athletic 

 

 

Want to receive these updates in your inbox? Simply complete the form below.