Sergio Castillo will be able to start kicking “normal” balls again.
The Canadian Football League announced that starting immediately, kickers can decide before games whether they will use the new microchip balls for field goals and punts or any other ball of their choice.
The CFL, however, clarified that it will continue to use microchipped balls and will review their use in preparation for the 2025 season.
On Thursday, Castillo, the kicker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, indicated that he had a problem with the new balls equipped with a microchip used by the Ambrosie circuit.
Castillo missed two of his three field goal attempts in his team’s 27-12 loss to the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday, from 38 and 40 yards. He also missed a one-point conversion.
Last season, the 33-year-old kicked 46 of his 51 field goals to set a club record success rate of 90.2%.
The CFL has inserted microchips into its footballs to help generate advanced, real-time statistics in partnership with Genius Sports.
Several kickers around the league, including Brett Lauther of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who is also vice-president of the league’s Players’ Association, have indicated that these microchips have a negative impact on kicking accuracy.
After Thursday’s game, Lauther, Ottawa kicker Lewis Ward, Lions kicker Sean Whyte and Rouge et Noir punter Richie Leone all complained about the new balls on social media.
Alouettes kicker David Côté made his two field goals, from 22 and 19 yards, but missed a convert.
The choice that the teams make before the matches must be respected as much on placements as on punts or kickoffs.
The Ambrosie circuit responded with a press release at the end of the day.
“Effective today, teams will no longer be required to use microchipped footballs in plays involving a punt.
“However, as some kickers have expressed a desire to continue using them, teams will decide at the start of each game whether they will use microchipped balls or non-chipped balls for the duration of the game.
“The League tested these microchipped balls using robotic technology and current CFL players. Although there is no definitive evidence supporting that their use affects performance in any way, we are taking this step out of respect for kickers, who do not yet feel comfortable enough to use them. »