Drones

[Punttheball]

13 minutes ago, btownqbcoach1 said:

we don't have hudl focus, just regular hudl and the hudl sideline package or whatever. 

What about the commercial/residential license thing? I have had two different people bring that up to me. 

Last thing... this seems like it's a one main job in itself, on game night, yes? 

License is not required.  Licensing is all about the altitude you are flying the drone in certain zones.  The drones are only flying 20-25 feet higher than the top of your goal posts. The drone can be directly hooked into your sideline kit if you are using a DJI with a monitored remote.  The remote has a USB-C charging port that doubles as a video output.  All you need is a compatible USB-C to HDMI adapter.  It is a one-man job.

[btownqbcoach1]

1 minute ago, First_Backer_Inside said:

I don't know much about the license thing. I would have to look into that for you. 

Easy one man job, the drone flies itself. Just need to adjust the camera view from time to time, but the actual drone itself shouldn't have to move too much. Set up before the game is half the time it takes to set up an end zone camera. The only reason we still have an end zone camera is because we can't fly them during the playoffs.

Thanks man. Greatly appreciate all the help. Ridiculous rule by the IHSAA lol 

1 minute ago, Punttheball said:

License is not required.  Licensing is all about the altitude you are flying the drone in certain zones.  The drones are only flying 20-25 feet higher than the top of your goal posts. The drone can be directly hooked into your sideline kit if you are using a DJI with a monitored remote.  The remote has a USB-C charging port that doubles as a video output.  All you need is a compatible USB-C to HDMI adapter.  It is a one-man job.

Glorious. Again, could not appreciate the info more. Thank you. 

[oldtimeqb]

21 hours ago, 5GetsYou1 said:

The drones aren't allowed on the field of play, they are typically flown behind and to the side the uprights. 

Fair enough.

Counterpoint - coaches and non-participants are not allowed on the field of play or the white of the sideline - yet there are sideline warning penalties if they occur. 

My question was ‘what if.’ 

[Bobref]

21 hours ago, oldtimeqb said:

What's the ruling if a punt hits a drone mid-flight?  I guess it could be a pass or kick off as well. 

Play on. Same as if the ball were to hit a bird in flight.

But if your drone is flying over the playing area, that’s a problem. You’re going to get a call from N. Meridian St., and it won’t be a pleasant one.

[Lucy Draper]

1 hour ago, btownqbcoach1 said:

Last thing... this seems like it's a one main job in itself, on game night, yes? 

I was talking to a coach about this recently. They have a team of two students for drone operation on game nights. He said they never have a problem finding a drone team because the kids really enjoy it. They have the students take a drone safety course, and then some in person training, before they are allowed off into the wild blue yonder during a game.

[btownqbcoach1]

58 minutes ago, Lucy Draper said:

I was talking to a coach about this recently. They have a team of two students for drone operation on game nights. He said they never have a problem finding a drone team because the kids really enjoy it. They have the students take a drone safety course, and then some in person training, before they are allowed off into the wild blue yonder during a game.

fantastic, thank you 

[Irishman]

7 hours ago, Bobref said:

Play on. Same as if the ball were to hit a bird in flight.

But if your drone is flying over the playing area, that’s a problem. You’re going to get a call from N. Meridian St., and it won’t be a pleasant one.

I was thinking there was a game in NE Indiana on week 1 where a flag was thrown for it? I know the guy on the stream mentioned there was a drone over the field and within a couple seconds a flag came out. 

[Impartial_Observer]

On 9/9/2025 at 8:21 AM, Punttheball said:

It is all good to use in the regular season. The IHSAA does not allow the use of drones during the tournament.  It is asinine, but try to talk to Robert about moving the game forward, and he will look at you and basically call you stupid.

Too busy being the uniform police. 

[Justasportsfan]

I am wondering how long it will be before someone claims a drone's live feed is assisting with stealing signs and signals from their opponents...

[Impartial_Observer]

7 hours ago, Punttheball said:

License is not required.  Licensing is all about the altitude you are flying the drone in certain zones.  The drones are only flying 20-25 feet higher than the top of your goal posts. The drone can be directly hooked into your sideline kit if you are using a DJI with a monitored remote.  The remote has a USB-C charging port that doubles as a video output.  All you need is a compatible USB-C to HDMI adapter.  It is a one-man job.

You sure about that? It is my understanding flying over people requires a 107 license. Yes there are weight limits as well as flying for pay.  If I were a drone operator I would definitely get the correct info from the FAA. 

[btownqbcoach1]

2 hours ago, Impartial_Observer said:

You sure about that? It is my understanding flying over people requires a 107 license. Yes there are weight limits as well as flying for pay.  If I were a drone operator I would definitely get the correct info from the FAA. 

Well.. that's the thing, imo, they won't be flying over anyone with the way we use it. 

[Impartial_Observer]

10 minutes ago, btownqbcoach1 said:

Well.. that's the thing, imo, they won't be flying over anyone with the way we use it. 

Public facility? I really encourage you or have your IT person check with the FAA. What about insurance? Are there any liabilities? If it were me I would cover my bases. 

[Bobref]

9 hours ago, Irishman said:

I was thinking there was a game in NE Indiana on week 1 where a flag was thrown for it? I know the guy on the stream mentioned there was a drone over the field and within a couple seconds a flag came out. 

That is not within the jurisdiction of the game officials. It’s between game management and the IHSAA.

[Punttheball]

15 hours ago, Impartial_Observer said:

Too busy being the uniform police. 

Amen to that! So worried about pants over the knee!  I don't want it to look like college, but come on.

[btownqbcoach1]

13 hours ago, Impartial_Observer said:

Public facility? I really encourage you or have your IT person check with the FAA. What about insurance? Are there any liabilities? If it were me I would cover my bases. 

There is no one standing in the back of an EZ. How can every other school do it? 

[Impartial_Observer]

3 hours ago, btownqbcoach1 said:

There is no one standing in the back of an EZ. How can every other school do it? 

Dude seriously do whatever you want I don’t care. 

[btownqbcoach1]

8 minutes ago, Impartial_Observer said:

Dude seriously do whatever you want I don’t care. 

Well that wasn't what you said, so that's pretty confusing. My apologies for looking for discussion on a forum. 

[Lucy Draper]

I just can't believe that we have little unmanned helicopters hovering above high school football games for the purposes of collecting film. I wish Papa Jahari could be here to see it.

[Impartial_Observer]

2 hours ago, btownqbcoach1 said:

Well that wasn't what you said, so that's pretty confusing. My apologies for looking for discussion on a forum. 

I told you where to find the info. All I said was I would look into the FAA and liability issues. I don’t have the answers. I understand how drones are used, I understand generally there aren’t general admission people in the EZ. Use the info i offered or not, I’m not looking to debate. 

[globemstr3]

23 hours ago, Justasportsfan said:

 

Happened to me first game of season down in Corbin KY. I was operating outside the fences but capturing the field of play at around 175' AGL, they got HOT! Accused me of that (I think we were down 35 at the time) and escorted me off School property and the Local PD escorted me out of town! They tuff down there in Corbin.

[btownqbcoach1]

43 minutes ago, Impartial_Observer said:

I told you where to find the info. All I said was I would look into the FAA and liability issues. I don’t have the answers. I understand how drones are used, I understand generally there aren’t general admission people in the EZ. Use the info i offered or not, I’m not looking to debate. 

I wasn't either. I am obviously already doing everything you mentioned, well before you mentioned it, so thank you. 

I was hoping you had insight, experience, something. 

[Justasportsfan]

6 minutes ago, globemstr3 said:

Happened to me first game of season down in Corbin KY. I was operating outside the fences but capturing the field of play at around 175' AGL, they got HOT! Accused me of that (I think we were down 35 at the time) and escorted me off School property and the Local PD escorted me out of town! They tuff down there in Corbin.

They must have been state champs that year! Good grief!

[globemstr3]

4 minutes ago, Justasportsfan said:

They must have been state champs that year! Good grief!

Oh Yeah great team! The weirdos in town ratted on me. J/K on all of it. Satire lol

[Justasportsfan]

6 minutes ago, globemstr3 said:

Oh Yeah great team! The weirdos in town ratted on me. J/K on all of it. Satire lol

Yeah, Im following ya!😆

[Coach Whitty]

I have talked to a few different schools that do not have any license at all and have flown their drone for a few seasons now and have had no issues. We started using ours this year for practices only, and had two coaches and two student managers get the TRUST license for recreational use as well as registered our drone with the FAA. Our IT department got involved and believes that we need the PART 107 license as well for insurance purposes, even though we are not using the drone for commercial purposes. We reached out to the FAA and they agree and want us to take the PART 107 test. Now we are studying and trying to find a time to schedule to take this test in person so we can certified. Our administration has grounded our drone until we do.