We caught up with Ballistic United technical director Kevin Crow, who dished on how he leverages data and video together, how to get the most cost-effective tech, and engaging players remotely.
0:15 — Why Crow was an early adopter of video.
Implementing video isn’t as easy as it sounds. And believe it or not, before Hudl Assist, Crow was using YouTube for sharing video with his players. Crow talked about how he first started using video in his club, and its importance in player development with “connecting those dots”.
2:30 — The power of sharing.
Crow talked about all of the different ways Ballistic United gets its players consuming video, from classroom training sessions to sharing on phones, and what’s trending.
4:40 — Baking video analysis into your club’s budget.
Better quality leads to better analysis. Ballistic United uses a professional film crew to capture their games. But not everyone works with the same budget, which is why . . .
6:00 — Getting the most cost-effective tech.
Gretna SC’s Jono Callaghan asked: how do you assess needs versus wants? It’s so easy to get caught up in all the technology out there. Crow discussed how to take a step back and understand what’s most cost-effective for your club.
11:30 — Holding players accountable.
Crow talked about how Ballistic players get assigned homework, selecting good and bad clips to breakdown. "It's been real interesting to see them explain what's in their head," he says. "The insight has been remarkably good."
16:00 — How Hudl Assist's tagging gives you time back.
Jason Bing, coach at Oregon's Westside Timbers and Thorns Academy, asked about Hudl's tagging process. Interactive reports like Assist cut down on all that time you spend live-tagging your film.
19:30 — Leveraging Hudl Technique in player development.
Bing asked about the value of the Hudl Technique app, and the group discussed its practicality for goalkeeper training and private one-on-one training sessions.
22:20 — Exploring technology during this downtime.
Gretna SC's Jono Callaghan asked the group about how they're engaging players remotely while they can't meet in person. Crow is taking the opportunity to let the coaches choose their own teaching tools, including Zoom conferences.
23:50 — Making player evaluations remotely.
Santa Rosa United (Calif.) Director of Operations Kevin Kilroy asked about making player evaluations without the benefit of being in-person. Crow offered some tips, including leveraging playlists and hosting Zoom calls with players and parents.
25:35 — What the future holds for coaching workflows.
Eugene Timbers (Ore.) Director of Coaching Jurgen Ruckaberle talked about taking this time to work on projects with his coaches, aimed at refining curriculum and leveling up their education. Crow asks, is there a fit going forward with all the technology we're being forced to use right now?
29:35 — The value of live in-game analysis.
Kilroy talked about his past experiences using in-game review and its numerous benefits. Back in his WUSA coaching days, Crow found it "very powerful" to pull up quick visuals at halftime.
37:20 — The value of a de facto tech whiz.
Kilroy asked about the importance of having a designated technology expert on the staff. Crow can’t afford full-time tech coach, so he delegates to having several experts on staff.
