Wireless Communications Equipment Scores a Touchdown

For the NFL, wireless communications win the MVP Award.

There’s a TV close up of an NFL head coach on the sidelines. No matter which head coach it is, it’s easy to see that they all have one thing in common. They’re all using Motorola-designed wireless headsets. When it comes to robust and reliable communications equipment, wireless technology’s ability to provide secure, real-time communications in the hot sun, driving rain, below-zero temperatures and 150+ decibel crowd noise makes it a clear choice for the NFL.

Tip of the Iceberg

The League and its head coaches have been working with wireless communications technology for the past ten years. One of the most visible wireless applications is the coach’s headset, designed to deliver the functionalities and performance levels most coaches require. But headsets are just one of the many ways wireless technology is mission-critical for the NFL. On the playing field, along the sidelines and virtually everywhere in and around the stadium, wireless solutions can be found providing vital communication tools not only for players and coaches, but for security, catering, concessions, parking, gate admission, crowd control and in many other aspects of stadium operations.

“Technology has changed so rapidly over the years that it has truly affected the way coaches are able to do their job. Technology gives us information at the push of a button. Every situation you want is at your fingertips,” says one NFL head coach.

Headset Design

In designing its headsets, Motorola works with head coaches to make sure their individual headsets are ergonomically fitting and easy to use. In addition, Motorola designs its headsets to incorporate noise-canceling technology to help coaches cope with noisy stadium conditions.

Motorola and wireless headset technology solutions help enable coach-to-coach communications with offensive and defensive coordinators and other assistant coaches. In addition, coach-to quarterback communications are made possible by two-way radio technology working with speakers inside the player’s helmet. The system allows the coach and the quarterback to maintain communications from after a play until 15 seconds are left on the play clock, when the system is manually shut down. League rules specify that the quarterback is only able to receive plays being called in, and cannot communicate back to the coach.

“Reliability is crucial,” says Barb Goworowski, senior director, Motorola Business and Technology. “NFL rules stipulate that if one team’s on-field communication devices go down, the other team cannot use their own system until repairs are made. When communications are out, coaches must go back to the days of hand signals or sending a player into the huddle with a play.” That can be an enormous problem, especially in the fourth quarter of a tight game.

Off-the-Field Communications

While very important, on-field communications are just one aspect of the critical role wireless solutions play in bringing the game experience to the fans in a number of stadiums around the league. “On a typical game day in many NFL stadiums,” notes Goworowski, “it’s not unusual for the League, team and stadium operations personnel to use 500 to 1,000 portable radios in pre-game, during the game and post-game activities.” In addition to radio solutions, high-speed wireless communications equipment is also used to streamline a wide range of operations.

Security Sweeps. As security staff conducts pre-game device and security sweeps of the stadium, wireless technology equipment can enable real-time communications with central security control and between personnel. Entry Security. Wireless handheld mobile computers can scan every ticket to verify its legitimacy. In addition, in many stadiums, security is enhanced by having fans step through magnetometers (similar to those used in airport security).

Credential Checks. Handheld units can also be used to verify the credentials of personnel ranging from the media to delivery personnel, using technology such as barcode scanners and biometrics like fingerprint capture to verify that each person is authorized to be on premises. The devices can also display photos to help security personnel.

Video Surveillance. Permanent and temporary wireless network equipment often enables video surveillance both inside and outside the stadium, enabling police to monitor activities in real-time virtually everywhere at once.

Player Safety. Players and team personnel receive police escorts, with officers using real-time wireless two-way radio communications to coordinate operations before and after games.

Enhanced Fan Experiences. It is estimated that there are about 170 million NFL fans around the world. High-speed wireless technology solutions can enable them to have a deeper enjoyment and understanding of the game in a number of ways. Wireless broadband technology such as WiFi can enable reporters and photographers to deliver their stories and photographs in real-time via the Web, allowing fans to get information faster. Web-enabled cellular phones like the Motorola CLIQ™ allow fans to bring up photos, videos and real-time statistics on their screens, connecting them to NFL.com, a treasure trove of NFL data and enabling them to check on their fantasy football teams while enjoying the game. In addition, wireless infrastructure and set-top boxes can deliver high definition coverage of the game to skyboxes and stadium common areas.

The NFL As sporting events get larger and more complex,” says Goworowski, “communications technology is providing solutions that are vital for these events to operate efficiently and effectively.”

Bottom line, the NFL and other sports organizations rely on wireless communications equipment and technology from Motorola and other companies because the one thing they can’t afford, whatever the venue, on-field or off, is a failure to communicate.

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