AFM RSS Feed Follow Us on Twitter       
AMERICAN FOOTBALL MONTHLY THE #1 RESOURCE FOR FOOTBALL COACHES
ABOUT |  CONTACT |  ADVERTISE |  HELP  



   User Name    Password 
      Password Help





Article Categories


AFM Magazine

AFM Magazine


Technology Game Plan

Video Coordinator, Texas Christian University
© More from this issue

Click for Printer Friendly Version          

The arrival of spring means that spring football has begun at many college campuses across the country. Springtime also provides coaches the opportunity to visit other coaching staffs and observe their practice routines. In Texas, high school coaches especially like to take this opportunity to visit with area college staffs.

Its during these times that visiting high school coaches ask me to offer my thoughts on various products, vendors, budgets and short- and long-term plans regarding video technology. I try to give everyone that asks multiple options since everybody’s wants and needs are different. Long-range plans can be especially difficult because they can quickly be undone by unexpected budget shortfalls or personnel changes.

Below are some areas that need to be considered when trying to devise a long-term plan to upgrade your video equipment. Hopefully your budget will allow you to address more than one of these areas at a time. If not, your existing equipment may help determine which area needs immediate attention.

ACQUISITION

Having a quality camera and operator is the first step to achieving quality video. Your video will only look as good as it does on the original tape in the camera. Even then, a quality camera can’t ensure a great picture if the operator is not properly trained in setting it up and operating it.

VHS and SVHS camcorders can offer the cheapest solution while also providing an adequate picture. DV cameras have dropped in price recently and may also be a format to consider. Whatever format you choose, don’t expect the broadcast quality video that you see on film from the NFL and many Division I-A universities. These teams have made a significant investment in broadcast equipment and it shows on their game tapes.

You also will need to find a few dependable student assistants who can be trusted to care for your equipment and properly use it. Students taking media technology or AV courses should be your primary targets. Let it be known that students with experience videotaping high school practices and games are what collegiate video coordinators are looking for when they hire their student staffs. While this line of work may not interest them as a career, many universities including TCU offer scholarships to students in return for videotaping football practice.

Shooting locations will also play a part in the quality of video you have. Permanent video towers are great as far as access and safety. They can protect both the operator and equipment from the elements and do not place them in danger in high winds.

A majority of coaches prefer mechanical lifts because of their mobility. As practice fields begin to show wear and tear at one end of the field, the team and the lift can move to the other end. The downside is that they do require routine maintenance and are not usable when wind gusts reach a certain speed.

Other options to consider include elevated camera systems that certain vendors have to offer. It’s basically a camera on a tall pole that feeds the video signal down to its base, where the operator sits to control the camera. It usually is portable so that it can be moved to various locations. Since many high school stadiums only have a camera location in the pressbox, some high schools in Texas take elevated camera systems with them on the road to ensure that they will have an endzone angle of the game.

MEETING ROOMS

Meeting room needs vary from school to school based on the size of the coaching staff and the team. Most teams will want to have at least two good rooms, one each for offense and defense. Larger schools with more position coaches and one way players may want to break out into smaller groups, but having two quality staff rooms is a good start.

Achieving a good quality large sized picture is a something that most coaches desire. The advancements in LCD projectors make this an easy goal to attain. Over the last few years, the cost of LCD projectors has significantly dropped while the their quality has sharply risen. Today you can get portable projectors as small as a laptop with 1,000 to 1,200 lumens for less than what the 500 lumens projector would have cost years ago. Their smaller size makes moving them from office to meeting room a minor inconvenience.

Don’t buy a projector based on the lumens reading and its price. Take the time to demo the unit in the room that it will be used in to make sure you are satisfied with the picture quality. This is especially important if you are watching in a room with windows.

Also take into consideration what inputs and outputs the projector comes with. Many will offer multiple options in this area: composite, y/c, component, XGA etc. You may have no need for a component input now, but that may change in a few years. Also note that these small portable projectors mean small internal speakers which may not be suitable if you are going to use them with audio.

Also find out how many hours the projector bulb is good for and what a replacement bulb will cost.

Besides the projector, you obviously need a VCR to watch your tape. More than likely this will mean having a vhs or svhs VCR. Your options may seem endless, but they become more limited if you are looking for advanced features such as dynamic tracking and deck control.

Most coaches want more control over the tape and VCR than the standard remote can offer. Besides play, pause, fast forward and rewind, coaches want the ability to reverse play and slo-mo their tapes. All these can be achieved by purchasing specialized remotes that connect via a control cable to the VCR. Be sure to check that your VCR will support such a remote before you purchase that particular VCR.

EDITING SYSTEM

“What kind of editing system should we get?” seems to be the most popular question I hear these days. There are many variables to consider. Linear editing systems (tape-to-tape) are quickly being replaced by non-linear editing systems, but they can still be found and at very reasonable prices. If all your doing is intercutting the wide and tight angles of your game, and nothing else, this could be the answer.

If your looking to generate scouting tapes on your opponent as well as intercutting your own games, then you may want to consider a non-linear editing system. These computer-based systems allow you to reorganize clips or change sections of a game in a very short amount of time.

Non-linear editing systems have become standard issue in the NFL and Division I-A football. While many companies, which offer lower end solutions for high schools, focus on major college programs and the pros, there are numerous other companies out there that specifically cater to high schools. They can often be found demonstrating their products at local clinics throughout the country.

You may find you have more options than you thought possible. Try not to judge your final decision on price alone. Be sure that you have personally seen what each system can do and actually take the time to sit down and work with the system yourself. You will find that there are some differences between each product and that some are more user friendly than others.

You also need to consider whether the editor can be expanded into a networked system in case you later decide to add viewing or coaching stations. Take note to find out from the vendor exactly what you will need to add to make this a reality in the future. Its not as simple as buying an additional computer or two. It will require additional hardware purchases and cabling runs for your facility.

Make sure your new editing system comes with a service agreement. It should be included in the cost of the editor. After the first year, some vendors will require a separate yearly charge to continue the agreement. The service agreement should include 24/7/365 phone support and free upgrades on software. You’ll also want to find out what it covers as far as hardware replacement and upgrades. Like a car that depreciates as soon as its driven off the lot, computers seen to be outdated as soon as you pull them out of the box. A good service agreement can save you a lot of headaches down the road.

SCOUTING SOFTWARE

Good data entry software will allow you to track the tendencies of both your team and your opponents throughout the season. Besides providing print outs of tendencies and hit charts, it can also be attached to the corresponding video of each game. This allows you to make cut-up tapes based on down and distance, field position, play call, formation, etc. right on the computer instead of searching through game tape to find the corresponding plays.

NETWORKING

As I mentioned before, once you have a non-linear editing system, you’ll soon find yourself wanting to take full advantage of its capabilities by adding viewing or coaching stations. This will require you to make additional hardware purchases. Today most vendors offer coaches stations on either desktop or laptop computers.

Desktops provide more flexibility because you can make internal hardware changes to them. If your desktop station uses a video card, its more than likely your video quality will be better than that of the laptop. On the other hand, the laptop is much more portable. You can watch it anywhere you want including on the bus and, at home.

Some network systems will also allow you to enter your scouting data right at the station. Once it’s entered, it automatically updates all the computers on the network. Coaching stations also give coaches the opportunity to create their own cut-ups and share them to other stations or put them directly to tape

These are some primary areas to consider when looking at upgrading your video equipment. Your budget and individual needs will dictate what area you want to start with. If you’re lucky enough to have a budget to accommodate all these areas, even better.

One last thing to keep in mind is that while the editing system and scouting software will more than likely come with customer service agreements, your cameras and VCR’s will come only with limited warranties. Its best to at least once a year have your cameras, VCR’s and even projectors inspected and cleaned by a certified service technician. This will help ensure your equipment will remain productive for a long time.






NEW BOOK!

AFM Videos Streaming Memberships Now Available Digital Download - 304 Pages of Football Forms for the Winning Coach



















HOME
MAGAZINE
SUBSCRIBE ONLINE COLUMNISTS COACHING VIDEOS


Copyright 2024, AmericanFootballMonthly.com
All Rights Reserved