Taking Advantage of Sideline Technology

Before the 2013 season, NFHS lifted it’s ban on using technology on the sidelines.  Since the 2013 season, we are all allowed to use any sideline technology we want (we just can’t take it past the numbers or beyond the 25s).

I began taking advantage of lifting the technology ban this season.  I had seen a few different companies that offered replay systems and ended up emailing SkyCoach, and asked for a trial.

 

I was intrigued by SkyCoach because it had less equipment than other systems I had seen.  Their system relies on iPhones to film with, and your cell signal to upload and download the clips.  I am a big apple fan (iPhone, iPad, and MacBook user) and I know that most of our kids have iPhones. Some coaches have concerns over cell signal strength and upload/download speed.  I didn’t have any connection issues in any of the stadiums we played at.  You can use a free app called Ookla to test download and upload speed.  Pretty much anywhere is going to have fast enough download speed, just need to make sure upload speed is at least 1.0 MBPS.  Every stadium on our schedule was well over this number.
A case with a magnifying lens attaches to one iPhone to get a tighter view of the play.  I would have my TA film the games from the press box, and I would auto download them onto my iPhone in my pocket on the sideline.

You could have infinite iPads or cell phones logged in looking at the clips (clips are easy to sort and filter by O/D/ST, by series, by play type etc.). What I chose to do was pick up a TV, and have my players and myself watch in between drives.

You can find generic brand flat screen TVs for really cheap, and I got some adapters (iPhone 5/6 to HDMI) that you can find at any electronic store to connect the iPhone to the TV.
If you have power in the stadium you can run an extension cord, or use a car battery, or buy a portable battery pack like I did.

My game day sideline set up looked like this.