Top Tips For Using Video Analysis

1. Record Games and Sessions

Whilst this sounds like an easy addition to add value to your environment, it takes a lot of time and manpower to ensure that sessions and games are recorded to a level that will allow you to get the adequate angles for useful footage. One suggestion for a club that may have limited resources, is to think about linking in with University’s who offer analysis-based courses and work in collaboration with their students.

This will allow them to gain valuable experience in an elite environment, the club to gain footage that can then be used to develop the team and its players, and depending on what the agreement is, the student to be able to use some of the data or footage to use towards assignments or dissertations

2. Individual Clips

Individual clips can add value both to a player’s development as well as the overall team’s performance. They can be completed in several different ways, depending on the strengths of your playing group and the purpose of their use. Player led analysis can be powerful and give a good insight into the players understanding of strengths and weaknesses, however, be aware that at times this can be biased in a positive or negative context as its from the players point of view.

It’s important if we are asking players are leading on individual clips that they are basing the clips on the session requirements, game plan or the playing philosophy.

3. Training Clips

Using training clips for reviews of sessions or for game preparation can really help players and staff with clarity around what is being asked of them in and out of possession. One consideration on this is to ensure that just like the individual clips, the training clips are directly linked back to principles of play and the objective of the session. Some considerations to think about when selecting training clips to show players are

• Are both teams in the shape we were looking to replicate
• How does the situation link directly to what we have asked the players to do?
• How does it link directly to our playing philosophy?
• When to show them to players to have the greatest impact
• How long is the video package going to be?

4. Match Day Footage

The advantage of having games filmed is that if you have someone who can live code, or even create clips during the game, this can help the coaches and players at half time to make better informed decisions. If you don’t have someone to live code, you can always use the footage after the game to review your match strategy, and assess how successful you were in and out of possession in relation to the game plan.

If you are using the footage as a means for a review, then ensure to link any clips directly back to your overall game plan so players can easily understand the messages being delivered.

5. Keep the detail effective

It’s important to think about what area of analysis will have the biggest impact within the environment that you’re working within. Players only need the key information, so it’s vital that as coaches we don’t present things that are too long, otherwise players will switch off and the key details will be lost. Select your clips carefully and link them using clear language that directly relates to your playing philosophy and game plan.

Keeping your meetings or presentation of the video analysis short will ensure that players are able to absorb information clearly and be able to put it into practice out on the grass.