By Jim Dickin

I've used SportsCode products in a range of different applications over the last nine or ten years, both in my teaching of PE and teacher observation in the school environment, and in coaching at First XV, Premier Club and ITM level with the Steelers.

Old coaching biographies refer to the VHS days of wearing out the rewind and fast forward buttons reviewing games and previewing opponents.

New, digital video analysis programmes now let us do without the need for reel after reel of videotape filling dusty rooms.

The game-tape can be easily shared online with the team and anyone else who's been given access, and stored digitally on the internet and external hard drives (see below).

Professional sport and video

At the professional level, there are distinct times in the week set aside for players to review the previous week's game and preview opponents. Typically there are a number of computers available around which players can sit and use the tape to make decisions about trends and opportunities within their game and also spot weaknesses to be exploited in their opponents.

As you can see below we have three synched video feeds and are able to isolate all sorts of aspects of play via coding the game, for example, tagging specific moments in the game as scrums, lineouts and lineout attack. Post-game, this allows us to view only those moments, rather than the whole 80 minutes.

Also within the professional game analysis can be made in game - these you tube clips are examples of the value that can be added by the use of this technology.

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce on his use of video technology in the Premiership.

Analysts for Gloucester Rugby on game day. Some great use of in-game analysis leading to actual changes.

At the grassroots

At the moment in-game analysis remains the domain of the professional environment, but there are many things grassroots coaches can do. Analysis has become a manageable process for all coaches now without the massive time commitment that used to be inherent when VHS was the only answer.

Transferring footage from video cameras with SD cards to computers is now quick and easy.

iCoda

iCoda an IOS app, allows a number of spectators/injured players/team management using iPads or iPhones to contribute to the teams performance with the ability to generate statistics as the game is being played. Coding can then be transferred post-game to align with the captured video. This allows for analysis to be completed within 15-20 minutes of the game finishing and really allows you to start sharing meaningful clips with your players/athletes.

An example workflow for me in the amateur club environment follows.

1. Video the match. Code the game using SportsCode Gamebreaker Plus. Break down the game into scrums, lineouts, lineout attacks etc for rugby; penalty corners, circle entries etc for hockey (below).
2. Create videos of these events. Share this video via a shared folder in Dropbox or Google Drive
3. Ensure players view the video and decision makers are able to comment on it before or at the Tuesday session.
4. Download a copy of this video onto ipad/phone in order for all players to view at training. AnyPlayer HD is a great iPad app for viewing video on the iPad.

This allows me to complete the process of video analysis and share it with my players before training starts on Tuesday. The additional time commitment for me is minimal - coding a game takes the same amount of time as it does to watch it. Every coach I am sure would like to watch the game - I merely do so with a laptop and code as I watch. Then the uploads to Dropbox can be done in the background and therefore takes no extra time.

In the limited time available in the amateur environment this ensures that we have more on field time while still encouraging the players to make decisions about how they could become better players. It is imperative though to set questions and problems for the players to direct their viewing of the video. It is too easy for players to go straight to the big hits or the tries they have scored rather than view elements of their game with a critical eye.

The NZ Coach Approach is a philosophical approach to coaching that promotes athlete learning and this can be facilitated by using video to challenge players. Through the use of video analysis and placing responsibility on the players they can become better athletes - surely a major goal of all coaches in every sport.

Trent Robinson of the Sydney Roosters.

Summing up

Given that video analysis has become so prevalent in the professional game, I feel we as coaches should be attempting to prepare our players and develop athletes who think deeply about their part in the game. It is often a great way for players to feel part of the overall strategy and there is nothing more powerful for a coach than when a player initiates a strategy that they think will work having studied the video.

As coaches we can develop athletes and create better players by using video analysis and involving the athletes in the process. I would like to challenge coaches to challenge their players to become the best they can be and create intelligent athletes through the use of video analysis.

Contact me

• Email j.dickin@kingscollege.school.nz
• Twitter @tech4coaching