The NFL scouting combine or National Invitational Camp (NIC), as it is technically called, began in 1982 and was established by National Football Scouting, Inc. The inaugural NIC had a total of 163 players at the event and so began a tradition that has only grown as the years have gone by.
At first two extra combines were arranged at different times in the off season for teams that did not belong to National Football Scouting. Since 1985 all NFL teams decided they would participate in future National Invitational Camps as a way of sharing the costs of medical examinations and data collecting in a more equitable way and to improve the way NFL teams could receive this information on draft eligible players.
After trying a few different locations, the combine found a home in Indianapolis in 1987 where it has remained ever since. Just recently the NIC
signed a deal to extend their home in Indianapolis util 2020. . .
President of National Football Scouting Inc, Jeff Foster took some time to talk to the reporter about some changes the company are considering. According to the article the company is:
“A sign of increased interest at the league level in a possible overhaul amidst evolving technology and sports science. Our first focus is to look at what we do currently and making sure that that’s relevant, and if it is, great, we’ll continue to do it, because historical comparison is really important to the evaluation process. But if we believe that there’s something that’s not relevant, then what can we replace it with that will help us evaluate the players?”
. . .
“We want to make sure that we’re using the technology that’s available,” Foster said. “What I don’t think we’re interested in doing is beta testing. We want some proven elements that will help us better evaluate the players so that we can project college players to the NFL.”
The use of bio metric software worn by each player, as introduced in basic fashion last year, including other built in sensors to record player performance details certainly is a possibility. This area of sports science is an emerging market and one that many business and universities are working on all over the world.
