PREPNET / SPEAK OUT

Should the CIF use videotape to review controversial officiating decisions or results?

DAVE DEMAREST

La Quinta, Baseball Coach

I don’t see it being a positive thing. At the high school level you’d be opening up a can of worms. If you decide to use it, are you going to use it in all sports and all situations, or just certain sports and certain situations? Video is usually used when a rule is broken and I can’t think of anything in baseball like that. An umpire’s call is a human decision and I don’t think you can use video to overturn it.

JUSTIN ANGEVINE

El Dorado, Baseball

We live in the day now where we should take advantage of the technology, use instant replay and use the videotape to review plays. There’s a lot of blown calls. Referees can’t see everything and umpires miss calls. You can’t see everything with two guys out there. I’ve seen a lot of bad calls that cost a team a game. They should review those.

AL BRITT

Esperanza, Track and Field Coach

Do we need to be accompanied by a lawyer to protect the rights of our athletes? Referees making judgment calls on possible violations at the Masters and State track meets is not in the best interest of the athlete. Placing official video cameras in key areas will provide definitive proof and protect both CIF and the rights of the athletes. It took many years for the NFL to realize that the best vantage point is not on the playing field.

ZACK DUCHENE

Mater Dei, Spectator

They should use any technology that they can come by to make decisions like that. It is not worth the arguments that go on out there.

SUSAN GILLASPIE

Los Alamitos, Parent

The answer is absolutely! Some of the referees are untrained and specifically when they make errors they aren’t man or woman enough to change that error. They need to have some way to review the mistakes they make, even if they are afraid to admit it.

DARRELL CHEAM

La Quinta, Boys’ Water Polo

CIF should use videotapes to review controversial officiating decisions or results. I can remember in the closing minutes of a Garden Grove League game and a player from Pacifica side-armed one of our teammates to the head. It was evident and caught on videotape. The one referee that was officiating did not see it at all and the fans protested the obvious attack. After showing the tape to the league board, they tossed it out as invalid, due to the fact that the referee did not call the foul. It was truly controversial and I cannot think of what would happen if a similar event occurred in a CIF championship game.

JIM KUNAU

Orange Lutheran, Football Coach/Athletic Director

I guess my initial reaction would be to oppose using videotape in high schools. Officials are under enough pressure and scrutiny as it is. Using videotape might create more problems than it will solve.

LUCCIANO MENDIOLA

El Toro, Parent

Yes, I strongly believe that the CIF should use the aid of videotapes to review controversial issues regarding poor officiating. When hardcore evidence such as a videotape can be used to clearly show/prove overtly poor officiating it should not only be allowed but encouraged.Nobody’s perfect, and videotapes don’t lie. All athletes deserve the fairest treatment.