Video is everywhere in professional football. All team activities in the off-season and season are now required to be videotaped so that each organization can be checked for its compliance with the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement).
Even before the CBA, some organizations had video cameras in each meeting room so every meeting could be taped. There were some valid reasons. The first reason for a video of all meetings was that a new player or coach could acclimate quickly. With access to the installation meetings to review, it would not hold up the rest of the team members and coaches. A new player or coach could readily adapt to the new language and gain a greater understanding of the organization’s philosophy.
It may help a veteran player who simply wants to watch a particular meeting that is a little cloudy. It is also a good tool for the coaches themselves to do a quick self-assessment to see if they covered all the critical factors. Are enough different teaching methods being used to maintain interest? It is a tool for the coordinator or head coach to evaluate his staff, although I’m not a fan of that style. Overall, the video taping of all meetings can be an extremely valuable tool. It is there for coaches and players to use to better themselves at their craft. It is important to communicate to staff and team members; it is not a big brother spying technique.
As the advances in technology continue they will slowly make their way into the league as well. The GoPro camera is becoming a useful tool for players to study their technique from their own ground level visual perspective. I can also see in the future the use of drones for videotaping practice sessions. As in any profession the more efficient you can be, the more productive you will become and the new technology is helping football teams do just that.
