Wireless Hidden Cameras Keep Sports Sporting

The scene seemed to mirror the epic battles of gladiators in ancient Rome. The sound from the indoor arena was deafening. Fans stood on their feet, pumping fists in the air and chanting "DEFENSE! DEFENSE!" The visiting team's star player lowered his shoulder and then drove towards the basket. As the final few seconds of the contest ticked off the game clock, the defending player crashed to the floor. Another offensive player sprung into the air, his fingertips barely clearing another defender's outstretched arm. After the shot, the ball bounced off the rim three times, and then reluctantly fell through the orange metal ring. Who won? Who lost? Does the shot count? The wireless hidden camera knows.

Sports has become a cornerstone of modern culture, often involving Hollywood-like contract signings, multi-million dollar product endorsements, and athletes training as if they were heading off to war. Meanwhile, wireless hidden cameras help to maintain the integrity of the play and the players.

The Basics
The wireless hidden camera is a small, hard-to-notice, battery-powered video camera. It sends images to a receiver within 300 to 500 feet of the camera. The receiver can be connected to a television while a DVR or VCR records the camera's signal.

Caught on Tape
Short of using these cameras to create a reality show of professional players' lives, shooting them shooting up steroids, for example, will remain a challenge. However, catching cheaters on the court, field, or ring is a different story altogether. Different types of athletes are often accused of different infringements. Basketball players sometimes double as actors, and "flop" to the floor when they were never really fouled. Baseball players, on the other hand, put sandpaper in their gloves, spit on a ball, or fill a bat with cork. Boxers periodically throw an illegal "low blow" below the belt, or "throw a fight" by falling to the canvas after being hit with a love tap. Wireless hidden cameras help game officials catch these violations and the culprits.

Accountable Zebras
Referees are consistently accurate and fair when officiating sports events. At least in theory, they should be. Several sports films such as "Friday Night Lights" and "Hoosiers," however, show how "home-team referees" cheat by making calls that should not be made, or by not making calls that should be made. In addition, while college and professional sporting events are usually filmed and televised, those in smaller venues, such as community or high school sporting events, typically are not. In these latter cases, the use of wireless hidden cameras can be particularly useful in reviewing the questionable calls that referees make.

Stopping Fans of Violence
While wireless hidden cameras can help to protect players from unscrupulous referees, they can also come to the rescue of fans under attack. In recent times, simply attending sporting events has become risky. Hundreds of people died within the past decade in accidents and stampedes involving soccer matches played in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, and South Africa. Also, late in 2004, one of the worst fights in NBA history involved players and fans trading punches. And if you want to attend a hockey game, consider wearing a helmet whether you skate on the ice or sit in the stands.

Wireless hidden cameras are very useful in curbing acts of violence. They allow security personnel to fight back before fights start. The size and mobility of these tools help them to spot and record the actions of unruly fans.

Sporting events should never be dangerous to your health or to the integrity of the game. With wireless hidden cameras, you can be sure it stays that way.