I’ve been a video coordinator for Carson-Newman football since 2009. Each part of the year presents its own set of circumstances and challenges. Essentially, they are the recruiting season, August as camp begins, and the football season itself.
Winter and spring football drills are generally handled in the same way as two-a-days in August would be – getting on the same page as the coaches as to what they want videotaped and ready for playback during meetings.
While coaches are primarily focused on recruiting and keeping up with players’ grades and workout regimen during the winter and spring, the individuals who are in charge of the video program should concern themselves with the specifics of their jobs as well. One person should handle overall video operations. This person will oversee a staff – many of which are student workers – and explain to them what should be videotaped during the practices and what isn’t necessary. The Director of Video Operations should also be the contact person for service providers and suppliers and other video-related matters. Each team needs to assess its own situation as well as what they want to accomplish.
The most important thing is to make sure the equipment is in good working order and that warranties are current. A good time to get equipment repaired is between the end of the season and the following July. It would also be good to be acquainted with any upgrades that manufacturers have come out with and, whenever possible, to attend a training seminar when new products are issued. Each program would have to determine for itself which video equipment, hardware and software should be purchased.
This will ultimately come down to the team’s budget, staff familiarity with specific equipment and overall team goals. We would all like to have unlimited budgets but limited budgets are a part of life. The most obvious piece of equipment is the camcorder. In most cases, the cost of a camcorder can range from $1,000 to $6,000. The key is to be able to do your job with the camcorder which is within your budget. Especially for new programs or those overhauling equipment, it would be worthwhile to test a camcorder for 3-6 months before making a final purchase. You can tell the manufacturer that you are considering purchasing a specific camcorder and ask if a trail run is doable. Over the last 15 years, camcorders have been greatly reduced in both size and cost.
Software that has specific applications such as Webb Gameday and XOS Digital can be used to directly enhance your video operations. One of the major areas of growth in the past decade has been Digital Asset management. The basic idea behind this is to be able to input, store, and retrieve digital photographs, animations, videos and music. This process makes it easier to backup files, move files from computer to computer, or to save onto specific media such as the DVD. These applications can be used for importing, video editing and viewing by coaches and the team during meetings.
Other equipment includes batteries (at least two for each camera or a portable battery pack) extension cords and tripods.
I personally like JVC, Panasonic and Sony. Since everything is going to the internet and being edited for uploading across multiple platforms such as Blackberry or iPhone, going with a digital-based recording format such as flash memory HD video may be the best way to go long-term. Budget-wise, this can be a great alternative if you don’t have the option to order the higher-end professional camcorders. You can usually purchase handycams for a price range from $300 up to $1,000. If you use a three-camera set up (wide and both end zones), you may consider going with two HD cameras and one professional camcorder.
Make sure that the camcorders are AVCHD compatible. AVCHD (Advanced Video Coding High Definition) first introduced in 2006 is a file-based format that was developed jointly by Panasonic and Sony for the digital recording and playback of high-definition video. When it comes to storing on your computer be it a desk top or laptop, you can never have enough memory. I recommend at least 100 gigabyte hard drives (most current releases have at least several hundred GB). They should be set up for importing video/audio directly from the camera or laptop if you choose to record to it. It should also be able to transfer video for recording on multiple formats such as DVD or backup storage onto external removable drives. This is especially valuable for archival footage or if coaches/scouts were to request video of a prospect. Just think of all the memories that could be kept.