Video analysis, both for scouting purposes and error correction, is a valuable tool for today’s volleyball coach. Here are 5 keys that will help you and your players get the most out of it:
- Decide exactly what you want players to see. Are you looking to show them something they’re doing wrong so they can correct it? Are you showing them the right way to do something so they can copy it? Some coaches prefer to only show the positive so it reinforces proper technique and good habits. Others may want to show “bad” examples so it’s clear to the athlete what needs to change. Neither way is right nor wrong. As a coach, you need to decide the most effective balance for your players between positive and negative.
- Don’t watch too much. Watching video isn’t going to be the most exciting part of your practice, so don’t overdo it. Thirty minutes, give or take a few minutes, is a good amount of time for team viewing. For individual player video sessions, keep it to 15 or 20 minutes. Your players live in a world of multi-tasking and fast action, so lengthy video sessions will bore them and likely reduce their retention. And speaking of retention, here’s a tip: Your players will get more out of the videos if you quickly go over what they’ll be seeing before you show the video.
- Help players get the most out of what they’re seeing. This can be done by having them take notes and/or by giving them access to the video, either online (Dropbox,YouTube or Hudl) or on a USB stick. Repeated viewings will allow them to see things they might not have seen the first time. Click here to see ways volleyball coaches have started to use Hudl.
- Give them immediate feedback. With today’s video technology that allows you to record practice and play clips back to your athletes on a short delay, you can review what they’re doing right and wrong immediately. This is a useful teaching tool because they perform the skill, watch themselves, then make adjustments right away.
- Don’t shy away from video because you’re worried that the technology will be too costly or difficult to use. The fact is, it’s never been easier and never been cheaper. Phones and iPads all have good video capabilities, and apps like Hudl allow you to organize the footage in ways that best suit your needs.