As we enter one other 12 months of faculty soccer, Florida State dominated LSU over the weekend with a 21-point victory. Because it seems, the Apple Watch could have performed a job in that victory as two of FSU’s extensive receivers had been noticed sporting Apple’s gadget in the course of the recreation.

Picture credit: Charles Mays (1) and Ben Ofer (2)

We’ve seen athletes on the collegiate {and professional} ranges put on Apple Watches throughout video games a couple of occasions through the years. And every time it occurs, the Apple Watch makes headlines. Sunday’s recreation between LSU and FSU is not any exception.

Eagle-eyed customers on Twitter had been the primary to identify that FSU extensive receivers Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson had been donning Apple Watches in the course of the recreation on Sunday. Coincidentally, Coleman and Wilson each had glorious showings in the course of the recreation as effectively.

Naturally, these photos led to debate about whether or not NCAA guidelines permit gamers to put on gadgets just like the Apple Watch throughout video games. As reported by the Tallahassee Democrat, the NCAA guidelines embody an affordance particularly for the Apple Watch and different wearables.

In response to the NCAA, “sporting of any digital sign gadgets” is prohibited throughout video games however with an important exception.

In response to the NCAA, sporting of any digital sign gadgets is illegitimate besides in sure circumstances. These sure circumstances can be a medically prescribed listening to support of the sound-amplifier kind for hearing-impaired gamers or a tool for transmission or reception of information particularly and just for functions of well being and security.

The Apple Watch simply falls into that second class, serving as a key gadget for “well being and security” for customers.

Particular particulars about why Coleman and Wilson particularly selected to put on their Apple Watches throughout Sunday’s recreation are unclear. A spokesperson for FSU merely mentioned that it was a “private alternative” for the 2 extensive receivers.

As my colleague Zac put it in Slack at present, this “explains the overwhelming defeat LSU suffered after being tied at halftime.”

It’s powerful to establish which Apple Watch fashions Coleman and Wilson wore in the course of the recreation. It seems to be like Wilson was rocking an Apple Watch Extremely, whereas Coleman seemed to be sporting a chrome steel mannequin.

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