The National Hockey League (NHL) has partnered with Apple to equip on-ice officials with customised Apple Watches to increase their situational awareness during gameplay.
The watches will be set up with a special app called NHL Watch Comms, which gives referees access to a haptic enabled game clock, as well as alerts about penalty boxes and time running out.
The device will help officials keep their eyes on the game, improve communications, and increase uniformity in information sharing.
This is the second time Apple has partnered with the NHL, after introducing an iPad and Mac system in 2017 to deliver in-game video to players and coaches.
The watch will not be personalised and are specific to the in-game use to ensure a consistent experience for all referees.
This move is in response to the increasing speed of the game, making it harder for referees to keep up with the gameplay and keep their eyes on the scoreboard.