Analysis on the fly
Visit the training grounds of professional football teams, and there’s a good chance that you’ll see a drone or two buzzing over the pitches. The reason for this is that the lightweight, highly manoeuvrable craft allow coaches to capture a bird’s-eye view of their players.
Thanks to the video capabilities offered by drones, this footage can then be loaded onto a computer, the tactics analysed, and shown to the footballers and managers. It’s proving an effective way to educate players about where they might be going wrong, and empower them to improve both their positional and strategic skills.
David Powderly, Charlton Athletic’s Under-14 coach, was one of the first to see the advantages posed by drones.
“Football is subjective a lot of the time,” he told Four Four Two magazine, “but with a drone you’re able give accurate feedback. If you’re a centre-forward and need to stop a centre-back from switching play, you can show the player and say ‘this is the type of run you can make.’ I think it accelerates learning more than a fixed camera.”
Up until recently this kind of technology was only open to the likes of Tottenham, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Charlton, but with more affordable drones now available, these advantages can be brought to Sunday league or youth teams.
Top flight performance
Two of the leading drone brands in the UK are Yuneec and Parrot, both of whom offer excellent solutions for clubs that want to up their game without breaking the bank.
The Yuneec Breeze is a perfect example, as the unit measures only 24cm in diameter, making it small enough to take anywhere without adding bulk. There’s no need for a remote control either, as it can be flown via a smartphone, with real-time video footage displayed on the screen.
A clever safety mode means the Breeze will hold its position if the pilot stops operating the controls. This is useful for filming set-piece training such as corners, where coaches can relay instructions without having to worry about the drone. Flight time is around twelve minutes, allowing short sessions of attack vs defence to be captured in 4K video, but quick battery changes can have the device airborne again in no time at all.
Another favourite is the Parrot Bebop 2, which once again can be controlled via a smartphone. The slightly larger model doubles flight time to around twenty-five minutes, and also offers a range of 300m as opposed to the 100m or so of the Breeze.
Of course, any potentials pilots will need to check the latest regulations to ensure they are using their drones safely and in the correct areas. These can be found at both dronesafe.uk and the Civil Aviation Authority website (www.caa.co.uk).
The best addition to any team
For teams wanting to take their players to the next level, investing in a drone is an easy decision. The tactical advantages offered by being able to visualise the shape of the side in various situations is something that would have been unthinkable even a couple of years ago.
Once the season is over, they can even use the device to film the inevitable celebrations that their dedication and wise purchase will bring.
As you would expect, Exertis has a wide range of drones available, including both the Yuneec Breeze and Parrot BeBop 2.
For more information on the possibilities offered by these versatile devices, speak to your representative today.