On fall Friday nights across Texas, sideline theatrics, including giant play cards and frantic hand signals, have long been part of the football atmosphere. But beginning in the 2025 season, a new UIL rule may start to quiet the chaos.
The University Interscholastic League’s football rules committee recently approved a measure allowing coach-to-player communication via wearable technology during games. While it’s not full-fledged in-helmet communication like the NCAA began permitting in 2024, it marks a significant step toward digitizing the way plays are called at the high school level in Texas.
“Coach-to-player communication will be allowed through one-way wearable technologies in UIL football games for the 2025 season, with some important restrictions,” the UIL stated in an email to athletic directors and coaches. “Again, this is not coach-to-player helmet communication but utilizing wristband-like technology to communicate play calls to your athletes.”
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Devices such as smartwatches, wristbands and belt-packs may now be worn by players on the field. The UIL placed no limit on the number of players who can wear these devices. However, in keeping with current rules, tablets and other electronic devices remain banned on the sidelines, meaning play calls must originate from the press box or coach’s booth.
The UIL also greenlit Guardian Caps for in-game use starting in 2025, so long as the soft-shell helmet covers match the helmet’s primary color.
The equipment has been used in the NFL since 2021 and was made mandatory for certain positions during practices. After the NFL expanded Guardian Cap use to game play in 2024, it saw a 17% drop in concussions, leading to the lowest total since tracking began in 2015, according to guardiansports.com.
Locally, reactions to the new UIL measures were thoughtful and varied, with coaches weighing both the practical applications and financial challenges of adopting the technology.
Abbott head coach Kyle Crawford, who led the six-man Panthers to a 13-1 record and the Class 1A Div. I state semifinals in his first year after taking over for his father, said the new tech is worth exploring, especially if direct helmet communication is ever approved.
“Using baseball as an example, the coach-to-catcher communication has been really nice, especially in terms of speeding up the pace of the game,” Crawford said. “That aspect in football would be nice, to get it directly to the quarterback.”
While Abbott has never experimented with wearable football tech before, Crawford said community support could help overcome cost concerns if helmet communication becomes an option.
He was also intrigued by the Guardian Cap decision.
“I would never force a kid to wear one,” he said, “but I think things like this show the UIL is taking action to do what’s best for kids.”
Marlin head coach Jeff Rogers, who led the Bulldogs to a regional final and an undefeated district championship in Class 2A Div. I, said his staff had already dabbled in wearable tech during practices.
“We’ve used them a little bit … with our scout teams,” Rogers said. “We’ve eliminated a lot of practice problems and gained more reps.”
Still, he noted that the Friday night environment presents unique challenges.
“Because we can spend a lot of time in practice getting them ready, but when you’re in a Friday night football game, it’s different,” Rogers said.
Rogers has not used Guardian Caps yet, but said he’s open to them, particularly if they can safely accelerate a player’s return from concussion protocol.
University’s Charles Foster, recently promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach, said the UIL’s move wasn’t surprising given where technology is headed.
“To have the watch technology is pretty cool because you can have as many guys on the field wear it,” Foster said. “You can tell them the plays, communicate what they did on the play before — it’s a pretty cool thing.”
Still, cost is a limiting factor.
“There’s pros and cons to it,” Foster added. “It’s going to be tough for schools without the funds to purchase that stuff.”
Foster said his program is exploring the idea of outfitting key positions such as quarterback and wide receiver. University already uses Guardian Caps in practice for linemen, linebackers and running backs — positions where heavy contact is frequent.
One of the key players in this emerging space is GoRout, a provider of wristband-style communication tools that operate over cellular networks with no range restrictions.
“Texas is the first state to allow this,” said Drew Robinson, Chief Partnerships Officer at GoRout. “Since 2 p.m. Thursday when the email went out from UIL, we’ve spoken to over 330 Texas high schools.”
Robinson said more than a dozen Texas programs have already signed on as of Wednesday, with about three dozen more currently reviewing contracts. GoRout’s system was recently used across the entire NCAA Div. III Liberty League in New York, providing a proof-of-concept for governing bodies such as the NCAA and UIL.
“We offer customizable packages,” Robinson added. “We’re not forcing coaches to buy a system they’re not going to use. We let them decide how they want to carve it out.”
The system relies on play calls sent from the press box, which complies with UIL rules, directly to devices worn by players. But questions remain, particularly for rural or small-school programs.
“A lot of them (Class 1A schools) don’t have press boxes,” Robinson said, raising concerns about whether those schools could be granted exceptions to send plays from the sideline instead.
Crawford and the Abbott Panthers don’t have that problem, as the program christened its new $2.5 million facility in 2024.
Crawford added that while wearable technology may not fully replace traditional signals anytime soon, the UIL’s decision opens the door for high schools to experiment with a more streamlined, modern approach to communication.
The approval of Guardian Caps for game play also puts Texas in line with growing national efforts to reduce head trauma in football.
“Sometimes the UIL gets pointed out for the negative things more than the positives,” Crawford said. “But I think this is really good stuff. They say they want what’s best for kids, and I think this shows they’re taking action.”
Falcons fly high at TAPPS State Golf
Live Oak’s boys and girls golf teams wrapped up a successful performance at the TAPPS State Golf Championship this week at Waco’s Cottonwood Creek Golf Course.
The Falcon boys’ team finished second overall in the Class 3A team race, only five strokes behind Spring’s Providence Classical. Live Oak was paced by freshman Jackson Luft, who carded rounds of 75 and 71 for a 36-round total of 2-over 146, good enough for third overall.
Two other Live Oak players notched top-10 finishes, as sophomore Drake Miller placed eighth (87-78-165) and senior Reid Jones tied for 10th at 87-82-169. Also competing for the Falcons were seniors Drew Farrell and Jackson Craig.
The Live Oak girls, meanwhile, took sixth place overall. The Lady Falcons were comprised of Mia O’Hare, Kenley Wilson, Hannah Hecox, Felice Carona and Fallon Ivy.
In the Class 4A girls’ tournament, Vanguard’s Amelia Livesay finished 10th overall, shooting rounds of 97 and 89 for a 186 total.
Four Leopards ink path to college athletics
Lorena ISD held a signing ceremony Thursday in its main gym.
A pair of Leopard seniors signed for football, as Zach Vera is headed to Hardin-Simmons while Parker Roberson will play for Mary Hardin-Baylor. Meanwhile, Brady Smedshammer signed to play baseball at Northeast Texas Community College, and Hannah Figueroa plans to run track for the Universidad de Puerto Rico-Bayamon.
Cougar baseball celebrates signing day
China Spring honored four of its baseball standouts Wednesday afternoon with a signing ceremony in the Competition Gym, as the playoff-bound Cougars honored a talented senior class. Garrett Maddox and Jacob Klement both inked with Murray State College, Dean Hannah signed with Louisiana-Monroe and Luke Rehnquist put pen to paper with Western Technical College.
The Cougars (27-4), fresh off a perfect 10-0 run through District 23-4A to claim the district title, are set to open their bi-district playoff series against Marble Falls at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Game two is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Friday, with a third game, if necessary, set for 11 a.m. Saturday. All three games will be played at Jarrell High School.
China Spring is aiming to make another deep playoff run following last year’s Class 4A regional final appearance, albeit under a different format. The Cougars are two years removed from winning the 2023 state championship.
Super Centex nominations sought
Central Texas softball and baseball coaches whose seasons are complete are encouraged to submit nominations for the annual Super Centex teams.
Nominations should include players’ positions, classifications, statistics, and honors or awards won.
The Tribune-Herald will also select a Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in both baseball and softball, and nominations will be accepted for those superlatives as well.
Nominations can be emailed to sports editor Brice Cherry at bcherry@wacotrib.com.
Bulldogs’ basketball squad celebrated
Marlin ISD celebrated its boys basketball team this week with a community-wide show of appreciation following the program’s historic state tournament run. On Tuesday, the school posted a tribute on social media, thanking the city and fans for turning out to honor the Bulldogs, who advanced to the UIL Class 2A Div. I state semifinals for the first time in school history.
The post featured a proclamation from Mayor Susan Byrd and the Marlin City Council, officially designating April 29, 2025, as “Marlin High School Boys Basketball Team Day.”
Parr, Johnson pick their next chapters
Two former Central Texas standouts found new homes this week, as Trap Johnson committed to UC San Diego while Kiyleyah “KP” Parr inked with Texas State.
Johnson, the Tribune-Herald’s 2024 Boys Super Centex Player of the Year, redshirted this past season at Montana State and will retain all four years of eligibility as he heads to the Big West. The former Belton star led the area in scoring as a senior with 23.2 points per game, while also averaging 9.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.2 blocks. Johnson finished his high school career with more than 2,300 points.
Parr, the Tribune-Herald’s 2024 Girls Super Centex Player of the Year, played her freshman season at Wichita State, where she averaged 3.5 points in about 19 minutes per game across 32 appearances. The La Vega product will have three years of eligibility remaining as she joins a Texas State program that will soon welcome another familiar face — former Lady Pirates teammate Angela “AC” Carroll, who is set to join the Bobcats in 2025.
Parr helped lead La Vega to back-to-back Class 4A state titles and earned championship game MVP honors both years. She wrapped up her high school career with 1,729 points, 518 rebounds, 592 assists and 543 steals.
Gude reopens recruitment
La Vega girls basketball standout Alaysia “Lay Lay” Gude announced her decommitment from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Monday, reopening her recruitment following a coaching change at the Southland Conference program.
Gude, a 5-foot-8 guard, helped power the Lady Pirates to back-to-back Class 4A state championships and a runner-up finish in 2025. She averaged 11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 3.2 steals per game this past season, earning District 23-4A MVP honors. Gude also surpassed 1,500 career points during her senior year and was named to the Super Centex First Team.
With longtime Texas A&M-Corpus Christi head coach Royce Chadwick announcing his retirement this offseason, Gude said the decision to reopen her recruitment came after reflection and prayer.
“Everything happens for a reason and I truly believe that God has a plan for me,” Gude wrote in a statement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter. “After much thought and prayer, I have decided to decommit from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. I want to sincerely thank the former coaching staff for believing in me and offering me such an incredible opportunity, one that I will always be grateful for.
“Being considered to be a part of of the TAMCCU family was truly a blessing. With that being said, I will be officially reopening my recruitment process. I’m excited about where my next home will be and truly looking forward to what God has for my future. God’s plan!”
Sports Editor Brice Cherry contributed to this report.
