Keeping precise statistics during a high school football game used to call for a few clean sheets of paper, sharpened pencils and observing every play closely.
How times have changed.
Technology has greatly altered how data is recorded, the speed in which it is tabulated and how it is distributed to coaches.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryHow practices and games are filmed also has entered the digital world.
Videotaping practices and games used to be a convoluted process that called for coaches driving to some halfway point over the weekend to exchange tapes with an opposing coach.
“I’ve been coaching for 17 years now, and when I started we were doing VHS cassette tapes. Then it was DVDs to digital,” said Center Grove offensive line coach Troy Dice, who is also in charge of how the football program uses technology.
“When the technology is working, I like it. When it doesn’t, it’s frustrating. But football still comes down to the guys on the field executing the game plan properly.”
At Center Grove, each game is filmed from two angles —sideline and end zone — with the footage immediately streamed to six iPads used by Trojan assistant coaches. This enables them to instruct players as the game is being played.
Coaches also use the footage to detect and point out tendencies of the opposing offense, defense or special teams unit.
Center Grove doesn’t have a specific annual budget for its technology needs, athletics director Jon Zwitt said. Items are purchased as needed with the athletics department, Center Grove Athletic Booster Club and Center Grove Gridiron Club sharing the cost.
“We were one of the first high school programs in Indiana to be streaming film to the coaches during a game,” Dice said. “What we look for is how (the opponent) is defending us. And we’re able to show kids during a game.
“We always use the quote, ‘Film don’t lie.’ We’re able to make adjustments through the game instead of waiting until halftime.”
At Franklin Community, three high-definition video cameras are responsible for two sideline angles and one end zone view of the game. Three iPads are used on the sideline during games and a fourth is for statistics.
The Grizzly Cubs also benefit from aspects of the Hudl service for video, in-game instant replay (from two angles) and much more. Other items include multiple computers and projectors for film sessions.
Sideline iPads are also used at Whiteland, which uses press box and end zone cameras to film games. The school’s athletic budget covers a portion of the cost, but the Warriors’ football program raises the rest of the money necessary, athletics director Ken Sears said.
iPad-ding one’s statistics
Greenwood’s Blaine Williams and Center Grove’s Beau Barrett are in their third seasons as the statisticians for their respective football programs and use use the screen-touching convenience of an iPad to enter information on a play-by-play basis as a game progresses.Williams, a teacher at Greenwood High School, uses his school-issued iPad with the free application available through the school’s subscription to Hudl, a commercial product which offers schools the opportunity to edit and share video online.
Barrett, who works as a wealth management advisor in Indianapolis, quenches his thirst for numbers on fall Friday evenings by using his own iPad. The free application Barrett incorporates is from Digital Scout, a statistics-tracking company.
“The technology makes it super easy, especially when rosters are loaded into Hudl,” Williams said. “The teams have to do that ahead of time, which makes it real easy. Then all the names and numbers are matched up.
“All I have to do is just watch the game and find numbers and what the gain or loss was, or if there are any penalties. Our former stat guy did it on paper. After each game he was on the phone with (area media) calling in the stats.”
All Williams does is press “send,” and immediately a file that includes Greenwood’s statistical breakdown from the game is emailed to whoever needs it.
Individual and team data in every category from passing and rushing yardage to tackles to punts covered inside the 20-yard line are included.
Williams usually gets the email sent no more than 30 minutes after a Woodmen game if he has reliable Internet access in the press box.
Greenwood’s statistics are then loaded into Hudl along with video of the game shot by Justin Boswell. Head coach Mike Campbell or any of his assistant coaches can then match the clips with the data.
“They can examine what kind of tendencies we have offensively,” Williams said. “Do we always do the same thing on first down or in third-and-long situations?”
Barrett is able to get an accurate read when Center Grove’s offense is on the field. He has help from Jamey Smith, who is writing out what took place on every play in case Barrett experiences issues with his iPad.
Smith also is responsible for calling out which Center Grove player or players made the tackle (no defensive stats are kept for the opponent).
“It can be stressful just because as the pace of the game picks up, it’s a lot of data entry,” Barrett said. “I’ve not been able to watch a down for the past three seasons, which is frustrating because I can’t enjoy the game at all.
“Carmel sticks out in my mind because they are up-tempo (on offense). They always get to the line ready to go, so there’s really no down time in between plays. But it’s fascinating. This app we use is free, and it is pretty amazing that at any point of the game I can hit a button and get a stat printout.”
