Strengths and Weaknesses of Video Analysis

When an athletes runs, jumps, pitches or hits, it happens too fast for our eyes to fully understand the movements. With modern video technology, players, coaches and trainers can capture the action, then replay it in slow motion to analyze the minutest detail of the player's performance. It's a valuable tool for anyone who wants to play his particular game better.

  1. Knowledge

    • To improve a player's game, it helps to know what her weaknesses are. A trainer analyzing movement with a video camera can determine what's right or wrong with the player's form and what needs to be done to improve it. In addition, the player herself can see what's going wrong and the effect it has on her performance. Using that knowledge, player and trainer can figure out the drills that will correct the problem. After practice, the player can watch a new video and measure her improvement.

    Injury

    • Video analysis can also help players, even amateurs, avoid injury. At the University of Bristol, for example, the school physiotherapist uses video to work with runners who have a history of foot problems, back or leg pain or simply concerns about injury. A video analysis enables the physiotherapist to see whether a runner's motion contributes to his problems, and to figure out how to prevent injuries. Possible solutions include protective foot gear, changes to his running style or exercise drills to strengthen the vulnerable spots.

    Objectivity

    • It's easy for even a good coach to misdiagnose a player's problem. One study found that coaches reviewing player performance after a soccer game may misremember more than half of what they see. With a video record, a coach can review a player's mistakes, confident that his analysis is accurate and objective. Another advantage is that video cameras don't get bored or distracted, so they won't turn away at a crucial moment.

    Considerations

    • Good video analysis may place new demands on the trainers who use it. If the trainer records a sporting event, rather than practice, she may not have the equipment to blanket the arena with cameras. That being the case, she has to decide exactly what or who the camera is going to focus on, or whether there's a particular weakness she wants to analyze. There's also the possibility that, if the players know they're being analyzed, they won't play as they normally do.