How to Film Your Athlete for Video Analysis Lessons

Video analysis has revolutionized athlete training by providing precise and objective feedback for coaches, parents, and the athletes themselves.

It allows coaches and athletes to dissect every aspect of performance, ensuring that technical flaws are identified and corrected promptly.

This method enhances the learning process, as visual feedback is one of the most effective ways to understand and internalize complex movements.

For those short on time, here’s the TL;DR on how to film your athlete for video analysis lessons: To film your athlete for video analysis, just use a phone or tablet. Depending on the situation, stabilizing the recording device with a tripod can really help. You’ll want to capture multiple angles of the athletic action—particularly from a side and a back view—to ensure comprehensive coverage and more detailed analysis capabilities.

Also, try to film in well-lit, consistent environments and follow basic and common sense safety measures relevant to the sport in question. Leveraging video analysis tools, like the SeamsUp app, can make for easy recording, detailed video analysis, and technique comparisons.

For those who want much more detail, let’s dive in.

Here Are 6 Benefits of Filming Athletes for Technique Improvement

1. Enhanced Learning and Memory Retention

Visual feedback significantly improves memory retention and learning speed. Studies show that visual aids, such as video playback, enhance the retention of technical skills–like driving a golf ball or executing a tennis backhand–by 65% compared to verbal feedback alone.

2. Objective Performance Evaluation

Videos provide an objective record of your athlete’s performance, eliminating subjective biases that can creep into coaching. This objectivity is crucial for fair and accurate assessment, and, in turn, allows for consistent improvement tracking.

3. Detailed Technique Analysis

Slow-motion playback and frame-by-frame analysis enable detailed scrutiny of techniques, which is often impossible with the naked eye. This detailed analysis is particularly beneficial for identifying minor but critical technical errors.

4. Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation

Video analysis helps in detecting improper techniques that could lead to injuries. By correcting these techniques early, athletes can avoid potential injuries down the line. Additionally, video feedback is vital in rehabilitation, ensuring athletes return to optimal performance safely and efficiently.

5. Performance Benchmarking

Filming allows athletes to benchmark their performance against previous sessions or compare themselves with professional athletes. This comparison can be highly motivating for the day in and day out grind, and it provides a clear path for improvement.

6. Remote Coaching Opportunities

Filming facilitates remote coaching, allowing athletes to receive expert feedback regardless of geographical constraints.

Scientific Foundation

The effectiveness of video analysis in sports is supported by cognitive and motor learning theories.

According to Schmidt and Lee’s motor learning principles, visual feedback (video analysis) enhances motor skill acquisition by providing precise information about movement patterns.

Furthermore, the dual-coding theory by Paivio posits that information is better retained when presented both visually and verbally, again underscoring the benefits of video analysis for athletes.

Essential Equipment for Filming Your Athlete’s Technique

1. Phone or Tablet

Effective video analysis starts with the right equipment. While professional cameras offer advanced features, modern smartphones and tablets are equally capable, offering convenience and high-quality video capture.

Phones and tablets also offer portability and ease of use, eliminating the need for bulky equipment. Lastly, with built-in editing tools and direct connectivity to dedicated video analysis apps like SeamsUp, these devices greatly streamline the process from recording to analysis.

If you have a parent, coach, or teammate to hold the phone or tablet while recording, then you’re all set. But we still have a couple tips for you.

Handheld Filming Techniques:

• Two-Handed Grip: hold your phone or tablet with both hands and close to your body to minimize shaking.
• Lean on a Stable Surface: Resting against a wall or other stable surface can help reduce hand movement and maintain an even steadier shot.

But if your athlete is solo or just wants an even more polished look to their technique recordings, then you might consider one other tool.

2. Tripods

Tripods are crucial for maintaining a stable and consistent frame, reducing motion blur and ensuring clear footage.

Stability is essential for accurate sports video analysis, as shaky videos can obscure important details.

Tripods come in various sizes and designs, from compact tabletop models to full-sized versions with adjustable heights. Just make sure the one you choose has an attachment that holds the phone or tablet you happen to own.

This versatility allows for optimal positioning regardless of the filming environment. From the motocross track to the Olympic-sized pool to the pickleball court, there is a tripod that’ll work best for you.

Optimal Filming Angles for Sport Video Analysis

Filming athletes from the correct angles is crucial for capturing the full range of their movements and ensuring accurate video analysis.

Below are detailed guidelines on the optimal filming angles for sports video analysis.

Side View Filming

1. Importance of Capturing the Entire Body

Filming from the side provides a comprehensive view of the athlete's movements, allowing for detailed analysis of form and technique.

This recording perspective is generally the most important across the widest range of sports.

It’s useful for sports involving linear motion, such as swimming, cycling, motocross, skateboarding, darts, fencing, bowling, and equestrian events to name just a few.

Filming from the side is also useful for sports like weightlifting, powerlifting for form checks.

And it must be stated that filming from the side is a must-have for analyzing any rotational movement pattern in sports–think hitting a baseball or golf ball, tennis, ice hockey, pickleball, lacross, cricket, badminton, or table tennis.

2. Safety Considerations

Ensure the filming location is safe by using protective barriers like nets or fences when necessary. This is essential in sports where objects like balls or pucks are in motion, such as, again, baseball, softball, cricket, and field hockey.

3. Filming Mode: Landscape vs. Portrait

Landscape Mode: Offers a wider field of view, making it ideal for capturing full-body movements and ensuring no part of the action is missed. It is recommended for most sports filming.

Portrait Mode: While less common, it can be useful for specific vertical movements or when space is limited. Think capturing a weightlifting clean and jerk.

Regardless of which mode you choose, consistency in filming mode between sessions is important for comparative analysis, AKA comparing videos of the athlete overtime.

Back View Filming

1. Capturing the Full View of the Athlete’s Body

Filming from the back provides insight into symmetry and alignment, which are critical for sports like weightlifting, tennis, and golf. This angle allows coaches to observe the athlete's balance and body mechanics.

2. Safety Tips for Sports Involving Balls or Pucks

As with the side view, positioning behind a sturdy barrier is often crucial to protect the filming device and the person recording. This ensures uninterrupted recording and safety during high-intensity sports.

3. Choosing the Right Mode: Landscape vs. Portrait

Landscape Mode: Again, this mode is generally preferred for capturing the entirety of the movement, providing a broader context of the athlete's actions.

Portrait Mode: May be used in specific cases where vertical movement or narrow focus is required.

Scientific Foundation

Proper camera angles are vital for biomechanical analysis. According to a study published in the "Journal of Sports Sciences," different camera perspectives significantly affect the accuracy of movement analysis.

The side view is particularly effective for assessing joint angles and movement phases, while the back view helps in evaluating symmetry and balance.

In biomechanics, understanding the movement planes—sagittal (side view), frontal (front/back view), and transverse (top view)—is essential for a comprehensive analysis.

Filming from multiple angles ensures that coaches and analysts can assess the athlete’s performance in all three dimensions, providing a holistic view of their technique.

Extra Credit Video Analysis Filming Tips

Effective video analysis can usually be accomplished with just the basics we’ve covered so far. But for parents, athletes, and coaches looking to fully optimize what’s possible with technique analysis, here are some exta credit considerations.

Lighting and Environment

1. Optimal Lighting Conditions

Natural Light: Whenever possible, use natural light to film your athlete.

But the most ideal conditions involve filming outdoors in bright, overcast weather, which reduces shadows and highlights the athlete’s movements most clearly.

Direct sunlight, on the other hand, can create harsh shadows and glare, which should be avoided if possible.

Artificial Lighting: When filming indoors, use well-distributed artificial lighting to avoid shadows.

Ring lights or softbox lights can provide even illumination, making the video more professional and easy to analyze. But 99.9% this level of video production is not necessary for remote sports instruction or analysis.

2. Consistent Environment

Background: It helps if the filming background is plain and uncluttered to focus attention on your athlete. A busy or distracting background can risk detracting from the quality of the technique analysis.

Surface and Space: Choose a filming location with enough space for the athlete to perform their movements fully is another helpful consideration. The surface the athlete is standing on should be level and safe to prevent injuries and ensure accurate performance information.

These last two suggestions may seem like common sense, but plenty of coaches on our remote private lesson platform have received videos where the athlete is too cramped to fully perform the full range of movement necessary for their sport–as well as athletes executing movement on steeply sloped driveways.

Consistency in Filming Locations

Training Facilities: Use familiar training environments such as gyms, fields, or courts. Consistency in filming location helps maintain uniformity in videos, making it easier to compare the athlete’s performance over time.

Home Environments: When training facilities are not available, set up a consistent spot at home, like a backyard, front yard, garage, or living room. Ensure these spaces are safe, spacious, and well-lit.

How to Use The Camera Featured Within SeamsUp for Your Video Analysis Recording

Whether during practices or games, a live video recording of your athlete is only ever a tap away using the SeamsUp.

You can film your athlete to benchmark their progress over time, analyze their technique with our completely free analysis suite, or send your footage to an expert coach for feedback.

Here’s some step by step guides on how to use the app to record and then analyze your athlete’s technique.

How to Record Live Video in the SeamsUp App

Tap the large white plus + Sign at the bottom center of most screens. Tap on the White Camera Icon on the bottom left to film your footage live right then and there. Tap the Red Circle at the bottom center of your screen to start your recording. Tap the Red Square at the bottom center of your screen to stop your recording. If you’re satisfied with your recording, tap Use Video centered at the top of your screen. If you’d like to try recording again, tap the back arrow to give it another shot. Your recorded video will now load into your Gallery.

How to Change the Resolution Quality on a Live Video Recording in the SeamsUp App

Tap the large white plus + Sign at the bottom center of most screens. Tap on the White Camera Icon on the bottom left to film your footage live right then and there. There are two ways to change the resolution quality of your live recording: Tap the Settings Gear Icon in the upper left corner of your screen. Then, tap to select the resolution that you’d want to record your video in, between 720p, 1080p, and 4k.
Tap the resolution number near the bottom left of your screen. Each tap will change the recording’s resolution between 720p, 1080p, and 4k.

How to Change the Frames Per Second (fps) on a Live Video Recording in the SeamsUp App

Tap the large white plus + Sign at the bottom center of most screens. Tap on the White Camera Icon on the bottom left to film your footage live right then and there. Tap the frames per second (fps) number near the bottom right of your screen. Each tap will change the recording’s frames per second between 30 fps, 60 fps, and 240 fps.

How to Delay Live Video Recordings in the SeamsUp App

You may want to delay a live video recording for a set duration to give you or your athlete more time to set up for or execute on things like swings or windups. Start by tapping the large white plus + Sign at the bottom center of most screens. Then, tap on the White Camera Icon on the bottom left to film your footage live right then and there. Next, tap the Stopwatch Icon at the top right of your screen. From the options, tap to select how many seconds you’d like to delay the start time of your recording. Your options are:

5 SECONDS 10 SECONDS 15 SECONDS NO DELAY.

Now, you’ll see a countdown tick down on the red circle at the bottom center of your screen for the same duration of delayed seconds that you’ve selected.

Video Analyzing Your Own Athlete on SeamsUp

SeamsUp also allows for you to fully evaluate your own videos with a completely free suite of video analysis tools.

What better way to track your progress week to week, month to month, than through self-analysis?

You can even compare your sports movements from different days or compare yourself with your favorite pro athlete or collegiate star.

You can analyze any type of video footage that you record live or upload into your Gallery. How to Analyze Video Footage within your SeamsUp Gallery

Tap on the Gallery’s Grid Icon on the bottom navigation menu of most screens within the app. Tap to select the video that you'd like to analyze. Tap Analyze in the upper left corner of your screen to open up our free analysis suite of tools. Familiarize yourself with all the various tools at your disposal. The ability to compare your footage today with old footage of yourself in the past or with footage from pro player examples, can be very helpful for your athlete’s development.
Tap the Compare Box Icon near the upper left of your screen and follow the prompts to add comparison video footage from your Gallery or device’s Camera Roll. Tap the Red Circle centered at the top of your screen when you’re ready to start recording your self-analysis. Allow screen capture in SeamsUp, by tapping Record Screen & Microphone in the popup that appears.
When you’re finished with self-analysis recording, tap the White Pause Circle centered at the top of your screen. Then, tap the Red Square to stop your recording. If you’re satisfied with your self-analysis recording, tap USE VIDEO in the upper right of your screen. Your newly completed self-analysis video will now appear in your Gallery.

Post-Filming Tips Once you have captured high-quality video footage of your athlete, the next steps involve reviewing, selecting, and preparing these clips for effective analysis and sharing. Here are robust, science-based tips to ensure you make the most of your recorded content. Reviewing and Selecting the Best Clips Initial Review: Objective Assessment: Conduct an initial review of all recorded footage to identify clips that best represent the athlete’s performance. Look for clips that clearly display the technique or movement in question without distractions or errors in filming. Multiple Views: If you have recorded from different angles (side, back), ensure you review each angle for a comprehensive understanding of the athlete’s technique.

Quality Criteria: Clarity and Focus: Select clips that are clear and in focus. Blurry or shaky videos can obscure critical details, making analysis difficult. Completeness: Ensure the clips capture the entire sequence of the movement, from start to finish. Incomplete footage can lead to inaccurate assessments. Basic Editing for Clarity and Focus Trimming: Remove Unnecessary Segments: Trim the beginning and end of the clips to remove any non-essential footage. This focuses attention on the key movements. Here’s how to trim videos shot on your phone or tablet.

Adjusting Lighting and Contrast: Enhance Visibility: If the footage is a bit on the dark side, consider using basic editing tools to adjust lighting and contrast, ensuring that the athlete’s movements are clearly visible. Proper lighting enhances the visibility of finer details in the technique. Post-filming steps help maximize the value of your recorded sports footage, because it sets the stage for either you or your chosen instructor to then receive and analyze the footage using a video analysis editor like SeamsUp. Recap on How to Film Video Analysis Footage Video analysis is a powerful tool that has become an integral part of modern sports training. By leveraging the right equipment, optimal filming angles, stable recording techniques, and robust analysis tools like the SeamsUp app, athletes and coaches can significantly enhance performance and technique.

Here’s a recap of the key points: Importance of Video Analysis: Provides precise, objective feedback essential for learning and improvement. Enhances memory retention and performance through visual feedback​​.

Essential Equipment: Smartphones or tablets and tripods ensure clear and consistent footage.

Optimal Filming Angles: Side and back filming views capture comprehensive details of the athlete's movements, aiding in thorough analysis and technique correction​​. Ensuring safety and consistency in filming conditions is crucial.

General Filming Tips: Use well-lit, consistent environments and avoid distractions.

Using the SeamsUp App: The app simplifies the process of recording, reviewing, and analyzing footage, making it accessible for both self analysis and professional remote coaching.

Post-Filming Steps: Reviewing, editing, and organizing clips for clarity and focus ensure that the videos are ready for effective analysis and feedback​​. Benefits of Continuous Improvement through Video Analysis Enhanced Performance: Regular video analysis helps in identifying and correcting technical flaws, leading to continuous performance improvement. Injury Prevention: By detecting improper techniques early, video analysis helps prevent injuries, ensuring athletes can train and compete safely. Motivation and Benchmarking: Comparing current performances with past recordings or professional benchmarks motivates athletes and provides clear goals for improvement. Remote Coaching and Feedback: Video analysis facilitates remote coaching, allowing athletes to receive expert feedback regardless of geographical constraints. Encouragement to Start Filming and Analyzing Embracing video analysis can transform an athlete's training regimen. The combination of high-quality footage, precise analysis tools, and regular review fosters an environment of continuous learning and improvement. Coaches and athletes should start incorporating video analysis into their training routines to leverage its full potential. And with this guide in tow, we hope you now have all the tools needed to make it happen.