The Rise and Rise of Sports Video Software

In order to improve games, strategies and to help identify a player’s strengths and weaknesses, many sports teams in America have turned to video software.

The Rise and Rise of Sports Video Software

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Jeffrey S. Raikes, former president of the business division at Microsoft, was approached by the University of Nebraska football coaches in 2006 to look at the ways in which technology could improve the Cornhuskers’ game. His suggestion was for students to undertake a class project where they created 3D training software that could be used by the team’s coaches.

Video Clips to Improve a Player’s Game

John Wirtz, Brian Kaiser and David Graaf were the three undergraduates who were assigned the task, and they quickly ascertained that video footage was far more beneficial than computer graphics when analysing the footballers’ games. They then altered their task to use these video clips to develop the software, demonstrating what strengths and weaknesses the athletes had. Raikes commented that the undergraduates were “smart enough” to cast aside his original idea.

Over time this software has evolved into Hudl, which is now used by over 200,000 coaches in the U.S, from professional teams to high schools. Speaking about the programme, Wirtz (who is now chief product officer of Hudl) suggested that it is the ability coaches have to edit, make notes and post videos within an hour that appeals.

Compatible with any video device, it overcomes many challenges coaches face when trying to edit and share these videos with their teams. Whether identifying correct netball drills such as http://www.sportplan.net/drills/Netball/drills.jsp or analysing a recent football match, coaches can explore games or training in depth, all from a mobile device.

Innovative Software

Hudl provides the benefits of matching the footage and camera angles automatically, unlike other editing programmes. It organises play and will compile data of the footage too, indicating how far a ball was carried, who caught it and who made the pass. Once this has been uploaded to Hudl, log-ins allow players to watch the footage, with various packages being available for different team sizes.

Currently expanding their software around the world, Hudl hope to see their editing software being used in a vast range of sports, from cricket to basketball. They also hope to capture the essence of foreign strategies, further enabling teams across the world to reap the benefits of this software.