The athlete’s Brain – Why Using video is critical

Why Using Video Helps and Athlete Perform Better

​Every athlete has experienced this: when you’re in the middle of a battle, your emotions, adrenaline, and heat of the situation can get in the way of some pretty logical decision-making.
 
Drenched in sweat, pumping with adrenaline, and doing everything in your power to not let the other team score in the last few minutes of the game—or getting back at a player who fouled your teammate or just playing all out can then make it tough to have an honest assessment of your performance after the whistle blows.
 
There is scientific research to back that phenomenon up. When your brain recalls a certain situation in the middle of the game or when you think back to your last performance, you don’t have 100 percent objectivity in the situation. That memory also attaches to the feelings you’ve got going on, too.
 
So whether you’re stressed, fatigued, feeling a sense of pressure in the championship match, then your memory of that moment can be skewed. It can even mess with the accuracy of your memory—even getting you to remember things differently than they actually went down!
 
This is why video is so critical for an accurate, unbiased evaluation of your performance. 
 
However, overcoming personal bias is not the only benefit of using film to better your performance as an athlete. It can also turn your play into data, ultimately using objectivity as the star.
 
We all know that film was beneficial for the improvement of a player—but let’s take a look at how:
 
It Creates Real Numbers
 
In order to completely remove all the biases from the performance, video analysis can put a game into black and white data. 
 
So, whether you think you played well and your coach thinks you played poorly, these opinions aren’t always based on fact—both you, your coach, your teammates, and your opponents all have emotions tied to how they viewed the game.
 
However, with video, you can rewatch the performance in a totally new light. You can highlight several different hard facts and plays—like the number of completed passes, the number of (successful) defensive tackles or even shots on target or completely missing the mark.
 
These not only help create a better view of the past game in order for you to pinpoint where things might have gone wrong, but it can also help you statistically put actual facts on your performance in order to figure out what you need to work on!
 
It Shows You an Image of Yourself
 
Again, there is actual science proving that video modeling can help you get a realistic view of not only the way you play as a whole on the field but also your shape (where you are positioned on the field in regards to the rest of your team and the ball), your form (when you are performing a specific skill), your technique, and your mechanics.
 
If you are learning a new position, seeing where you are on the field through video analysis can definitely help you physically see and analyze your current performance. Then, when you’re out on the field again, you’ll have a better awareness of your space on the field related to where you should be.
 
Even though athletes typically have a pretty good awareness of your body, you might realize you’re doing something wrong (especially if the result isn’t what you wanted) but might not be able to point out what. So, if you are learning a new skill or a technical way to pass or shoot, video can show you how your body moves and help create that objective channel from which you can point out that mechanical flaw.
 
It Can Pinpoint a Problem
 
Especially since there is typically quite a bit of emotion attached to a performance, you might go into a video analysis with the thought that a lot has gone wrong.
 
However, by separating certain plays in your performance, cutting highlights of the game, you can analyze a bit at a time without feeling overloaded by the memory of a bad performance. Staying analytical and watching a little at a time can help you avoid overanalyzing and becoming then counterproductive.
 
It Can Make an Off-Day More Productive
 
Whether you are watching game film as a team or individually, the act of doing so can help you do so much more on your day off—but still resting physically.
 
Game film also allows injured players to still feel a part of the team and still feel like they can make a difference or benefit from learning about the game, collectively as a team or by looking at past matches.
 
If you want your team to stay focused but need them to physically take a breather to avoid injuries due to overuse, watching game film can help. Sometimes, watching game film can be just as beneficial as a day out of the field.
 
It Can Give You Confidence
 
Working on your game can go so far beyond another day out on the field or in the gym. Soccer is not just a physical game—with your skills, strength, and speed. It’s a mental challenge, as well. Therefore, knowing you’re doing everything in your power to be a better player both physically and mentally can help give you the confidence you need to get better on the field.
 
When you’re studying your own play, your team’s performance or that of an opponent, video can give you that extra boost of confidence to prepare for your next game.
 
One of the best parts about soccer is that although you can even be elected as the best player in the world, you’re still a student of the game. There is no black belt in soccer—you can never be a master of the sport. You can have experience, knowledge, and wisdom—but you should never stop learning and never stop wanting to improve. Game film can be that missing piece to take you (always) up to the next level.
 
 
Using Game Film to Analyze and Improve
 
By creating an unbiased way to review your performance, game film can help be the tool you need to improve.
 
And as we mentioned before, you should never stop wanting to improve. Fortunately, game film can be used or done at any level, meaning that no matter how good you are, there’s an aspect of your game that you can analyze and work on.
 
We hope this article has helped present you with points as to how game film can help you get better at soccer and improve as a player to be the best you can be!
 
It Gets You Over Your Ego
 
It’s an attribute that we have that innately and historically links to our actual survival. Although it can be a helpful motivation when we’re looking to get food in order to see another day, it doesn’t truly help when we need to be objective in our performance in the last game.
 
Using film, however, can help remove yourself as a player from the emotions, stress, and pressure you may have felt when you were in the middle of it.
 
And as we mentioned before—it’s science: although our prefrontal cortex can evaluate performances at an optimal level, the emotions sort of get in the way, taking logic out of the thought processes behind it. This can influence the way we remember things—and make evaluation a more emotional event rather than analytical. 

Why Choose SVT Advantage?

While there are a few other options to record your games, SVT is the best choice for you and your team. With our different package options, we provide high quality video at a great price point.  No yearly fees, use the equipment as long as you want, and film what you want.
 
High Quality Footage

You are in control of what you want to film and the quality is great.  SVT’s camera system, utilize camera technology that provides high quality film.  Our camcorders utilize 30x optical zoom (not digital cropping) to capture footage.  This leads to better image quality when zooming.  They also don’t utilize fish-eye lenses (found in many action-style cameras), which distort the playing field and perceived distance between players.  Our cameras also record at 60 frames per second (60p), providing a clearer video for these fast-paced sports.  

Easy to Transport

SVT’s camera system, pole, and tripod are made from heavy-duty poly-webbing with water-resistant metal parts. Despite the amount of quality materials that we include in our packages, our system also breaks down so that it can fit in the back of your car. At only about twenty pounds, it’s easy to carry from your car to the field.

Easy to Use

You don’t need a background in film to understand how to use our products. Once the system is set up on the field, it can be managed by anyone. That means that if you’re a coach, you can choose to spend your time on the sidelines coaching your team where you are needed, rather than huddled by a camera.

Quick Setup

No one wants to have to show up super early just to set up a tripod or have to spend an hour alone on the field putting everything away. That’s why our system is quick to both set up and take down. Within minutes, you can be ready to record your lacrosse match and get professional quality video.
Fast Pan and Tilt System
Lacrosse is a fast sport and with a few quick passes, the ball can cross a field and be a headache to track. That’s why our product has a fast pan and tilt system. No matter where the action is taking place, the Tournament Traveler 4 system from SVT Advantage is able to keep it in sight so you don’t miss a single moment of action.

Your team can benefit from having a film day. With even a few hours spent analyzing and looking over game footage, you will be able to find where you need to focus and improve your game. There’s one clear best option when it comes to recording lacrosse games: Turn to SVT Advantage. Our products are made with