Benefits of Using Video Analysis in Sports Practices

By Alex Pedicini, Community Manager at Ubersense.com

According to a study conducted by the Social Science Research Network 65% of people are visual learners. What does this mean for coaches? It’s likely that most athletes are not maximizing their learning simply by listening to the coach speak. The majority of athletes will prefer to see what they are doing in order to learn. Video analysis, when applied to sports, is key to building a competitive edge including instant video replay, more effective practices, scouting upcoming opponents, injury prevention, and breaking down game film.

Not too long ago, the equipment and technology required to use video analysis was only available to elite and professional level teams. But today, with the lower costs of cameras and the prevalence of smart phones and tablets, video can be captured easily anytime, anywhere. Coaches of all levels and sports can now take advantage of integrating video into their regular practice workflow.

Perhaps the most obvious benefit to using video analysis in practice is the ability to provide immediate feedback to players. Through video, coaches can show and correct mistakes instantly. Players are able to actually see what they are doing and ultimately retain the information better. Practice time is extremely valuable for a coaching staff and the ability to quickly and efficiently provide needed feedback to address mistakes and weaknesses is essential.

 

Using video also provides coaches the ability to track progress and individual skill development of their players. By recording video over a period of time and building a library of content, coaches can help to show players how and where they have made improvements. This type of feedback can serve to motivate players, as they are able to see for themselves the progress that has been made. Some coaches will also use videos of professionals to show the players what great form or technique looks like and how they compare. This is another way for players to see visually how they can improve.

 

Injury prevention is another important component to analyzing video during practice. 1.35 million youth athletes suffered a serious injury in 2012 according to research from Safe Kids Worldwide. This equates to one trip to the emergency room every 25 seconds for a youth sports related injury. Practice is the perfect time for a coach to find and fix bad habits that players may have formed. Ensuring proper form and technique is one of the main injury prevention strategies that Safe Kids recommends.

Regularly including video analysis into practices can provide multiple benefits for a coaching staff and its athletes. The ability to provide instant visual feedback, track long-term progress and potentially prevent serious injuries is all possible by utilizing video analysis programs.

Alex Pedicini is the Community Manager at Ubersense, a video analysis app used by athletes and coaches around the World, available for free from the App Store.