 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Here is a YouTube clip of the New Zealand All Blacks getting fitness tested. As you will see they are using Smartspeed for their tests.
Check out the fitness testing section on our website fo more info about getting tested using the best technology inthe world.
The power of Motivational movies is tremendous. In a previous post I gave you a idea of one I produced for the DCU Gaelic Team. Here is one I came across on YouTube. Think about how you might apply something like this with your team. It can be done with a simple video camera and some free editing tools. Or if you would like one done for your team. Give me a shout.
This an idea of having a few key players involved in a ‘tactics team’. A group of players who the management discuss openly the tactics of the team and how to achieve the best results.
Basically a few players are chosen from the team, for example in rugby a few from the backs and a few from the forwards, to represent the players on a tactics panel. I think this is a fantastic idea for a number of reasons.
1. Not every player understands tactics. I know they all should but we all know the players, in any sport, who just seem to get things done. Sometimes those players work best with their head clear of information.
2. Not every player likes responsibility. Although all players should (and the top ones do) take responsability not all players like it. Removig this burden might free up some people to play in a more relaxed state.
3. Too many cooks…. maybe only having a few players fully immersed in the tactics along with the management and staff means that more can be achieved in a shorter period of time. Leaving more time to practice what you have learnt.
4. By having a few key decision makers on the pitch means that the responsibility does not just lie with the captain or the manager. In any sport the possibility of picking up an injury is common, it’s important to have a number of key decision makers on the pitch at all times.
5. The players have a say! Having a small group will probably invite more interaction between players and coaches and should lead to more formulated plan on how to play the game.
I know many teams will have an informal ‘Tactics Team’ but maybe you should make it more formal and announce to everyone who is on it and the function it is there to serve. Organise to have at least one tactics meeting with the panel between big games. You don’t have to break out the video analysis each time maybe a whiteboard and some markers will help get the point across.
As I mentioned on this blog a few weeks ago there is a Sports Conference being held in City West, Dublin Saturday 25th July. We will be there - STAND 26 - If you need tickets just drop me an email.
There are some great speakers at the conference and you are sure to learn something on the day.
One talk I would like to draw your attention to is a talk on Performance Analysis by Denise Martin.
Workshop Title: Achieving Performance Impact from Video Analysis
Key Points:
Target Audience: Coaches interested in or already using analysis within their training programmes.
Many teams and athletes are doing ‘video’ or some form of analysis, but in how many cases is it more about ticking that box because everyone else is doing it, than actually having a direct impact on performance?
This seminar aims to challenge coaches on the use of analysis within their coaching set-up and show how simple changes can have a significant impact on preparation, training and ultimately performance.
Ranging from pen/paper notational analysis to the latest innovations in computer based analysis, the interactive seminar will outline the methods most appropriate to your coaching needs and detail how to go about structuring suitable analysis support.
The key to gaining performance impact from analysis is feedback. The coach must be able to interpret and video or stats and translate that into a message for the athletes. Video is a hugely effective medium to illustrate that message which in turn needs to be implemented on the training ground. The seminar will debate the ‘dos and don’ts’ of feedback from a team and individual perspective with suggestions on when to do what, how much and so on.
Another aspect of video work in sport which is becoming more and more common is the use of motivational compilations. The content and timing of these can have a role in enhancing performance and again this will be discussed with recommendations on best practice.
Denise Martin is an experienced performance Analyst and has worked for many teams and athletes including the IRFU and is currently the Performance Analyst with the Dublin Senior Hurling Team.
Came across this video today on YouTube. It’s from the Canadian Sports Centre where they train their high performance athletes. Some interesting use of the Performance Analysis Technology (including Dartfish). I really liked the look of the eye movement camera. Must google that later.
Anyway - here’s the video hope you enjoy.
Performance Analysis in Sport is certainly a growing area. Although we are not seeing the end of the days where the role of the performance analyst is attached to that of many other jobs in the backroom staff, it is changing.
A big reason, I think, Performance Analysis is behind other areas like Physio Therapy is because of the lack of formal education in the area. It is only in the last couple of years that colleges here in Ireland like CIT, Tralee IT and UCC have dedicated modules to the area of Performance Analysis in Sport. I think the more of these colleges that embrace performance analysis as a genuine elemnet of coahing and sports science the higher the standards we can expect in the field.
At present there is only one University in the world offering Performance Analysis at Masters Level. While it is certainly not a prerequisite that you must become qualified at masters level to be a performance analyst it would be great to see more college offering this level of qualification, as it can only improve the standards.
There are a couple of organisations looking to achieve some form of accreditation and training in the area but nothing concrete yet. The only two I know of are ISPAS (International Society of Performance Analysis in Sport) and thevideoanalyst.com
I think it’s important that more people join the debate and raise the standard of Performance Analysis in Sport.
Any thoughts?
I know most of you will have seen our new video on the home page but just wated to include it in here as well. Would love your feedback. [On anything except my baldness!!!]
There were some great performances by the Dartfish family at the weekend. Especially of note was Cork’s win against Kerry in the Munster Semi-Final Replay. I know Conor Counihan and Performance Analyst John Murphy will have been hard at work over the last few months preparing for the game. And with such a comprehensive win it looks like it has paid off. Still along way to go to All-Ireland success but congrats to Performance Analyst John Murphy.
IMG Academies have just decided on Dartfish as their tool of choice in their various academies. Dartfish Video Analysis is being implemented into The Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, the IMG Soccer Academy, the IMG Baseball Academy, the IMG Basketball Academy, the IMG Swimming Academy and the IMG Performance Institute.
These academies are some of the highest profile academies in world sport and it is great to see they have chosen Dartfish.
The Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy “War Room”
Thirty-one of our courts are equipped with state-of-the-art video cameras to capture match play. All content from the cameras are fed into the “War Room” where our coaches can analyze our student’s on-court performance. Coaches then work one-on-one with students to help them reach the apex of their game, with video assisting in the communication process.
Match Analysis
In addition to Dartfish, the IMG Soccer Academy will also use Match Analysis to dig deeper into the strategy of the game. Match Analysis indexes and categorizes every touch by every player during a match and provides coaches with cutting-edge tools for analysis, player development, scouting and video archiving.
A lot of people think Video analysis is just for Senior inter-county teams but that’s not true at all. I have been involved in video analysis since 2003 and have carried out a lot of analysis and presented back to teams of all levels and age groups. I think video analysis, if used correctly, can have the biggest impact on juvenile players. They are much more receptive to new things and they love being able to see themselves on TV - it adds a great level of motivation for the players.
Cost will always be an issue for any club. I have recently installed Dartfish into a club side in Meath. They very early understood that the software could be used by much more than just the senior team. They only have Dartfish 3 months but have already had 5 people trained up on the system and are using with football, hurling and juvenile teams. When you spread the investment in video analysis throughout a club like Donaghmore Asbourne have you are not long in getting your money back in spades (or trophy’s).
The other thing is that if you don’t want to take the plunge and invest in performance analysis software at this stage you can always get a game analysed. Simply send us a DVD of your last mach or maybe an upcoming opponent and we can analyse the match for you. A cheap and effective way to get involved in video analysis.