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The Best Camera for Recording Your Volleyball Match

January 30, 2023 by

FebWhether you’re looking for an auto-tracking camera with hands-free technology, complete Hudl integration or livestream­ing capa­bil­i­ties, Hudl Focus stands above all other options. Find out why.

The world of volleyball is fast-paced and has pushed coaching staff and analysis departments to streamline their workflows, in order to create more efficient and effective evaluations of players’ performances and development. When thinking about your own process and analysis workflow, one of the first things to assess is how you capture and share your team’s performances on the court.

Traditional volleyball video cam­eras and iPads are ade­quate for record­ing games and prac­tices, but the need for dedicated, reliable resources can often mean they fall short in stream­lin­ing coach­ing work­flows or providing consistent, high-quality video.

That’s where Hudl Focus comes in. It’s a pro­fes­­sion­al-grade cam­era that not only han­dles the record­ing of your volleyball games, but also the upload­ing and shar­ing of game footage — all automatically.

Plus, if you play an away game at a gym with Hudl Focus the film can be automatically uploaded to your account right after the game with the Focus Exchange Network—available with all athletic department packages.

We’ve built an entire Blue Springs High School activities YouTube channel. We’re sending every game to the same place so that everyone knows where to look for these films. We’re changing schedules to make sure our underclass kids are getting their games livestreamed.Coach Nolan Hochgrebe, Blue Springs High School, Mo.

Focus Features

  • Consistent, high-quality video: The camera records in HD and uses AI technology which means your team will never miss a rally.
  • Film multiple angles: The camera angles include a zoomed in view of the court and a full 180 degree-view of the court during a game or practice recording. Plus you can view a static angle of the left and right half of the court during a practice recording.
  • Easier than a three-step approach: Hudl Focus also has an intuitive app that makes setup a breeze and doesn’t require an expensive third-party installer. Plus, software updates are sent straight to your camera so you’ll never miss a new feature.
  • Full Hudl integration: When the match is over, your game will begin uploading to Hudl right away. And with Hudl’s video coaching tools, you can jump into your analysis faster than ever—no long processing times.
  • More access to film: Automatic recordings from a professional-grade camera mounted in your gym unlocks more coachable video, more video for highlights when your athletes are getting recruited and more moments for family and fans to enjoy.
  • Livestream your way: Provide a mod­ern and mem­o­rable fan experience, allowing you to control where you stream, and how to feature sponsors to earn money from your stream. Check out our livestream FAQ to start broad­cast­ing your games today.

Hudl Focus Indoor is available as part of an athletic department package. Contact Hudl to learn how to secure your camera.

 


Filed Under: Program Building

Club Athletes Use Hudl to Develop Skills and Navigate Recruitment with Confidence

December 5, 2022 by

An Oregon-based club invests in industry-leading performance analysis platform to help players maximize their potential and reach the next level.

Club volleyball is as competitive as ever, with top clubs looking for ways to separate themselves on the court while providing players with a path to the next level. Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy (OJVA) invested in Hudl to help athletes develop these skills on the court and in recruiting.

Some coaches, like 15s coach Juno Cruz, bring iPads into training to show clips or film on Hudl. He believes integrating technology accelerates the learning curve while helping players buy into their development and take ownership of their future.

“As I’m showing them

you can see that they’re getting more confident,” Cruz said. “With confidence you get better play, and with better play you build more confidence. And as a coach, I want to build more confidence.”

This past season, Cruz challenged one of his middle blockers to play a new position: outside hitter. Although she agonized over the change at first, Hudl enabled Cruz to pinpoint her growth via film and analyze her statistical performance.

“When you move a player, they’re uncomfortable. They don’t want to believe they’re going to be good at something they haven’t done yet,” he said.

After only a few matches, Cruz said the athlete saw a future for herself playing outside.

OJVA athletes have bought in on using these tools to improve their performance. Not only to quicken their growth, but also as a means to play collegiately.

Sophie Scott is a middle blocker who is committed to play for the University of California-Berkeley. Scott started playing club volleyball in sixth grade and joined OJVA for the higher level of competition and training. She uses Hudl at her high school as well and believes that having video and data has helped her to study and improve her play as well as get recruited.

Speed. Efficiency. Impact.

These skills translate into everything volleyball players must do, whether that’s reacting on defense, transitioning to the attack, or punishing an opponent that’s out of system.

The same can be said for the recruiting process. With an abundance of student-athletes competing for limited spots, finding ways to stand out and earn a roster spot at the next level requires fast, adaptable tools that meet college coaches and recruiters where they are.

During the pandemic, recruiters relied almost exclusively on video to evaluate up-and-coming talent. As the world evolves into a more hybrid recruiting environment, combining in-person and online evaluation, today’s student-athletes must take the initiative to market themselves and capture a recruiter’s attention.

With Hudl’s comprehensive recruiting profiles, athletes on Hudl can feature their academic and athletic achievements, along with highlights and match film in a single resource that recruiters want. Players can even message verified recruiters to express their interest in a school while providing a glimpse into their potential.

Emily Warmenhoven, a senior outside hitter, joined OJVA as a freshman in high school. Now she’s committed to Belmont University. She said Hudl makes it quick and easy to create highlights and share them with recruiters.

“It’s been super helpful, not only to improve our own game, but also getting committed,” Warmenhoven said. “It’s super nice where it cuts out your own clips, so I can see just the film of me and create highlights reels.”

For a club that’s regarded as the best in the region, OJVA uses Hudl to stay ahead of the game. Their innovative training technique leverages cutting-edge technology to help athletes reach their potential and blaze a trail to the next level.


Filed Under: Program Building

Four Steps to Get Players into Film Review

November 16, 2022 by

High school volleyball coach Lindsay Peterson has ideas on how to keep your players engaged during film review.

Film. As coaches, we know it helps us understand what our teams do well and what we need to work on. It allows us to scout our opponents and gives us insight into their performance.

However, for players, it can be cumbersome. They might see it as just another thing they “have to do.” Players often don’t know what to look for, or they get caught up in what they individually did or didn’t do.

That’s why it’s important for coaches to use film as a learning experience, so it’s beneficial for everyone on the team. Watching film can build volleyball IQ and, for your visual learners, it can be really eye-opening.

Get It on the Schedule

My teams use film in different ways, but it’s most productive for us to watch together as a group. I like to take the first 45 minutes of practice to do this. It’s not every week, but I do it as often as I can. Why? Because going back and watching matches can be as important as practicing itself.

I always watch the film first to edit out timeouts and side changes. Most of the time I have them watch one set, or at the most, two. This ensures it catches their interest and keeps their focus. I try to use different editing tools to highlight what I want the players to pay attention to the most.

Set the Goal

Having film meetings at the start of practice means it’s already a time where the players planned to be together and work on getting better. But it’s important to be clear that this isn’t a time to point the finger at anyone or any position. Volleyball is a game of errors. If we want to get better, we have to see where we’re making our errors and then work hard to correct what we can.

In the same breath, we also need to celebrate what’s going well for us and where we have improved! I like to start there, with the good things we do, then move into the things we need to get better at.

Choose the Assignment

I’ve found a few different ways to keep players interested during film sessions.

Have players take notes

While they’re reviewing matches, have them look for three things they did well and three things they need to improve on. Or have them track those same categories for the team instead of themselves. Then share with partners or the whole group.

Stat sets by position

Here’s how to divide it up:

  • Setters can stat set selection, kills, digs
  • Middles can stat blocks, kills, hitting efficiency
  • Right sides can stat kills, hitting efficiency, digs
  • Outsides can stat kills, hitting efficiency, digs
  • Liberos/Defensive Specialists could stat serve receive, digs, passing efficiency

Once they’re finished, have each position group share their results with the rest of the team.

Scout opponents

Divide the team in half—one half will make notes on your team, the other will make notes on the opposing team. Have both groups study how they could beat opponents, and how opponents could beat them, then have them share their findings with the team.

Don’t Skip the Last Step

No matter how you watch film, I recommend ending the session with the same two steps every time:

  • Set practice goals for themselves based on what they learned from the film.
  • Have them help you create a practice plan based around these goals. In my experience, players really enjoy having a say about what we do! It’s a great way to keep them engaged during practice. And if they forget, remind them why you’re practicing it—because you all recognized it needed work in film review.

Both of these steps are extremely important because it makes the film-watching process tangible. And when your players are bought in, they’re already on the path to improvement.

Lind­say Peter­son has been a var­si­ty head coach for eight years. She played for the Uni­ver­si­ty of North Alaba­ma, help­ing them win the DII Nation­al Cham­pi­onship in 2003. Peter­son has led her Mil­lard North High School team to the state cham­pi­onship tour­na­ment sev­en times, win­ning in 2016 and 2018. She was named one of the top 40 coach­es in the coun­try by the AVCA, and Coach of the Year by the Oma­ha World-Herald.


Filed Under: Program Building

Nurturing the Club-Parent Dynamic

November 1, 2022 by

OJVA uses technology as a way to include parents that want to be active in club, team and athlete success.

Every club has unique relationships with parents and families. It’s tricky to strike the right balance between involving them in club activities while affording coaches the space to do their job without feeling like they have to look over their shoulders.

But for elite volleyball clubs like Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy (OJVA), the solution is to include parents in team operations—and the approach is paying dividends.

Obviously, at first, I didn’t know what I was doing, but the more you get in and play with it, it’s pretty easy to figure out.Paul Scott, OJVA “Hudl Dad”

For a club as large as OJVA, with 13 teams consisting of almost 40 coaches and 200 athletes, the obligation to record practices and matches as well as tag stats loomed large at first. But OJVA staff, like club director Steve Suttich and U15s coach Juno Cruz, saw these jobs as an opportunity to include parents who were eager to contribute.

The club enlisted the help of parents for such foundational tasks. Parent volunteers contribute to club performance, recruiting and player education by equipping coaches and athletes with video and data for every match.

 

Paul Scott is an example of a “Hudl Dad,” a term coined by OJVA athletes who see Scott in practices and at tournaments assisting coaches. Scott records training sessions and matches so that coaches can focus on developing players. From there, he uploads film to Hudl and even submits matches to Hudl Assist.

“Obviously, at first, I didn’t know what I was doing, but the more you get in and play with it, it’s pretty easy to figure out,” Scott said.

By entrusting Scott with these tasks, coaches aren’t tied up in logistics. Instead, they’re free to focus their energy on developing athletes and helping them reach their potential.

Paul’s daughter Sophie is a middle blocker on the OJVA 18s Gold. With a shared knowledge of Hudl’s video and data tools, the father-daughter duo spends time together watching film and studying stats.

 

For parents that don’t want to be a “Hudl Dad” but still want to be involved, video and data offer objective insights into athlete performance. They’re tools that enable all parties—coaches, athletes and parents—to communicate clearly and without bias.

“Hudl has impacted the team as a whole in regards to the parents and players together with me,” Cruz said. “Me be being blunt with them in regards to now, ‘hey, listen, this is what your daughter is doing and how she’s doing in the in the game’ versus me just saying it and then not [having that] understanding.

“And now we’re able to actually inform them and say, ‘Hey, listen, this is how it works. This is how we’re doing this.’ And now the parent coach communication is a lot better.”

The success of any club comes down to creating clear lines of communication and developing systems to ensure the sum is greater than the parts. By inviting parents to be active members in the day-to-day duties of the club, there are more opportunities for meaningful contributions across the board.

Club directors get buy-in from parents who are using the tools that the club invests in. Coaches spend less time micromanaging tasks that are outside of their area of expertise. Athletes gain a wider support system with ample resources to grow and get recruited. And parents deliver substantial assets that impact athlete, team and club goals.

OJVA not only uses Hudl as a platform for performance analysis, but also to mobilize key stakeholders so that everyone is building towards success—together.

Hudl offers club-wide packages, making it easy and affordable to offer everyone at your club industry-leading video and data solutions.

 

See the Suite of Tools


Filed Under: Program Building

How Attack Tendencies Can Help Every Kind of Coach

September 21, 2022 by

See how our newest report for volleyball teams can help you teach, scout, plan and analyze more effectively.

You may have heard about our new attack tendencies report for volleyball teams on a Silver subscription or higher. This report unlocks a deeper understanding of your team and your opponents to give you confidence come game time.

Whether you tag matches yourself, or you let Hudl Assist handle the stats, this report will help you see what’s happening below the surface. But we know every coach is different. Here’s how you can use attack tendencies, no matter what kind of coach you are.

You coach because you’re passionate about helping your athletes get better. The wins are great, but what lights your fire is seeing players improve. Consider attack tendencies the newest accessory on your coaching toolbelt.

Maybe you have an outside whose attack percentage is lower than you’d like. They have a solid swing with some power behind it, but the ball just isn’t finding the floor. With attack tendencies, you can sit down with them and review their attacks. If you notice the player tends to attack left back—which isn’t great because most of your opponents put their libero there—you can work on thumb up shots during your next practice so the ball falls deep line.

With the speed of the game, it’s easy for you (and your coaching staff) to miss this. You might catch on by watching video, but that takes time. And looking at stats is great, but it’s not going to give you the full picture. That’s where attack tendencies come in. You see the what, where and why behind every swing and in turn, you can help your athletes improve their game and become greater offensive threats.

You’re bought into the value of video and record your matches from time to time. But data is a little scarier and, if we’re being honest, the word “analytics” makes your blood pressure rise. Let’s go over some of the basics of an attack tendencies report, and you can decide if it’s too advanced for your team (hint: it’s not).

Begin by looking at your team’s attacks. You can find exactly what you’re looking for by filtering by match, set, team or player—and now you can also filter by specific rotation, result or phase (first ball or transition) with this new report.

You know your team struggles to side out in rotation five. Filter by that rotation and first ball to see what’s working and what’s not. Are you out-of-system too much in serve receive? Is your setter not spreading the ball enough? Create a practice plan based on those insights so your team can celebrate more first-ball kills.

You don’t let your team play in a match they’re not prepared for. You spend countless hours watching scout film and planning your practices around what you find. Good news—the attack tendencies report will make this part of your job easier than ever.

You have your biggest match of the year coming up. It’s at home, against your rival who beat you in five sets the first time you played them this season. To get a win, you’ll need to be prepared offensively and defensively. Their middle’s .400 attack percentage catches your attention right away, so you dive into each swing. You notice their attacks are most often falling in the deep corners of the court, so you might switch to a rotational defense when they’re front row. You might even triple block the middle and be less concerned with what the pin hitters could do without a block.

No matter what you decide, this new report will make learning your opponents’ tendencies easier than ever. With the perfect scouting and practice plan in place, your team will be ready for the big match.

You love numbers so much, diving into your reports on Hudl is basically your favorite hobby. But a number only tells part of the story. Attack tendencies will change your view, so you can change your understanding.

Say you’re worried about the outside on the team you’re playing next week, so you dive into your stats report and click on #14’s attacks. You see the video clips that show all of those swings, but your opponent recorded from a side angle, so it’s hard to tell where the attacks are landing and where the hitter is taking off from.

Have no fear, the attack tendencies report is here. See the start and end location of every attack so you can plan your defense accordingly. Notice most of the sets aren’t getting all the way to the pin? Bring your right side and middle blocker in a couple of steps and challenge the attacker to go line—you’ll have a defender there anyway.

TL;DR: the possibilities for using attack tendencies are endless. We’re excited to see how this report will help club, high school and small college coaches and athletes improve, win, teach, plan and scout.


Filed Under: Program Building

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