The NFL is preparing for a MAJOR technological change next season… but it must pass testing in the preseason before getting the green light.

The NFL plans to test optical tracking technology to determine the gain line this preseason.

According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, the league is preparing to test the advanced method in the preseason with the possibility of implementing it full-time in the regular season.

If the test goes well, it could mean a demotion for the group of prisoners. However, Jones added that network officials would remain in the field as backup if the technology ran into problems.

Jones reported that the NFL competition committee quietly approved optical tracking in March. However, as noted above, the full implementation will depend on how well, or poorly, the test goes.

Despite its dominance in the sports market, the NFL is significantly outdated compared to other leagues when it comes to its use of technological advancements.

Fans fear that full implementation of the rule could mean a demotion for the group of inmates.

The NFL reportedly plans to keep network officials on the field as a backup for the technology.

Incorrect gain-line decisions have long been responsible for altering games throughout NFL history. Optical tracking could therefore prove to be a ground-breaking development in refereeing if all goes according to plan.

While optical tracking technology is new to the NFL, several sports leagues have adopted it in previous years. Sports such as football and tennis were among the first to take advantage of the innovation.

In 2012, goal line technology was first implemented in football at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan. In 2014, GLT became widely used in domestic and international competitions around the world after the Premier League implemented it in the 2013–14 season.

Two years later, the International Football Association Board approved the use of the video assistant referee (VAR). The VAR is essentially an additional referee who can view the game from multiple camera angles, providing an extra set of eyes for the referees on the field.

In March 2006, the ATP introduced the Hawk-eye system. Developed by Dr. Paul Hawkins, the technology was a game-changer in tennis, allowing referees to automatically detect where the ball landed on the court during matches.