Overview
Like any sport, seeing and understanding is as important to success as execution. In fact, without a good understanding of what’s happening and the ability to visually connect it to your performance, it’s impossible to reach the next level! In this article, we’ll give you a process by which you can take your practice OR competition footage and dissect it efficiently and productively!
Step 1: Film the Video
This seems obvious but the first step in the process is to film something to break down! It could be a full run-through at a practice session or it could be footage from a recent competition. Whatever you choose, here are some helpful guidelines for filming:
- Choose a good location where the team is clearly visible and each cadet can be seen as clearly as possible. Consider elevating your camera position with a tripod or by filming from bleachers.
- Make sure your cameraperson is paying attention. If the team moves on the floor, make sure they are easily and smoothly able to keep the team in frame throughout the routine. It’s hard to break down poorly-filmed footage, after all.
- Use panning and zooming strategically. If your cameraperson is familiar with the routine, they’ll know when to zoom in, zoom out, pan to follow the team, or leave the team centered in the frame. The clearer the footage, the better.
Step 2: Schedule a Dedicated Time
This process takes time. You should budget AT LEAST the majority of a 2-hour practice session, for example, to undergo this process. It’s also important that you choose a timeframe that makes sense. The closer the gap from filming to breakdown, the better the feedback will be. We recommend filming a video on Friday and taking Monday to go through this process. If you have a competition, Monday is a great time to sit down and make time to go through the footage.
Step 3: Gather Your Materials
For this process to work, everyone will need the a writing utensil and something to write on. You’ll want a binder to collect everyone’s notes in one place for future review as well!
Step 4: Watch For YOURSELF
In this process, you’ll watch each video TWICE. On the first watch, you’ll make notes on ONLY your own performance. On your piece of paper, make two columns: SUSTAIN and IMPROVE. As you watch the video, take notes on things you did well that you need to continue to do (SUSTAIN) and things that need practice (IMPROVE).
You may be tempted to spend too much time scrutinizing one category over another. Be sure to look at both equally! Give yourself a little credit (or a little criticism)! You NEED to be able to see both!
Step 5: Share Your Observations
This next part can be challenging. One by one, in an organized fashion, go around the team and share each of the things you wrote down. As your teammates name things, if they ALSO appear on either of your lists, put a little checkmark next to each item you hear repeated. Make sure to share your list EVEN if someone has spotted the same things! The checkmarks will be important!
Step 6: Repeat the Process But Watch the TEAM
After everyone has shared their findings, you’ll repeat steps 4 and 5 but instead, focusing on the TEAM. Turn your paper over, make your two categories, and watch the video again taking care to make notes about the whole team.
Watching the TEAM doesn’t mean watching individuals OTHER than you. It means watching the whole group for issues that impact the whole group. Be careful not to get too caught up on individual errors but instead focus on how the whole team looks in totality.
Once again share your findings and place a checkmark next to any items others identified that also appear on your own list!
Step 7: Compare Notes
The instructor or cadet leader should now ask the team to share anything on anyone’s lists that have more than 1 or 2 checkmarks. Items with MORE checkmarks are items that are either going well (if they come from the SUSTAIN category) or items that clearly need more work (if they come from the IMPROVE category). This feedback can help you plan your future practices with an emphasis on the items that many said need IMPROVEMENT.
Step 8: Collect and Reflect
Each time you go through this process, you should collect everyone’s notes. You’ll notice you’re trending in the right direction if each time you break down video footage, the comments with the most checkmarks move from the IMPROVE to the SUSTAIN columns in each person’s notes.
Likewise, you’ll also know you’re moving in the right direction if the feedback everyone is writing down is getting more specific over time. When you start, “timing” might be a comment for IMPROVEMENT but by the end of your season, you’d hope for feedback that sounds more like, “our timing is affected when the first squad engages their forearms slightly before the second and third squads when moving from Order Arms to Port Arms.”
Your binder will be a track record of your progress as a team! You’ll be able to look back and feel accomplished as your team gets more and more in tune with their performances!