With only a few rule changes for the 2018 football season, one new opportunity — allowing high school teams to gain a collegiate, technological program — graced the state of Alabama.

Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Assistant Director Mark Jones said Alabama is the first state to have the possibility to use instant replay in regular season high school football games.

Cullman coach Matt Plunkett said they decided to not go in the direction of being a part of the instant replay technology because of the financial commitment.

“It is expensive,” he said. “Replay in high school is not guaranteed to get the right call. You do not have the angles that college and pro have.”

Good Hope, meanwhile, was the lone program in Cullman County to go through with the process.

And coach Alan Scott saw firsthand how it could affect momentum during his team’s spring jamboree at Jacksonville State.

Scott challenged a fourth-down spot, won and forced Cleburne County into a punting situation. The Raiders then scored a touchdown to put the tilt out of reach.

“For me, if it can give my kids an opportunity, it will have been worth it,” he said. “There was some upfront costs this year, but you’d like to think it could come in handy in the future. I definitely respect officials and the job they do, but we all want to get the call right. If this helps in any way to make that happen, I’m all for it.”

Good Hope will have two instant replay cameras — one stationed on the sideline and one in the end zone — at its disposal this season.

Although Alabama is the first to offer it to schools during its regular season football games, there have been others to use the technology when it comes to the postseason.

“There are a few other states with the option that utilize it in state championship games only,” Jones said. “We currently have 20 schools statewide using the program and, since the season began, we’ve had more schools inquiring about it. With what we’ve had happen so far, I feel good about where it’s going.”

Jones said the startup costs for the program will cost each school about $3500.

“It’s like with all technology; it’s usually higher as it first comes out and gets cheaper as the years go by,” Jones said.

According to Jones, Austin High School and East Limestone High School have both purchased the technology.

Falkville head coach Joel Schrenk said he thinks the idea for Alabama to dig into this option is great, but the cost for the equipment is higher than what they would be able to afford to pay as a program.

“Most schools Class 4A and below might see this option deep in the playoffs or at the state championship level,” Schrenk said. “I don’t believe this is something at this time that many smaller schools will be able to afford. For schools like Hoover and those comparable in size, it’s probably awesome to have, but I think the majority won’t buy it.”

Schrenk said the state did inform them the cost to start is around $3,500, but they would also be required to have internet on the sidelines, and there’s some cost behind that as well.

“Each stadium will be different depending on what tools and technology they already have,” Schrenk said. “I think it will be a great asset on down the line but not something Falkville will get to experience for some time.”

Jones referred to the AHSAA replay protocol information, which was recently released that broke down the process, usage, rules and equipment needed.

Purpose and Philosophy

Section 1. Instant replay is a process whereby video review is used to let stand or reverse certain on- field decisions made by game officials.

Section 2. The instant replay process operates under the assumption that the official’s ruling on the field is correct. The replay official may reverse a ruling only if the video evidence convinces him or her beyond all doubt that the ruling on the field was incorrect. Without indisputable video evidence that the ruling on the field was incorrect, the ruling will stand as called.

Article 2: Instant Replay Personnel & Equipment

Section 1. Instant replay personnel shall consist of the referee and one other game official that was not directly involved with the play.

Section 2. AHSAA approved DVSport equipment will be the only instant replay equipment to be utilized in an AHSAA contest. The use of any other type of equipment provider for instant replay review is a finable offense to the school(s), and the officials will be suspended.

Section 3. The instant replay area shall be a protected area and restricted to only the replay officials. The area will contain all necessary equipment to review a play during the instant replay process. The instant replay area shall be in a secure location near the sideline, outside the team boxes or other AHSAA designated area and not allow anyone, other than the replay officials, within 15 feet of the review.

Section 4. The instant replay provider (home school, visiting school or venue) is responsible for having two red flags for the coaches to use during the contest. Instant replay will not be utilized if both teams do not have red flags. The instant replay flag may be self-made using a 12×12” red cloth or purchased from a vendor.

Article 3: Eligibility for Instant Replay

Section 1. All AHSAA varsity level football games (regular season and playoffs) may use instant replay in venues where the necessary equipment is provided by either team. The home team’s equipment will have priority as to the equipment to be utilized. All cameras utilized must feed through the approved AHSAA DVSport instant replay system. When instant replay is used, it must be in accordance with AHSAA protocols.

Section 2. Instant replay will be used for AHSAA state championship contest and is solely the property of the AHSAA. The AHSAA will use equipment provided by the venue. The AHSAA will designate a replay booth official for each state championship contest.

Article 4: Reviewable Plays

Section 1. Instant replay may be used to review any possible on field error other than those listed in Sections 2 and 3.

Section 2. Instant replay shall not be used to review on-field rulings made by officials where a penalty flag was thrown (or not thrown) for fouls other than the situations listed below.

a. The call or no call of a player throwing a forward pass beyond the line of scrimmage is reviewable. b. The call or no call of a team having more than 11 players participate during a down is reviewable. c. A foul for illegal contact that resulted in a disqualification is reviewable. (This includes, but is not limited to, targeting, spearing, blind side block, and fighting)

d. When instant replay is initiated (a challenge by either team) the replay official has the autonomy to correct or enforce any unsportsmanlike acts.

Section 3. Timing errors may be challenged in venues that have a visible clock embedded in the video replay. Time elapsed during a challenged play is not placed back on the clock unless it was a timing error. Also, time may be corrected when a call is reversed on the last play of any quarter.

Section 4. When a team requests a challenge that does not meet the criteria for reviewable plays, the team will be charged with a time out and accessed a delay of game penalty if they don’t have any timeouts remaining.

Section 5. The decision of the replay official is final. Protest are not allowed.

Article 5: Initiating the Instant Replay Process

Section 1. Instant replay shall be initiated by the designated head coach tossing a red flag onto the field in front of a nearby official. (See Article 2 Section 4) The flag must be thrown following the end of the play in question and prior to the next legal snap or free kick of the next play. The officials will call an officials’ time out to confer with the coach as to what is being challenged.

Section 2. Each team shall be allowed two instant replay reviews during the contest. If the challenged ruling is not changed, the team will lose that challenge for the remainder of the contest and be charged a time out. (Delay of game penalty will be accessed if a team does not have any remaining time outs.) If the challenge ruling is changed, the team will maintain that challenge and not be charged with a time out. Once a team has requested two unchanged challenge rulings, the team will not be allowed to challenge for the remainder of the contest.

Section 3. The review official will have a maximum of two minutes to make a decision on the challenge. The two minutes will begin once the official is at the monitor.

Section 4. When a challenge is reversed on a penalty play, the offended team will be given new penalty options based on the result of the reversal of the challenge.

Section 5. In state championship games, the last timed down of the fourth quarter or any overtime possession will be reviewed for any error or misapplication of a rule, if it has a bearing on the outcome of the contest.