Game Film Access

[tnolan]

Does anyone's state/chapter/association have a good system for "automatic access" or communal access to game film?

For NCAA, Synergy was amazing. As long as the staff had uploaded the film in a timely fashion, you had access to your game within a day. The other nice thing about Synergy was that you had access to all the games, at every level, for every school. However, I understand that the NCAA has many more resources than the NFHS or our local high schools.

Most high schools here use HUDL. Getting access to the film often times will involve reaching out to the AD or coach (if you can find their info) and then going through the ringer of the technologically challenged issues or otherwise string of email questions before finally getting the link...
"I don't know how to share it"
"I don't think I can share it"
"We don't use HUDL"
"Why do you want our game film?" (my favorite)
"I'll send it to you when the season ends"
*Once I had a coach snail mail me DVD of his game, and then after a few days, ask for it back, as it was their only copy* LOL

Our Officials' rep does have a HUDL account and the ability to see all the games, if the school uses it...but is unable to share (to my knowledge).

Ideally, I want a system that functions in one or two ways:

1. Within a day or two, every crew is "automatically" emailed the HUDL link to their game film. After that, what you choose to do with your film is up to you. If you are reviewing the film to improve, great. If not, then that's on you. But at least it is being distributed and available. And maybe then, we can get into the discussion of reviewing with evaluation for accountability purposes...but that's a discussion for another thread entirely.

2. A Synergy or HUDL based pool of game film for the area or entire district. All games, from all schools are uploaded and available to this location and accessible to either anyone with an account (controlled) OR an administrator who can delegate access specifically and as needed.

My understanding is that the schools would need to get on board with this and for basketball they aren't for some reason. Our football officials in the area have a system, but it's been a while since I've discussed it. And for either of those systems to work, all schools would need to get on board. It's a shame that you can only get film from certain schools and not others, when everyone films their games some way or another...it's 2022!

I'm looking for suggestions or input or stories from everyone. I'd like to know how other areas handle game film regarding the above topics.

Thanks is advance.

[BillyMac]

I personally know little about HUDL, other than our local evaluation committee just this season decided to use it to evaluate officials that are "difficult" (for many reasons, including schedule conflicts) to observe "live" (in person).

I also understand that many high schools in our local area don't use HUDL.

Sorry I can't be more helpful.

Also, due to COVID limitations on fans the past two seasons, many high school games, even a few middle school games, were live streamed and recorded for access to all on various platforms (often school system based).

Tax-paying parents want to see their kids play basketball and seeing their kids online is better than not seeing them at all.

I hope that this continues post-COVID.

It was nice to see myself in a middle school video. I'm certainly more handsome with a mask than without a mask.

[Raymond]

There are a lot of public schools who participate in the NFHS streaming service.

[BillyMac]

The artificial intelligence is amazing. Install it, set it up, and walk away. No camera operators. The camera follows the action. Don't even have to turn it on and off, schools could just load the game schedule into the smart phone application.

Back in the late 1960's, I remember my high school physics teacher (and baseball coach), Mr. Letize, who also worked part-time at Radio Shack, setting up a gigantic, heavy, complicated, black and white, reel to reel videotape setup (with an equally gigantic and cumbersome camera) to record our basketball games.

We all thought that these videotaped games were so cool and modern.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

There are a lot of public schools who participate in the NFHS streaming service.

Just checked for all of Connecticut and for my local area.

Raymond's right.

[JRutledge]

Our area developed a system to provide video to officials through HUDL based on the association's accounts to be sent to member officials of different associations. What that means is we have a point person in each association to ask video of each game you work based on your request. Then the coaches agree to provide the video if they have access and it can be reviewed. We have an association of associations called Inter Athletic Council of Officials, which is several local associations that work together for training. So if I am a member of one of the associations that is an IACO member, they can provide me the video of games I request. Again this is not automatic, we have to ask for the video and some coaches either do not have video or they do not provide the video for different reasons.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Our area developed a system to provide video to officials through HUDL based ...

Is there a cost to the officials, the official's association, or the association of associations?

[hoopologist]

I can weigh in on the HUDL inquiry from the coaching perspective.

Basically and HUDL account can search and find other HUDL account owners and cue a video request through the HUDL interface (it's referred to as "Exchange" since it's, well primarily for exchanging).

These not only appear in the coaches HUDL account but also generate an email to all the coaches in the HUDL account. This means if the board has an account they can ask for game film whenever they like and can setup access for all of their members in the HUDL account.

I also have the ability to generate a download link for all of our stored footage - and that delivers an automated email to me in about 5 minutes - which I can forward to an official who has asked me directly. And, I have been asked, I'd say about 4 times for game film and happily shared it.

So if the board opted out of the HUDL account, you can still make a request of a coach and get a link which allows you to download the game film directly to your computer.

I've done a HUDL search and there are several boards that come up so some are already doing this.

[tnolan]

Originally Posted by hoopologist

I can weigh in on the HUDL inquiry from the coaching perspective.

Basically and HUDL account can search and find other HUDL account owners and cue a video request through the HUDL interface (it's referred to as "Exchange" since it's, well primarily for exchanging).

These not only appear in the coaches HUDL account but also generate an email to all the coaches in the HUDL account. This means if the board has an account they can ask for game film whenever they like and can setup access for all of their members in the HUDL account.

I also have the ability to generate a download link for all of our stored footage - and that delivers an automated email to me in about 5 minutes - which I can forward to an official who has asked me directly. And, I have been asked, I'd say about 4 times for game film and happily shared it.

So if the board opted out of the HUDL account, you can still make a request of a coach and get a link which allows you to download the game film directly to your computer.

I've done a HUDL search and there are several boards that come up so some are already doing this.

Thanks Hoop!

This is essentially what I (we) are doing now. I will admit that I do have fairly good luck with most coaches and AD's when asking for film via HUDL when needed. For personal/individual improvement, this does work pretty well.

Would there be any benefit to individuals having member accounts, or is it good enough to just have 1 board member control everything?

[tnolan]

Sort of switching gears here a little bit, but sort of within the same vein...

On top of the game film from local games, has any board/chapter had previous or current success with group training/improvement/evaluation and accountability during the season? I know that normally requires additional (sometimes retired) personnel, so that presents a challenge, but with video availability, it should make it much more feasible.

Within the past few years, it's obviously been difficult to put all the pieces in place, but additionally...I also feel like it's also been difficult due to the lack of officials. Accountability is difficult to enforce when you can't afford it. But I'm a firm believer that iron sharpens iron and in order for the area to improve as a group and become more consistent for these teams and coaches, there needs to be more than just a few meetings per year when we discuss a few rules and case plays.

Suggestions welcome.