The FIVB did such an amazing job embracing and using the most advanced forms of technology in Rio to make volleyball matches more exciting and more entertaining!!!
Check out all technological advances used in Rio:
Referee Communication Headsets
“Headsets now also play an important role and help to improve how information is exchanged within refereeing teams. By allowing direct verbal communication, they provide an additional line of communication as a complement to hand signals.” -FIVB
Hawk-Eye Equipment & Camera
For ball in, ball out and serve foot faults.
E-Scoresheet & LED Scoreboard
“Since the Games in London in 2012, referees have benefited from the introduction of Electronic Scoresheets and LED Scoreboard Tablets which help to visualize team rosters and track scores, rotations, substitutions and timeouts.” -FIVB
The Video Challenge System
“The Challenge System was first used at an FIVB event during the FIVB Volleyball Club World Championships in 2012. It has been used at flagship FIVB events since including the World League and World Grand Prix, and the FIVB World Cup. It was used at a beach volleyball competition for the first time at the 2015 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Rio de Janeiro Open, which also served as a test event for the beach volleyball tournament at the 2016 Olympics. 12 high-resolution Hawk-Eye cameras were also in place at the Swatch FIVB World Tour Finals in Fort Lauderdale in 2015, marking the system’s first appearance at a Major Series event later in the same year.” -FIVB
“With the new system in place, volleyball and beach volleyball teams now have the right to call video verification for a referee’s decision twice per set. Coaches (in volleyball) and players can challenge ball in/out, block touch, net fault, antenna touch and service foot faults in both volleyball and beach volleyball. Players and spectators share in the excitement and focus on the analysis on a giant screen as the challenge is either accepted or refused.” -FIVB
“The FIVB is committed to improve the resources available to referees to assist the decision making process and ensure the game is absolutely fair to the athletes’ actions. The Volleyball Challenge system is a great example of such an improvement that allows teams to request a review of a decision.” -FIVB President Dr. Ary S Graça.
The Complete Look
We can’t wait for more advances and upgrades in the years to come.