Security agencies look other way, allow gadgets

Prabhjot Singh writes from New Delhi

Security agencies may have been inserting advertisements in media, both electronic and print, cautioning people against bringing to Major Dhyan Chand National Hockey Stadium when they come to watch the World Cup Hockey matches.

The lists of items banned include laptops, handicams and cameras. And the teams need these items the most. Hockey has been keeping pace with the technological advancements. Players on the bench now have available to them laptops that can help them to have a playback of an action, say a penalty corner, so as to counter strategy of his opponents.

Many teams not playing the World Cup or have just failed to qualify for the mega event also need to video record some of the matches for the benefit of their teams for their future international engagements. They, too, are allowed to bring in their gadgets.

Of course, media, too, is permitted to carry cameras, laptops, pencils and pens into the media box as well as media box but not beyond a point. Teams carry these gadgets on to the play-field; get connected to the video recorder sitting behind one of the goalposts, recording the entire.

Video recording is then relayed to the laptop of the team on the ground that is kept aside. Manager, coach and players on the bench can access or replay any of the recorded moments.

Head sets are more sophisticated. Team managements have their men in stands for reporting back movement and placement of men on the playfield at strategic moments; say before, during and after award of a penalty corner, free hit from 25 yard line or even a 16 yard free hit.

For any good coach or manager, it is important to analyse how each member of the opponents’ team conducts himself on the playfield with and without ball.

Needless to say that maximum a player can hold the ball is a little more than two minutes. That is simple mathematics, 32 players in a game of 70 minutes. So how does a player conducts himself or positions himself for the remaining 68 minutes is an important component of strategic planning.

Here the audio visual aids are handy as human eye and brain at times cannot take cognisance of each and every movement on the play- field. While the Europeans and Australians are far advanced in the use of the latest technology, teams from the subcontinent – India and Pakistan – appear to be lagging behind.

Game is faster. It is why the need for introduction of video umpire was felt for a long time. What could be more stunning that a number of decisions originally taken by umpires had to be reversed? Award of a penalty stroke to the Netherlands that had been originally blown for a free hit for Australia and denial of goal scored by India against South Africa are some of the examples of revised decisions.

It is not only players, conduct officials and technical staff but also the spectators turning techno-savvy. Other day Chairman of the Communication Committee of the International Hockey Federation talked about twitting and use of iPods and blackberries by the spectators while declaring big plasma screens inside stadiums as redundant.

Watching games and sports from stands has to change. So have the security norms. You cannot keep on revising the banned items upwardly. Some of these items are becoming an all-time necessity. You cannot allow one section to carry them inside the stadium while banning the other section.