Technology has long been an important tool for coaching in sports. Since the inception of video recording, teams and individuals have been able to revisit moments on the field and strategize to improve their game.
In high school football, for example, developments in the past few years have had a huge impact on the quality of the game, including the recent use of instant replay, and the introduction of end zone cameras.
Here’s a look at some of the many benefits of using video as a teaching and coaching tool in football.
Analyze games and plays in real time.
In order to effectively train and mentor a team in real time, a coach must be creative and adopt solutions on the fly. Today’s software solutions deliver video straight to a coach’s smartphone or tablet, so they can review plays during the game and make player and strategy adjustments while the game is still being played.
Improve during the off season.
Just because the season ends, it doesn’t mean you can’t improve your game. Video allows a deep dive review of your team’s games and practices—invaluable as you start planning for the next season. Consider your players’ weaknesses as well as their strengths. Consider your weaknesses and strengths as a coach. How can you improve your offense? Your defense? Do you see cracks in your team’s “unity” once they hit the field? And, from a safety standpoint, review any injuries which might have occurred and make changes so they don’t happen again.
Study the competition.
Capturing video during games gives you a digital playbook not only of your own team, but that of your opponents as well. Video footage allows you to analyze the performance of other teams, map out their strengths and weaknesses, and adjust your strategies as needed. This thorough evaluation and understanding of what you’re up against can potentially give you a huge competitive advantage.
Modelling greatness.
Mike Tyson is said to have spent countless nights in his teens studying fights, even those from fifty-plus years before his time. He watched everyone from Jack Dempsey to Joe Louis to Mohammed Ali, studying and rewatching until he knew all their moves. Today’s coaches and their players can take a page from Tyson’s playbook and create opportunities for team bonding by watching classic video and learning from some of football’s great players.
Split into sub groups.
You can segment your team into different specialty areas, review game video and/or instant video during practice or and tackle the important questions in breakout sessions. Whether your focus is the offensive line, defensive line, running backs, wide receivers, linebackers, or QBs, use pre-recorded video to demonstrate how a play should be run and then record the players as they practice to provide them accurate—and valuable—feedback.
Video has become an affordable and effective tool for both training and coaching in football. Even better, with systems that don’t require or rely on wifi, technology takes coaching to a whole new level. Coaches who understand the value of integrating technology into their operations, large or small, stand to not only build stronger, more agile and adaptable players and teams, but also to gain a competitive advantage. And that’s never a bad thing.
What do you think? Are you using technology today in your high school football operations or is it something that’s on your horizon. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic.
Photo Credit: Stephen Shooter via Compfight cc
