The Power of the Endline Camera View for High School Volleyball Teams
Jul 12, 2024
4 Min Read
By Tyler Schuster
Hear from high school volleyball coaches on why the endline camera view makes all the difference for scouting, game planning and recruiting
In high school volleyball, every moment matters.
From the positioning of your libero to rotations of your blockers, every pass, spike, serve and block is crucial. The devil is in the details, which means capturing match video is more important now than ever.
And simply put, there’s no better camera angle for high school volleyball than the endline camera view.
“It’s almost closer to being on the court,” Matt Leichty, South Salem High School (Oregon) head volleyball coach explained. “...It makes things seem a lot more clear and obvious (about) what’s happening.”
Seeing is believing. So for high school volleyball coaches, getting a clear view of all the action is a non-negotiable. And while the endline camera view is king, there is tremendous value in having multiple camera angles.
St. Joseph High School and Seal Beach Volleyball Club (California) coach Michael Ma loves a multi-camera approach to filming volleyball matches.
Through his work at the high school, club and college level (with the University of Arizona), he recognizes the importance of seeing everything you can throughout the course of a match. Ma said that in particular, the endline view is great for scouting in terms of understanding proper spacing and blocking.
“The sideline view is best for body posture because you can see head to toe,” Ma said. “...But the endline view is best for scouting.”
The great news for high school volleyball teams is that Hudl has you covered with multiple camera angles. The Hudl Focus Point camera allows teams to record, stream and upload footage–all at the ideal panoramic, endline angle. Teams can even take advantage of Mutli-Cam functionality when they pair their existing Focus Indoor setup with Focus Point, allowing coaches to toggle between endline and side views.
The Magic of the Endline Camera View
In speaking with high school coaches, it’s clear that they value the game-changing power of the endline camera view.
“So much of volleyball is horizontal movement,” said Matt Leichty, head volleyball coach at South Salem High School (Oregon). “...And (the endline view) makes it easier to see that movement.”
According to Ma, the endline viewpoint is essential for seeing positioning and spacing, both of which can be difficult to teach when you only have the sideline view.
Tom Hoff has a unique perspective on the endline viewpoint.
Hoff was a three-time Olympic volleyball player with the US men’s national team and is now the head coach at Dana Hill High School (California). He compares the value of the endline camera view to the endzone view for football coaches.
In football, he says, the action goes from structure to chaos and back to structure fairly quickly. Volleyball is different though, because with long rallies, it often forces teams to play “in chaos” for longer periods. He feels that you can learn a lot about your opponents’ positioning and ability to reset their defense when you have access to the endline camera view.
“(With the endline view), you’ll start to see what the other coach wants to do as a base defense, you’ll see good teams are going to be very disciplined in how they position themselves on the court,” he said.
Hoff also believes the endline view pairs perfectly with the data teams receive from Hudl Assist. When paired together, it truly allows coaches to see the game differently.
“I want to watch from the endline view. I just see the game better. A lot of spectators like to watch from the sideline, but I can’t just get a good understanding of how they’re attacking or where the hits are going,” he said. “(With an increased emphasis on) data and analytics, I want to see the endline view for sure.”
How the Endline Camera View Impacts Coaching and Recruiting
One of the best aspects of the endline camera view is that it has a major impact on every area of the game. From scouting and game-planning to player highlights, it does it all.
For scouting, the endline camera view (on both sides of the court) does an excellent job of allowing coaches and players to easily see player movement and spacing. For game-planning, it unlocks a new way to see the game, which in turn makes it easier for coaches to devise a plan to attack opponents’ weaknesses.
“The endline view is a lot easier to see how you can pick on a player or what side you want to pick on in terms of serving zones,” Ma said.
But the endline camera view isn’t just a huge plus for coaches. It goes a long way in putting players in the spotlight with recruiting film. Because most colleges and college coaches prefer the endline view, it’s the premier angle for players to showcase their entire skillset.
“The endline camera view is most optimal for evaluating a player for highlights,” Ma said.
Learn how Focus Point and the endline camera view can be a total game-changer for your high school volleyball program.
