New technology at the cutting edge

CARDIFF,UK –   For many coaches, game analysis is a dull chore of skipping through game DVDs, trying to find and log events for discussion and analysis. Some coaches spend entire days staring at a TV screen holding the remote control and trying to look at just what is going wrong with their powerplay unit, or why they aren’t winning faceoffs. Last season, Cardiff Devils had a new tool at their disposal, innovative software called ‘Atlas’, provided by sponsor Analysis Technologies gave them a technical edge in game analysis.
Atlas software, combined with touch screen technology, enables the simple recording of events during a game for immediate playback and analysis.   The system was trialled at Devils games last season, and Chris Benson and his team have been making changes to the software when the players or team coaches ask for specific actions.  
The software itself allows for up to three camera inputs, allowing the game to be recorded simultaneously from three different angles. These images appear on the touch screen along with data from the game. The user logs line changes, face-offs won and incidences such as goals, face-offs won, and penalties on a time-line for an effective picture of the game. The use of this actually requires minimal training – in Cardiff it is operated by 15 year old team stick boy Tomas Howells, who helps the team by logging the events as they happen from a seat next to the plexi-glass.
Playback is available for the user, and others immediately, or during the play or period breaks. This allows them to make game-changing decisions based on fact and video evidence while the game is still being played, rather than waiting for the subsequent game analysis in training. If a team is conceding a lot of goals on the penalty kill, then within seconds, and the touch of the screen, the coach can view a series of recordings and gain a different insight on where changes could be made, all ready to be reported back to the players during a period break.  
The statistics that this software offers are also far more detailed than many of those kept at this level. In addition to plus and minus statistics, the software also logs face-offs won or lost against opposing lines, line changes and each individual’s time on the ice. Atlas becomes invaluable after the coach has already played the upcoming opposition, as it can give instant video review of events such as defensive zone turn-overs, face offs lost or even shots on goal.
After the game, the coach can choose to watch the whole game, or sections of it, without the need to skip through a lengthy DVD for one particular goal or power play. The software can also be used at training sessions and is fully interactive, enabling both players and coaching staff to use the simple touch screen technology in their analysis of the play.   Devils defenceman Craig Weller, who is well used to extensive post game analysis of play from his time in the professional leagues of North America spoke of the benefits of this kind of software.

“When you’re on the ice you get a particular view of how things are happening and you miss a lot of the detail, game analysis helps you get a clearer picture of things and from a different angle and so you can see what you are doing right or wrong. In training we use the video playback to go though d-zone coverage, forecheck, we use it as a positioning tool too.”
“There is a lot of video usage in pro-hockey, this system is similar to those used in the NHL, where you can mark an event, making it easy to go back and find when you need to. It’s really useful to be able to pick out each individual shift and see what you can improve upon.”  
Analysis Technologies are now marketing this product actively at the sports market and are in talks with several European clubs in order to develop the product fully for use next season, as well as talking to national youth teams and development structures. Analysis Technologies are confident that their Atlas product is a significant training and game winning tool. It was recently show cased at the EPL finals, Coventry, UK, where it was used for each team on both benches during the whole weekends. Another EPL club have successfully used the live Video Analysis module to provide game winning information in pursuit of their challenge cup final win.
For more information about Atlas Technologies, visit www.analysis-technologies.com or email chris@analysis-technologies.com. Analysis technologies are looking for further regional opportunities to offer their product at an introductory launch price and having seen the successful results of teams who have already used it, they are optimistic about the software’s capabilities to bring success to even more teams.
Contact the author Victoria.Silverwood@Prohockeynews.com