This came up in another thread, but thought it was worth putting before the group!

I have noticed more and more schools with in-game video replay capabilities. I believe BG just got this this season. I couldn't see across the sea of over 100 St X kids to see if they had it too, but I bet they did.

Here are my questions:

1. How common is this (and I likely already know the answer)? Especially at the lower economical end of schools (rural county school with low overall program budgets).

2. Is this fair? In the old days (in college anyway) when 1 teams headsets were not working, the other team had to turn theirs off to be fair. What is different with this?

 

I'm not against technology in any measure, but shouldn't it first be fair for both teams? Most all teams have game film they can process, but seems to me a small percentage have this "new-fangled" TV system. Big advantage? I think so.

What's your thoughts?

In a similar note I was just discussing this with a friend. He is a high school coach in his early 50's. When he was a junior in high school another school traded them VHS tapes, VCR's were still hundreds of dollars and they didn't have them, but his father did. His dad hosted the whole coaching staff to watch film of their upcoming opponent. Prior to that they were still using actual film rolls. Even as late as 2000 we were still using VHS tapes to distribute and trade video. We were using mini-dv camcorders, and it was either 2001 or 2002 we started burning dvd, and had a copy tower. About 2008 or 2009 I upgraded to a HD camcorder. About 4 years ago we switched to Hudl and now put everything online, trade video with an app, and have instant replay technology.

If schools are using in game replays to figure out what the other team is doing, I think it is a distinct advantage for them. Very few schools have the resources (Booster support) to afford these types of luxuries, most are just trying to buy equipment, uniforms and gas for the bus on road trips.

Most teams use an online film exchange called HUDL. I believe this year HUDL made an app/technology called HUDL sideline that most teams are taken advantage of or they made it more affordable this year. I've noticed it on ESPN the past year or so with some of the bigger schools now it seems like schools in our area are taking advantage as well.

If schools are using in game replays to figure out what the other team is doing, I think it is a distinct advantage for them. Very few schools have the resources (Booster support) to afford these types of luxuries, most are just trying to buy equipment, uniforms and gas for the bus on road trips.

 

These systems are not as expensive as you think, especially if you already own smart phones/tablets.

 

Hudl Sideline - Packages | Hudl

 

If you already have an iPhone and iPad, $500 gets you in the game. If not, buy a couple used, older iPads for a few hundred $'s and you're up and running for under $1k.

These systems are not as expensive as you think, especially if you already own smart phones/tablets.

 

Hudl Sideline - Packages | Hudl

 

If you already have an iPhone and iPad, $500 gets you in the game. If not, buy a couple used, older iPads for a few hundred $'s and you're up and running for under $1k.

 

That's not too bad.

It's not really that expensive, 3 different packages run $500, $900, $1,500. We got the $1,500 package and they included over $1,000 worth of equipment. It does add another person, we use a Pressbox cam and endzone cam each with a person running the camcorder, both stream to the box where a 3rd person has an iPad and hits record and stop each play and tags ODK (offense, defense, kicking)

I know $1,500 seems like a lot but we paid for it effortlessly. Coach Abell had each kid turn in 10 emails to their position coach, and created a Hudl Campaign. Each of those people were emailed a request to help the team explaining the Hudl Sideline and what we were raising money for. We raised over $2,000.

Our coaches already had iPads to view on the field or in box, we did have to buy a few cables and a used HDMI monitor for the end zone cam, we have about $1,700 invested. Last week was the first time we had it working right, largely due to operator error, but a Hudl Update did fix several issues as well.

It's not really that expensive, 3 different packages run $500, $900, $1,500. We got the $1,500 package and they included over $1,000 worth of equipment. It does add another person, we use a Pressbox cam and endzone cam each with a person running the camcorder, both stream to the box where a 3rd person has an iPad and hits record and stop each play and tags ODK (offense, defense, kicking)

I know $1,500 seems like a lot but we paid for it effortlessly. Coach Abell had each kid turn in 10 emails to their position coach, and created a Hudl Campaign. Each of those people were emailed a request to help the team explaining the Hudl Sideline and what we were raising money for. We raised over $2,000.

Our coaches already had iPads to view on the field or in box, we did have to buy a few cables and a used HDMI monitor for the end zone cam, we have about $1,700 invested. Last week was the first time we had it working right, largely due to operator error, but a Hudl Update did fix several issues as well.

 

Do you have to have internet in your stadium for this?

Do you have to have internet in your stadium for this?

 

No. The equipment they give you with the package allows you to create your own private network. No internet access is necessary to use the system.

No. The equipment they give you with the package allows you to create your own private network. No internet access is necessary to use the system.

 

Nice? That's the $1500 package? Can you use it at practice as well?

Nice? That's the $1500 package? Can you use it at practice as well?

 

All three packages give you what you need to create the network you need to run the system. As long as you have the people to run the camera's and time to set it up, you can use it whenever you want, including practice.

I know Boyle County and Lafayette High School use this. They were comparing equipment and set ups before the game. It's a slight advantage I suppose but Boyle is 0-3 with the equipment so it's not a huge advantage.

2 Things:

1. This is pretty awesome stuff that I appreciate you guys sharing your knowledge about as far as the current main stream of high school tech goes. I guess the only thing left is to give the FAA a cut of the funds and add a drone and call it a day!

 

But #2, I am in the philosophical weeds here. Let's say for example Russellville (a 1A school that clearly has aspirations to be good at football) has side-line in-game technology and are playing Fulton City (a 1A school that clearly wouldn't appear to have the same football means as a Russellville). Is it fair or should Russellville be allowed to use the side-line tech when Fulton City can't afford to? Tough question.

It is very neat and useful technology. It should be an affordable option for most programs willing to fund raise for it. Things have changed a lot since my days at West Canaan. I would have won a lot more district titles with this.

2 Things:

1. This is pretty awesome stuff that I appreciate you guys sharing your knowledge about as far as the current main stream of high school tech goes. I guess the only thing left is to give the FAA a cut of the funds and add a drone and call it a day!

 

But #2, I am in the philosophical weeds here. Let's say for example Russellville (a 1A school that clearly has aspirations to be good at football) has side-line in-game technology and are playing Fulton City (a 1A school that clearly wouldn't appear to have the same football means as a Russellville). Is it fair or should Russellville be allowed to use the side-line tech when Fulton City can't afford to? Tough question.

 

High School football will always have the "have's" and the "have nots". Richer schools pay coaches better and get better coaches and have larger coaching staffs. Some schools have better equipment. Some schools can pay to send coaches to clinics, or their entire team to camps. I get that you want to keep a level playing field, but you'll never be able to completely level that field. Again, $500 bucks+a couple used Ipads (if you don't already own them) gets you in the game. If as a football program you can't raise $500, keeping the other team from using on the field replay equipment isn't going to improve your chances of winning.

Edited September 7, 201610 yr by rjs4470