Post by hsrose on Feb 3, 2010 11:09:54 GMT -6
I was at a clinic last week and purchased a couple of the popular coaches training DVD's. First time I’ve purchased any of these. I also hadn't watched any of these DVD's in the past. So I had no idea what the presentation would be like.
Let’s just say that I was less than impressed by these DVD's. It wasn't the content, that was fine, it was the supporting materials - the video cutups and what was used to show the plays and assignments. The process for explaining the techniques of the Next Great Thing is a fairly simplistic thing and the presenters seemed to do a decent job. Voices were from the "commoners" and their presentation skills were variable, something I can handle. They knew their stuff and could cram the message into my little pea brain. I can accept that side of things.
But the video was a recording of what looked like a VHS-based projection on a wall. The players were red and white glowing blobs moving around on a greenish/brownish background. “Video Calibration” messages kept coming up in sequences along with other VHS-type messages. Recording a recording being projected works, but Good Golly Miss Molly, is that the best these production outfits can do? Colors were off, there was no differentiation between the players, and one segment looked like a red Boise State playing at home – red uniforms on a reddish-brown field made them all but disappear.
And the use of the laser pointer looked like a psychotic firefly - I couldn’t see what was being highlighted at all. But, I saw that at the clinic presentations as well. Note to self: When using a laser pointer, move slowly so the audience can register what I’m trying to highlight.
The DVD’s were released in 2009 so I know the technology is available to have good video. I can deal with Coach Sam doing his best in front of the camera, that situation would affect me as well. But the state of video processing today would seem to be much higher than what I saw. Again, my concern is with the video and supporting technology, not the content.
So, the bottom line - Is this level of video production typical for the coaching DVD’s? Is the video dependent solely on the production capabilities of the coach generating the content? If the production is dependent on the coach then the production companies are adding very little to the product (integration, marketing and distribution?). Their reputation is dependent on the coach and that means they have nothing behind the pretty little box. That means that anyone with a camera and some production smarts and a web site can compete with them.
I hope that what I got was the exception rather than the rule. Conversely, if what I saw is typical for the production capabilities then I’m way more advanced/capable than I thought, which bothers me a bit.
Let’s just say that I was less than impressed by these DVD's. It wasn't the content, that was fine, it was the supporting materials - the video cutups and what was used to show the plays and assignments. The process for explaining the techniques of the Next Great Thing is a fairly simplistic thing and the presenters seemed to do a decent job. Voices were from the "commoners" and their presentation skills were variable, something I can handle. They knew their stuff and could cram the message into my little pea brain. I can accept that side of things.
But the video was a recording of what looked like a VHS-based projection on a wall. The players were red and white glowing blobs moving around on a greenish/brownish background. “Video Calibration” messages kept coming up in sequences along with other VHS-type messages. Recording a recording being projected works, but Good Golly Miss Molly, is that the best these production outfits can do? Colors were off, there was no differentiation between the players, and one segment looked like a red Boise State playing at home – red uniforms on a reddish-brown field made them all but disappear.
And the use of the laser pointer looked like a psychotic firefly - I couldn’t see what was being highlighted at all. But, I saw that at the clinic presentations as well. Note to self: When using a laser pointer, move slowly so the audience can register what I’m trying to highlight.
The DVD’s were released in 2009 so I know the technology is available to have good video. I can deal with Coach Sam doing his best in front of the camera, that situation would affect me as well. But the state of video processing today would seem to be much higher than what I saw. Again, my concern is with the video and supporting technology, not the content.
So, the bottom line - Is this level of video production typical for the coaching DVD’s? Is the video dependent solely on the production capabilities of the coach generating the content? If the production is dependent on the coach then the production companies are adding very little to the product (integration, marketing and distribution?). Their reputation is dependent on the coach and that means they have nothing behind the pretty little box. That means that anyone with a camera and some production smarts and a web site can compete with them.
I hope that what I got was the exception rather than the rule. Conversely, if what I saw is typical for the production capabilities then I’m way more advanced/capable than I thought, which bothers me a bit.
