The following guide explains the setup process of Performance Analysis equipment during match days. This setup is frequently used in a number of major sports, particularly in those sports where analysts and coaches sit close to each other. However, the level of venue infrastructure can significantly vary between sports, clubs and divisions. Therefore, the same setup is not always possible and analysts need to have contingency plans at hand to be able to achieve the objectives of obtaining match footage, generating statistics and sharing real-time insights with coaches.
The example presented below represents a relatively simple setup often used in events with little to no technical infrastructure available in the match venue and where coaches are in close proximity to the analysts. This is frequent in sports such as Rugby Union where the coaching staff is located in the stands or gantry where the analysts perform their live coding. The equipment setup described here can easily be transported between venues, quickly assembled and later dismantled after the match. It provides sufficient flexibility to be used in a wide range of sporting events at different levels, from academy teams to elite matches.
Scenario:
The hypothetical match setup in this guide covers a scenario where two performance analysts code the match live as it takes place. Three coaches sit next to them in the gantry of the stadium, each with a laptop available in from of them. As the match is played, the performance analysts import the video feed received from the cameras into SportsCode Elite. They then use the software’s live coding capability to generate live statistics, such as possession in the different pitch zones, number of tackles, shots, infractions (penalties, cards, fouls, etc.) and other relevant match actions.
Coaches have access to the same SportsCode Elite file from the performances analysts available in their laptops. By opening the SportsCode file on their own laptops, coaches can review all key statistics generated by the analysts in real-time and use the information to make immediate tactical decisions. They also have access to the coded timeline, allowing them to replay footage of any actions or incidents from the match that they wish to review.
Objectives:
Obtain video files of two different camera angles for post-match analysis
Generate live statistics and video replays of key actions in real-time
Display key statistics to coaches for immediate tactical decision-making
Personnel:
Camera operators (usually Performance Analysts if event is not broadcasted) x2
Performance Analysts x2
Team coach x3
Technical Equipment:
HD Camcorders x2
Camera Tripods x2
SD Cards x2
SDI Cables x2
Blackmagic Design SDI to HDMI Converters x2
MacBook Laptops (x5)
SportsCode License (x5)
Ethernet Router
Ethernet Cables (x5)
Setup:
Filming
Two HD camcorders film the match in two different angles: one camera films a wide angle capturing full areas of the pitch to evaluate team structure and positioning of players while the other camera films a tight angle closing in on the play to capture the players’ technique and closer movements. Since the footage from these two cameras needs to be stored for post-match analysis, each camera should be equipped with an SD card that contains sufficient capacity to store the footage from the full length of the game. The storage capacity of the SD card would greatly depend on the length of the match and the video quality format of the footage recorded.
In most major events, camera operators from TV broadcasters usually operate their own advanced filming equipment that already capture multiple angles of the pitch in high definition. This means that performance analysts may not require to operate their own cameras to capture match footage during these events. Instead, if the infrastructure permits, video feeds are shared to all interested parties (i.e. home and away Performance Analysts teams) by the TV camera operators by sharing an end of their Serial Digital Interface (SDI) cables connected to their cameras. These SDI cables are essential for the type of video transmissions required in sporting events, as they allow for stable transfer speeds of around 270 megabits per second in an uncompressed format. They also ensure that video quality is maintained from the camera to the receiving device.
Whenever a video feed from an HD camcorder is sent directly to a laptop via an SDI cable, a converter needs to be used to be able to connect the feed to the laptop, as most common laptops do not have SDI ports. A popular converter used in Performance Analysis is Blackmagic Design’s Mini Converters. Like with most adapters, the SDI cable coming from the camera is plugged into the mini converter, then a USB cable is then plugged from the mini converter to the laptop.
In the scenarios where a video feed is sent directly to the analyst’s laptop from a camera that does not have the analyst’s SD card inserted in it to store the footage, it is important for the analysts to record and store the incoming video feed in their laptop for later post-match analysis. To do so, performance analysts often use media capture software, such as Blackmagic Design’s Media Express, to log and capture the footage coming from the SDI video feed and store it as a video file in their computers. Often this process is followed regardless of whether there are other means to obtain the footage (i.e. SD cards or shared between Performance Analysts teams), acting as a backup option to avoid the loss of footage if any of the primary methods were to fail.
Coding
Once the filming equipment has been setup, analysts can now make use of the incoming video feed to analyse the match in real-time. The video feed cables are connected to each of the analyst’s laptops via an USB cable coming from the SDI converters. One of the analysts would input the footage into their laptop from the camera filming a wide angle while the other analysts would do the same with the tight angle.
Now that the laptops are receiving the footage from the game, analysts can open SportsCode Elite and use the live footage to code events in a new SportsCode timeline. Using the SportsCode Live Capture functionality, analysts can record the video feed and create a movie file inside the SportsCode package for the match. Recording the video feed and creating a movie file enables the software to refer back to specific coded sections of the match footage and replay the videos of specific events whenever they are selected from the timeline (i.e. show replay of the latest foul). Moreover, Analysts are able to rewind, review and re-code the footage as necessary while SportsCode continues to record the live footage into the SportsCode movie file.
The coding windows used by performance analysts to generate live statistics and video highlights during matches are prepared prior to the event. These code windows tend to follow a standardised format that is discussed and agreed with the coaching staff prior to the match. The match actions and in-play events that these code windows track would depend on the key areas of interest that a particular coach may want to have instant access to. For instance, a coach interested in closely monitoring their team’s defensive performance to make defensive adjustments may want to know the number of last third entries the opposition team has achieved so far in the game, the number of shots the team has conceded or the amount of possession given away in the team’s defensive zone. Knowing the coaches’ preferences beforehand enables a performance analyst to prepare their code window with the right level of trackers and descriptors that would provide a coach access to the right information at the right time throughout the match.
Presenting Statistics
The final part of the setup of the Performance Analysis equipment during matchday is the process required for coaches to be able to access key information in a timely and easy manner. The information generated by analysts through their live coding needs to add value to a coach’s decisions by being delivered at the right instances of the match to be able to influence decision-making and impact the team’s performance during the game.
The coded SportsCode timelines and statistics can be presented to coaches by interconnecting the analysts’ laptops with the coaches’ laptops via a local area network (LAN). This allows to create shared files from the analysts’ laptops that can be accessed by the coaches’ ones. A simple local network can be setup by plugging each laptop to a local network router using ethernet cables. Once all laptops are connected to the router, the “host” laptop (one of the analyst’s laptops) connects to the ethernet network via System Preferences > Network. The other computers can then connect to that laptops IP address by going to Finder > Go > Connect to Server > typing the host laptop’s IP address > Connect. This way, the coaches laptops would be able to access the shareable folders from the analyst’s laptops via the private local network.
A LAN connection is often a preferred option in sporting events, especially with large crowds, as WiFi connections tend to have bandwidth limitations that can significantly delay, or completely interrupt, the transfer of large video files across the network. During match events, when speed of decisions can be critical, a fast network connection is essential for coaches to received their analysts’ outputs without any delays.
The SportsCode packages being coded by the performance analysts are saved into the shared folder in the local network. As analysts continue to code the game into the SportsCode timeline, coaches can access the latest file through their own laptops at any time. The default auto-save feature in SportsCode makes sure that the file on the shared folder is always up-to-date. SportsCode’s statistical windows are also opened in coaches laptops to clearly display live statistics calculated from the coded events in the timeline.
Lastly, whenever the match venue does not permit this sort of setup, performance analysts often choose to communicate with coaches via radio to inform them of the key insights they have gathered. As previously mentioned, different sports, club venues or even playing levels have different infrastructures and venue formats allow certain setups and restrict others. Regardless of the specifics of a Performance Analysis setup, the objectives across the field remain the same: providing coaches with immediate information to make quick decisions while obtaining as much video footage from the match for post-match analysis.