How to Film Football Games or Practice Scrimmages

Coaches have specific needs for game and practice footage.  We are not looking for NFL films highlights.  We are looking for video we can use to evaluate the entire teams performance.

First off, set up as high as possible and centered.  If you can get in the press box or on top in many stadiums, that would be perfect.

Do not zoom out too much.  We do not want to see the entire field.  We want to see the players, not empty grass.  We do not need to see anything off the field.  Focus on the action.

Close up shots are not often necessary.  The only time to close in on the players is after the play ends and they are unpiling and going back to their huddle.

Defending the Double Wing

By Tim Fox
Football Core Values
January 12, 2011

I want to discuss some fine points we, as a staff and team, focused on when facing the Double Wing.

1. Our first priority, like usual, was aligning properly. The weeks prior to our match-up with the DW opponent, they revealed a number of interesting formations and change ups to their foot-to-foot, traditional 2-TE, 2-Wing look. They came out in the “Beast” package a few times (we’ll get into that later) and various spread formations. They had little success utilizing those formations in the preseason, but it was still important that we be able to line up and defend their favorite plays out of those formations.

Breaking Down Film

First ask yourself do you need to do film work?  It is after all, youth football.   At the Senior-level, with the 12-14 years olds, we can see where the extra work can gain you an advantage.  But below that we don’t think it’s necessary unless your opponent is extraordinary.

We coach 12-14 year olds, so we have and we do use film for particular opponents.  What we’ve learned from coaching in high school is that you don’t need extraordinary skill or talent to break down film.  We’re an example of that.  What you do need is a free afternoon, a loving wife, and some pizza.  Beyond that, you need a plan or process that keeps you focused.

For us, the process begins by viewing the game without hitting the pause or rewind button.  What we hope to acquire is a sense of the game’s flow.  Was it clean or sloppy?  Was it a blow out or tightly contested?  Who dominated?  So on and so forth.