Letter from the Editor

Technology: Growth of a Resource
© More from this issue

          
An overall football budget includes a variety of items: equipment, field maintenance, health issues including doctors and a support staff, salaries for staff, travel, on-the-road meals, security, and a number of other factors. Obviously, the budget for a high school football team differs from that of a Junior College or Division I-A program. But more and more programs-at all levels-are including funding for the growth of a new position with the structure of their budget; that is, the Video Coordinator.

While relatively new, the number of Video Coordinators is growing at an exponential rate. From the early days of watching film in a projector as a way to prepare for your next opponent, the art of breaking down game tape has become much more specialized. Nearly all D-I programs have the position of Video Coordinator and his or her role has become an integral part of the football program and budget.

Today, game tape is divided into cut-ups where position coaches can see just what’s needed to properly scout their counterparts. The entire team and coaching staff watching together a three-hour game tape is a thing of the past; linebacker coaches, for example, can view only the movement of their opponents’ offensive line and backfield with all of the plays relative to their specific players. Strategy and tendencies can then be formulated into a game plan. Self-scouting has also become an integral part of the Video Coordinator’s function; in fact, many colleges tape and completely analyze each team’s daily practice whether it be in the spring or fall.

This month’s issue of American Football Monthly focuses on just that: the growth of technology. Besides the video coordinators day-to-day responsibilities, a number of other subjects are covered: buying the right (and affordable) equipment, how best to tape practice, and guidelines within a school’s budget. More specifically:

• The week in the life of a video coordinator is examined at the University of Tulsa.

• How to stretch your technology budget and make the most of every dollar is discussed.

• Breaking down tape and how to provide the best cut-ups for each coach and player is
discussed by experts in the field.

• Hints and guidelines from college video coordinators on saving time and energy

Two factors have helped the overall growth of video technology: information on the benefits of technology that is now more readily available and the more affordable costs of equipment. Now, more than ever, the costs of setting up the proper technology is in nearly all high school and college budgets.

After all, no one wants to lose an edge. And that means the video coordinator is a necessary and mandatory ingredient to every program.

Any ideas or thoughts on the subject are certainly welcome. As always, if there is anything we can do to assist you, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 561-355-5068 or email rlardner@lcclark.com.

CSVA CONFERENCE VIDEO COORDINATORS OF THE YEAR

ACC Todd McCarthy Georgia Tech
Big 10: Joel Baron Indiana
Big 12: Lance Wright Kansas
CUSA: Will Davis Tulane
MAC: Brad Helton Marshall
MWC: Brian Voltonini Utah
PAC 10: Mike Gleeson Stanford
and Ken Norris UCLA
SEC: Andy Commer Arkansas
WAC: Kevin Soria Nevada
At-Large: David Garrett Furman

Respectfully,

Rex Lardner
Managing Editor
American Football Monthly
rlardner@lcclark.com

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