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Spartans study football online: ??Up on latest changes?'
SOLON, Nov 06, 2009 (The Gazette - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
It's high school football for Generation Net and beyond.
And as the gridiron turns
PREP FOOTBALL
high tech, the Solon Spartans lead the way.
"The game has evolved," Solon Coach Kevin Miller said. "This is right up our kids generations' alley. This is what they're familiar with." The latest evolution is Hudl, Web-based video analysis software the Spartans are using to break down game video this season.
Solon, one of 13 high schools and colleges in Iowa to use the product, was approached by Agile Sports this summer and jumped at the opportunity to try it, Miller said. Hudl allows teams to download game video to a server, edit and categorize the clips and distribute them to team members. Players and coaches have accounts and passwords to access the program at www.
hudl.com
"We publish that to them so they have it at their fingertips as well," said Miller, who can monitor players' accounts to keep tabs on their usage.
The Spartans post video from previous games and scout tapes. The software provides detailed information about players, formations and play-calling tendencies.
"It's as specific as I want to make it," Miller said. "This thing is really limitless in regard to its potential. It can do any thing." Coaches can leave text and audio messages for players on each clip and can produce diagrams with a telestrator-type function. Plays can be broken down for each
position.
"It saves (time) in that process, because you can really break it down and concentrate on certain plays that you want to, certain players on opposing teams, " Solon assistant coach Mark Silvers said. "It's a great way to scout yourself as well, because you can just watch the clips you need to watch." The program is a hit with players for the two-time defending state champions.
"I think it's awesome," Andy Ashton said. "It's really easy to see everything (and) really understandable." The biggest convenience is that players and coaches need only an Internet connection
(C) 2009 The Gazette
to activate their account.
The program can also be accessed through an Xbox 360 -- a popular video game console.
"The easy access, really," Ashton said about the program's perks. "It's easy to use. It's not very complicated. It simplifies things a lot for you in terms of watching film and understanding theopponent." Game video can be studied and dissected from any computer, "Usually at home," Ashton said. "After I get my homework done, I usually log on there and watch some game film." The Spartans (11-0) got plenty of use out of the program as they prepared for a 2A quarterfinal tonight at No. 5 Iowa City Regina (10-1), trying for their 39th straight win.
"We're just trying to stay up on the latest changes," Miller said.
"It's been a good thing so far."
aEUR" Comments: (319) 368-8679 or kj.pilcher@gazcomm.com
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