Braintree Athletics

Jack Rarick

Braintree Athletic Systems

Using notes with small film studies to improve player performance.

Step 1: Launch Coach's Video Assistant and select a game film to watch. Check the NOTE PAD for a list of your player's names. Watch each play and note the performance of each player. Use EXPANDED VIEW if you need to see a larger picture. Use the scrubbing bar across the bottom of any video window to stop the play, rewind the play or move through the play slowly, forwards or backwards. When critiquing offensive linemen I like to start at one end of the line and work my way down the line. I might put the video in slow motion, or I might just scrub the video by hand. In any case I will focus my attention on one player and watch to see if they were successful in their blocking technique. On the Note Pad I will click on the player's name and then add whatever note I want them to read. I could ask him a question about his technique, I could tell him what I see and why I think he needs to do it differently, I could congratulate him on a job well done or I can tell him what we are going to do in practice to fix his mistake. There are no limits to what can be said using a note.

Step 2: Watch as much of any game as you think is necessary. That may be the first thirty plays or the first three quarters or the entire game. You don‚Äôt need to add a note to each player or each play.

Create the video

Step 1: Create a video film study based upon the notes you wrote to individual players. Filter the clips from the games chosen. You may want to make a film study of one game or several. You can automatically choose the video clips that have an attached note. You need to have a title screen added before each clip letting players and coaches know what clip number is being viewed. This lets everyone watch the game film and read their notes ‚Äì this will be done automatically for you as well.

Step 2: Send it to VCR or make a digital project. Either "mirror" the video directly to a VHS VCR or click on the DIGITAL PROJECT button to make a pure digital project. If you make a digital project you could then send it out to your digital camera, you could make a DVD or you could still send it to a VHS VCR.

Print your notes.

Step 1: Simply edit the film study you created for video. Use one of our pre-formatted shortcuts to bring up a list of players and their notes. Choose one of three types of reports to create and save

Report One: Create an individual report for each player. The report will list the clip number and the individual player's note. We might do this at the end of a season with a large number of games. I may do this after our first game or two. I generally don't make this kind of report as it takes a little bit more time. To make this report you must save and print each report separately.
Report Two: Create a Coach's Report. This report puts all the notes attached to a clip below each clip number. The coach can read all the notes about the same play at the same time. We will use this report quite often during the season and make copies for every player. More often than not it is okay for everyone to know what the coaching points for a particular play are at any position. This requires that you SAVE only one file.

Report Three: Save All Notes. This report sorts all the notes by the player's name and groups them together.This is very similar to Report One, but all the players are in one report. I will only need to save this report once, but I will print it once for me and once for the players. I will take the second copy and divide it up among the players. This might require a little work on the word processor, inserting a page break between player sections but it is pretty easy work.

Step 2: In each of the above cases you were prompted to save your report. These reports are put in a directory in your CVA folder called Reports.Quit Coach's Video Assistant, navigate to your Reports directory and launch your favorite word processing program. Use your word processor to add page breaks, bold face a player's name etc. Add anything you want to your notes before printing. I really like the fact that the reports are saved for us. In this way it is very easy to look back over them when the season ends, looking for patterns and/or for areas where we need to improve performance.

Sample Coach's Report

Report Title: Line Notes vs Everett

Focus Team: Holt on Offense

Games included: Everett03

Clip 002

Alex Hope: Look at your feet. You did a great job of getting inside leverage - but then your feet got too narrow. Good hat placement.

Steve Poirier: We had never practiced 24 zone to the Quick side - so this was tough to start out with. You'll needed to go straight up on the LB. Or we could have fanned out if Andy thought he could have handled the nose.

Andy Masarik: Excellent get-off. But remember to be QUICK but don't hurry. You overextended for the linebacker and he got past you.

Mike Adams: This is an incredible ZIP. But you did it so well that you ended up running past the man. Great get-off but now we need to stay on the nose a little longer.

Tyler Holtz: Everyone else to your right is moving so quickly that it makes you look slow. I don't think you are - but I hope you start looking faster as the game progresses.

Steve Johnson: Don't even worry about the DE - get on Holtz's hip and seal everyone to the inside.

AC: That is a great run. See this week if you can get off the ball a little lower. In that way they won't see your route to the hole as easily.

Clip 004

Alex Hope: You're up against a speed rusher on this play. You've turned your shoulders too quick. More kick steps. You are already running in a circle at about four yards.

Steve Poirier: I think I would have cut this guy on his second step. He is all bull rush.

Andy Masarik: Excellent pass pro.

Mike Adams: Good work - but try the same thing without working your right arm across your body. If you are at right guard and you set up and punch with your left arm your shoulder won't turn inside. You did a great job of recovering and getting back square.

Tyler Holtz: I don't think we had ever practiced this play - but if Steve J is going to stay in and block with you I think I would probably fan - let Steve take the DE and you the tackle.

Steve Johnson: I don't know if we had ever practiced this play but we need to FAN the pass pro. You block out and Tyler takes your man.

Clip 012

Steve Johnson: Check your right foot. Did you slide? You throw a pretty good block - but it could have been better if you would have taken a wider first step.

Tyler Holtz: This guy is slanting outside hard. Keep working through your whole block to get outside leverage. I like the fact that your hat is under his!

Mike Adams: Look how close your feet are together when you hit the guy in space. Widen them out so he can't fall off.

Andy Masarik: Good job of keeping your hat under his hat!

Steve Poirier: That was pretty good. Keep working to pry that guy off Andy.

Alex Hope: You did a good job of coming under the 5 technique - now accelerate and get under the LB.

AC: You take an excellent route to the edge. If we could have gotten Nick there ....

Clip 013

AC: On sprintout and trey pass - you must chip the DE with your inside shoulder. That will give the TB and the QB a chance. If he wants to widen - that's fine.

Alex Hope: You've got nobody over you due to the T's reduction. It's okay to punch with your inside hand but try to get to the DE. Steve will reach the 3 etc.

Steve Poirier: Keep working to get outside leverage on the 3 tech.

Andy Masarik: You kind of step up into no man's land and get caught. Work your first step playside and then look quicker to the backside.

Mike Adams: Excellent!

Steve Johnson: You're doing exactly what we told you to do ... and it wasn't right. Later on in the game we have you turn out on the DE and you do a great job of it.

Clip 014

Steve Johnson: Don't let your feet get this close together on pass pro. Keep shuffling with the man.

Tyler Holtz: You see the man taking a hard move to the inside - and you lean instead of posting hard with your inside foot.

Mike Adams: Don't fire out at the guy - snap up.

Andy Masarik: That was perfect pass pro demeanor.

Steve Poirier: I thought you walked into him to quickly - but you finish very well.

	Jack Rarick Braintree Athletic Systems Using notes with small film studies to improve player performance. Step 1: Launch Coach's Video Assistant and select a game film to watch. Check the NOTE PAD for a list of your player's names. Watch each play and note the performance of each player. Use EXPANDED VIEW if you need to see a larger picture. Use the scrubbing bar across the bottom of any video window to stop the play, rewind the play or move through the play slowly, forwards or backwards. When critiquing offensive linemen I like to start at one end of the line and work my way down the line. I might put the video in slow motion, or I might just scrub the video by hand. In any case I will focus my attention on one player and watch to see if they were successful in their blocking technique. On the Note Pad I will click on the player's name and then add whatever note I want them to read. I could ask him a question about his technique, I could tell him what I see and why I think he needs to do it differently, I could congratulate him on a job well done or I can tell him what we are going to do in practice to fix his mistake. There are no limits to what can be said using a note. Step 2: Watch as much of any game as you think is necessary. That may be the first thirty plays or the first three quarters or the entire game. You don‚Äôt need to add a note to each player or each play.

	Create the video Step 1: Create a video film study based upon the notes you wrote to individual players. Filter the clips from the games chosen. You may want to make a film study of one game or several. You can automatically choose the video clips that have an attached note. You need to have a title screen added before each clip letting players and coaches know what clip number is being viewed. This lets everyone watch the game film and read their notes ‚Äì this will be done automatically for you as well. Step 2: Send it to VCR or make a digital project. Either "mirror" the video directly to a VHS VCR or click on the DIGITAL PROJECT button to make a pure digital project. If you make a digital project you could then send it out to your digital camera, you could make a DVD or you could still send it to a VHS VCR. Print your notes. Step 1: Simply edit the film study you created for video. Use one of our pre-formatted shortcuts to bring up a list of players and their notes. Choose one of three types of reports to create and save Report One: Create an individual report for each player. The report will list the clip number and the individual player's note. We might do this at the end of a season with a large number of games. I may do this after our first game or two. I generally don't make this kind of report as it takes a little bit more time. To make this report you must save and print each report separately. Report Two: Create a Coach's Report. This report puts all the notes attached to a clip below each clip number. The coach can read all the notes about the same play at the same time. We will use this report quite often during the season and make copies for every player. More often than not it is okay for everyone to know what the coaching points for a particular play are at any position. This requires that you SAVE only one file. Report Three: Save All Notes. This report sorts all the notes by the player's name and groups them together.This is very similar to Report One, but all the players are in one report. I will only need to save this report once, but I will print it once for me and once for the players. I will take the second copy and divide it up among the players. This might require a little work on the word processor, inserting a page break between player sections but it is pretty easy work. Step 2: In each of the above cases you were prompted to save your report. These reports are put in a directory in your CVA folder called Reports.Quit Coach's Video Assistant, navigate to your Reports directory and launch your favorite word processing program. Use your word processor to add page breaks, bold face a player's name etc. Add anything you want to your notes before printing. I really like the fact that the reports are saved for us. In this way it is very easy to look back over them when the season ends, looking for patterns and/or for areas where we need to improve performance.
	Sample Coach's Report Report Title: Line Notes vs Everett Focus Team: Holt on Offense Games included: Everett03 Clip 002 Alex Hope: Look at your feet. You did a great job of getting inside leverage - but then your feet got too narrow. Good hat placement. Steve Poirier: We had never practiced 24 zone to the Quick side - so this was tough to start out with. You'll needed to go straight up on the LB. Or we could have fanned out if Andy thought he could have handled the nose. Andy Masarik: Excellent get-off. But remember to be QUICK but don't hurry. You overextended for the linebacker and he got past you. Mike Adams: This is an incredible ZIP. But you did it so well that you ended up running past the man. Great get-off but now we need to stay on the nose a little longer. Tyler Holtz: Everyone else to your right is moving so quickly that it makes you look slow. I don't think you are - but I hope you start looking faster as the game progresses. Steve Johnson: Don't even worry about the DE - get on Holtz's hip and seal everyone to the inside. AC: That is a great run. See this week if you can get off the ball a little lower. In that way they won't see your route to the hole as easily. Clip 004 Alex Hope: You're up against a speed rusher on this play. You've turned your shoulders too quick. More kick steps. You are already running in a circle at about four yards. Steve Poirier: I think I would have cut this guy on his second step. He is all bull rush. Andy Masarik: Excellent pass pro. Mike Adams: Good work - but try the same thing without working your right arm across your body. If you are at right guard and you set up and punch with your left arm your shoulder won't turn inside. You did a great job of recovering and getting back square. Tyler Holtz: I don't think we had ever practiced this play - but if Steve J is going to stay in and block with you I think I would probably fan - let Steve take the DE and you the tackle. Steve Johnson: I don't know if we had ever practiced this play but we need to FAN the pass pro. You block out and Tyler takes your man. Clip 012 Steve Johnson: Check your right foot. Did you slide? You throw a pretty good block - but it could have been better if you would have taken a wider first step. Tyler Holtz: This guy is slanting outside hard. Keep working through your whole block to get outside leverage. I like the fact that your hat is under his! Mike Adams: Look how close your feet are together when you hit the guy in space. Widen them out so he can't fall off. Andy Masarik: Good job of keeping your hat under his hat! Steve Poirier: That was pretty good. Keep working to pry that guy off Andy. Alex Hope: You did a good job of coming under the 5 technique - now accelerate and get under the LB. AC: You take an excellent route to the edge. If we could have gotten Nick there .... Clip 013 AC: On sprintout and trey pass - you must chip the DE with your inside shoulder. That will give the TB and the QB a chance. If he wants to widen - that's fine. Alex Hope: You've got nobody over you due to the T's reduction. It's okay to punch with your inside hand but try to get to the DE. Steve will reach the 3 etc. Steve Poirier: Keep working to get outside leverage on the 3 tech. Andy Masarik: You kind of step up into no man's land and get caught. Work your first step playside and then look quicker to the backside. Mike Adams: Excellent! Steve Johnson: You're doing exactly what we told you to do ... and it wasn't right. Later on in the game we have you turn out on the DE and you do a great job of it. Clip 014 Steve Johnson: Don't let your feet get this close together on pass pro. Keep shuffling with the man. Tyler Holtz: You see the man taking a hard move to the inside - and you lean instead of posting hard with your inside foot. Mike Adams: Don't fire out at the guy - snap up. Andy Masarik: That was perfect pass pro demeanor. Steve Poirier: I thought you walked into him to quickly - but you finish very well.