Drones In Football
Drones
The use of Drones is changing the face of sport both on and off the field. In a fast moving sport like football, Drones allow you to capture the action from all angles both during a game and in training.
Welsh FA using DJI Inspire 1 on the A licence
2016 has seen a rise in the popularity of Drones, which many industries using drones to enhance their views or create new angles. With current recording of games and training through fixed positions. As show below Drones enable the chance for coaches/analysts to replicate views like the tactical cam option for the Euro’s in France. This option on the BBC was an extremely popular addition to its service, and added further appetite for this view in training and match days. With an increase in understanding and knowledge into the regulations of using Drones, fears of using drones are reducing, highlighted by clubs such as Bristol City, Everton, Charlton, Empoli, Arsenal and the Welsh FA to name but a few to embrace drones in training.
BBC Tactical Cam ‘Euro 2016’
Football is the most popular sport in the world, which, of course means big business! The top clubs lavish huge budgets building their teams, not only on the acquisition of players and staff but increasingly through investing into their youth academies. With competition fierce, clubs are also now trying to get ahead of the game through improving their methodology and philosophy of play. The strategic and tactical planning for upcoming games is intensive with increasingly detailed information regarding for example, the position and movement of the players on the pitch. All such information is then systematically analysed by coaches and heads of academies. You only have to consider the speed of the modern game — resulting in less space to play- and you’ll quickly appreciate how this might test a club’s coaching staff to think better and to develop bespoke tactics to outwit opponents. To aid them in meeting this challenge, football has benefited from substantial technical and scientific advances, with numerous applications dedicated to enhancing tactical, physical and physiological analysis.
Why Drone
The introduction of drone technology represents the most exciting option currently available to the modern coach. A drone’s ability to capture action in matches and in training from all angles makes it a potentially indispensable tool. As a coach we all aspire to gain small margins that increase player performance as well as team performance. By using a drone to capture aerial images we exponentially increase our ability to review and analyse performance looking to enhance player ability and game intelligence. Within training sessions, coaches can review the session with players to analyse positioning as well as decision-making.
As well as providing a more general aerial view, Drones have the capability to move directly above where the action is taking place. For example, the latest models can hover above fast-moving players rather than simply staying fixed in one position (a limitation that defined the hi-pod). The creative possibilities for using this feature of the technology, is something early adopters are only just beginning to explore.
Charlton Athletic Football Club
In line with the introduction of the EPPP (Elite Player Performance Plan) and clubs using the PMA (Premier League data system), Coaches and Analysts can upload clips of players in training and matches alongside their specific targets. On this basis Coaches can ask questions regarding the footage and get players to observe and analyse their own performance to reinforce and accelerate their learning outcomes.
How footage can be integrated into PMA
Accelerate Learning
In 11v11 there are many variations with which modern teams play. For this reason, it’s vital that academies look to create versatile players, with expertise in a number of potential positions on the pitch. Using footage recorded by a drone can help achieve this goal as it allows players to clearly analyse their roles and responsibilities thereby accelerating knowledge acquisition. In addition, drone footage has potential as a means of priming players in preparation for training or an upcoming match. For example, imagine a right back is asked to “play up” an age group. The coach can review his roles and responsibilities in advance, by highlighting positive examples of positioning and movement based on previously shot footage featuring other players. Following the game, the coach can further reinforce learning by reviewing the performance and comparing it . This will assist the player to clearly see the challenges and roles and responsibilities of playing within the team. If this process becomes part of the coaching methodology, it has the potential to encourage more players to prosper and consistently “play up a year”. This is no doubt a very positive sign, not only of the quality of the players, but also of the coaches working within an academy.
Premier League Academy Game
For Coaches and Analysts
Currently coaches and analysts within clubs use fixed camera position, which does not enable the coach or the analysts to freely change the view. Apparatus such as scaffold towers/ scissor lifts are currently used across academies in UK and beyond. However through Drones, The coach/analyst can choose the positioning of the drone dependent on the topic of session. which often needs a high level of elevation such as the ‘Hi-Pod’. Clubs with bigger financial disposal may be able to gain such view through gantries/ or specially created scaffold masts. For analysts Drones provide a exciting tool to analyse matches from a different point of view. Rugby has led the way in In terms of live analysis and feeding back to coaches. Through Drones, analysts and coaches can now view a live feed, observe from the view create by the drone, and adjust their tactics or strategies dependent on what the coach wants.
Challenges
For recording of matches, battery life still falls short, currently DJI Phantom 4 pro model offers a battery life of 30 minutes not ideal for 45 minute games, however with a quick battery change the drone can be back up and recording within 60 seconds. As technology develops further, its highly likely that a battery lasting 45 minutes is not too far away. Currently rain is the only issue that users should worry about. It is highly recommended that Drones are not flown in the rain due to its electrical motors, Drones are not toys.
Conclusion
With further technological advances, Drones in football will continue to grow. An increase in battery life will add further to their popularity and in past two year the battery life has increased to 30 minutes. Due to this disruptive technology entering the football world, there is an air of confusion around the legislation and fears of breaking the law, However, if the drone is used correctly, piloted safely and in clear weather conditions then the Drone should pose little safety threat, and gain that 1 percent margin of improvement that can make a difference on the pitch.
Originally published at www.dpyproductions.com.
