Sharing Information Just Became Easier

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For nearly a decade, thanks in many ways to publications like American Football Monthly, technology in football has become the norm rather than the exception.

Every major football program, college or pro, has relied heavily on the latest forms of capturing, editing and exchanging video to enhance its ability to compete both on and off the field. Yet, very few football programs have the mega-million dollar budgets of major college football – much less that of the pros.

However, new options of video exchange may have thousands of high school and small colleges enjoying some of the same benefits, such as quality, efficiency and reliability, as their deep-pocketed brethren.

Many coaches are becoming familiar with several different means of exchanging video data, such as Internet sharing and campus networks. Both can be extremely efficient and effective methods in sharing information with opponents, staff or players. However, these are vehicles that may not be a cost-effective option for the budget-conscience programs looking for similar results.

One of the latest methods in video exchange is the utilization of DVD technology.

Many football conferences at the collegiate level require a standardized exchange of game video between teams. The most common exchange format for football is “ODK Wide/Tight Intercut.”

ODK Wide/Tight Intercut refers to offense wide and tight, defense wide and tight, and kicking wide and tight.

Video exchange requirements such as ODK Wide/Tight Intercut can be met using DVD technology coupled with a spreadsheet, like Westmoreland Technologies, Inc.’s nonlinear video playback and analysis system – TigerViz.

For example, coaches can store play-by-play game data (such as play number, down, distance, yard line, formation, etc.) in a spreadsheet, and capture the video start/stop frame information for each play using the timing capture portion of the software. These features allow coaches to have play-by-play game analysis, and access to each play’s video clips, all in the same system.

DVD technology easily meets this sort of video exchange requirement because general use DVD’s are easily duplicated, and the associated play-by-play spreadsheet is also easily copied. The spreadsheet that accompanies the video exchange contains the game sequence with only the ODK and video frame codes tagged for each play. Another key advantage of this kind of exchange is the time saved by video staffs because exchanged video is already tagged.

The good news for coaches is that high-end video cards, special cameras or additional computer storage is not needed to utilize DVD technology.

“DVD technology is great for us because it fits our budget, but it also is based on software and components that we, as coaches, are already familiar with,” said Tyrone Bell, Shippensburg University running backs coach. “Quality-wise, it is terrific because coaches are now dealing with DVD rather than VHS. It is also easy in breaking down footage and it reduces the number of tapes we use.”

A DVD is an excellent option considering up to 120 minutes of video may be stored on a single disc – including multiple camera angles. Plus, by “decentralizing” the storage of video onto a DVD, coaches are given the flexibility of where the video can be viewed. With a DVD-based solution, DVD’s can be duplicated for distribution, and can be viewed on a low-cost DVD player. Another advantage of DVD video storage is the reduced cost of the computer system because no special maintenance or backup requirements exist. DVD’s can be easily stored. Plus first-run quality is maintained throughout the life of the DVD.

“We have DVD’s on our computers, which allows us to sit at our desk and watch game footage right on our monitors,” said Bell. “We can also take the DVD’s home. What I like about using spreadsheets is that you can break it down with no restrictions. Coaches can get as detailed as they want.”

Recording your video footage to DVD is easy. Simply play your video footage into the DVD recorder from either your video camera, a VHS player, or S-VHS (s-video) player. Then finalize the DVD as a DVD-Video.

The DVD-Video is then ready for use in either an external DVD deck or an internal DVD player installed in a computer. This recording process takes the duration of the footage being played, plus 5-10 minutes for DVD-Video finalizing. A typical high school football game’s videotape is 30-40 minutes for each angle. A typical college football game’s videotape is 60-80 minutes for each angle. The duration of the raw camera footage depends on the camera personnel.

“We researched several systems, we found one that was affordable and easy to use,” said Riverton High School (Wyoming) head coach, Brant Nyberg. “Being a high school or small college program, you can’t afford to drop $12,000 on equipment. Some systems require you to build a new PC and I didn’t like that because as soon as you buy a new PC it becomes obsolete. That’s why I like this DVD technology because it works with what we have. If we get a better computer then that just means our software will run that much better.”

On the practical side of DVD sharing, efficiency, cost and quality are all-important factors for football programs. The ability to store countless hours of game and practice footage to inexpensive DVD’s ($1.59, compared to $1.80 for VHS – bulk purchase) can provide excellent teaching aids to both staff and players. Another great cost-cutting feature is that DVD video-sharing systems can be used by many of the school’s sports teams. An entire system, which can consists of a video timing capture / nonlinear video playback station, and the DVD recorder should be no more than $2,500. It can be considerably less if the football program already possesses applicable components.

“A school can use this for any sport they want,” said Nyberg. “This system has more than paid for itself many times over.

“The main thing we are doing is using this as a teaching tool,” said Nyberg. “It allows us to give our players a visual, and it allows our coaches to break down things a lot easier. We used to do it the old way with VCR’s. With DVD everything is instantaneous, no wasted minutes rewinding or fast-forwarding. This is a real time saver.”

DVD-Video is an effective medium for storing video and distributing to members of a coaching staff or team. In addition, it’s also a efficient way for coaches to provide timely video exchange with other teams within its conference or district.

If the video has already been tagged, as much as two hours can be saved cutting up film on the weekends.

DVD technology is proving that it can provide the football industry an effective and efficient means of sharing information.

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