Lacrosse Coach Sees Improvement in First Year Using Hudl

Change is a difficult thing. It’s never easy, and there’s always the question in the back of your mind if you made the right decision or not. From something as important as starting a new job, to trying a different brand of coffee, that feeling is there.

Jake Murphy, head lacrosse coach at Haslett/Williamston High School (Mich.), had that feeling when he signed his team up for Hudl. Before using Hudl, Murphy simply had a parent record the game and get him a copy on DVD when she had the chance.

“I would only have one copy and I was the only one able to watch films,” Murphy recalled. “It wasn’t a good setup at all.”

In fact, that DVD setup is what led him to first hear about Hudl, and what it could offer. Needing video for an upcoming opponent, Murphy asked another coach for help. “He asked if I was on Hudl. I said ‘No, I don’t even know what that is,’” Murphy said.

Murphy began to do his research into Hudl. With the ability to upload video directly from an iOS device, and the ability to use stats to see specific parts of video, Murphy was close to committing, he just needed input from one more group.

“I asked my guys about it, because our football team here at the school uses it,” Murphy said. “I asked them and they love it and that it worked really well.”

So Murphy made the leap. He signed his team up, and has seen the benefits of what Hudl can offer in just their first year. Murphy has used the video as a teaching tool to show players areas of improvement, and his players have begun to take advantage of the tools as well.

“My guys understand now and they’re able to see what they do wrong,” Murphy said. “Not just us telling them what they’re doing wrong, they can actually see it for themselves.”

His players are so enthusiastic about Hudl, that Murphy sometimes doesn’t even have the chance to take a breath before his messages blow up.

“Before I could even get out of the coaches office and get back to my house to have some dinner I had guys texting me ‘When is film going to be up?’ and ‘Why isn’t it up yet?’ Like, geez guys, I’m not even home yet, give me some time here,” Murphy recalled.

That mentality has permeated Murphy’s entire program, even the lower levels are watching video. “They [JV] watch some film so they can see what the varsity is doing and how we do things because they run the same systems we do,” Murphy said.

Hudl has also helped Murphy deal with the ins and outs that come with being a head coach. Game days can be hectic, so letting things slip happens. With Hudl, Murphy can go back and correct anything he might have missed.

“I’m able to see things a little bit better [afterwards], offensively and defensively,” Murphy said. “Being able to correct things on the fly and not try to remember everything, it’s hard to remember.”

It has also brought a different perspective for Murphy, helping him to build trust with his players. “I’m able to go back, look and say ‘Okay, maybe I shouldn’t have yelled at this guy for this reason.’ This is why he did that or I see why now he made this pass instead of this pass,” he said.

Change can be scary. There will always be that voice in the back of your head, that feeling in your gut. Murphy had those feelings, but went for it anyway, and is seeing the benefits of it. If you’d like to join coaches like Jake Murphy, see what Hudl can do for your team.