Question
Dive Markup
I've invented a web based motion telestrator that allows coaches to analyze and markup videos (see www.powerchalk.com). It's been successfully deployed by golf and baseball coaches but is just as applicable to diving. Is there a US organization that I should talk to try and get traction with diving coaches?
AnswerHi Chaz -
I have visited your website several times so I could get an idea of how your video analysis works and am very impressed with what you have developed. I think that you have some excellent tools to help coaches and divers improve by using your system.
Let me explain to you what this sport is using right know with video analysis so you get an idea of what to expect when presenting Power Chalk to diving coaches. We primarily use three ways to show divers how they are doing their dives:
1. The simple use of a digital camera where the coach, another diver or a parent films a practice of any number of divers and then at some other time, it is viewed by the coach or divers. This can be as a group or individually. It is an old fashioned and somewhat ineffective way of learning but none the less the most used.
2. The use of a digital video recorder(like a TIVO). All the best teams employ this product at practices and is also found at major national level diving meets. Coaches have figured out a way to use a TIVO without subscribing to the monthly service charges. They set the timer on the unit to record for about 45 seconds over and over again. A stationary camera is mounted to video a certain board or platform. After an athlete performs a dive, by the time they get out of the water and walk to a TV that is by the pool, they can instantly see the dive they just did.Then the next diver on the same board watches their dive and so on through the course of the practice. The drawback is that they do this mostly alone as the coach cannot stop the workout to watch it with them. There are too many divers working out for the coach to be able to re-watch every dive with each diver. It is up to the diver to figure out what went wrong (or right) in the dive.This sometimes works and sometimes not. They may be interpreting what they just saw the wrong way.It depends on what kind of learner they are.
3. The use of a DART FISH program. I imagine that you are familiar with this as it is similar to what you have invented in that an athlete can compare what they have done in a dive to the way an advanced diver does the same skill.This system can be used for any sport. The draw back is that it is very expensive(several thousand dollars)and also time consuming to use. On the positive side, it is very effective as the coach can select any world class diver to compare their divers dive to and the athlete can see exactly where their flaws are. I think the reason it is so effective is the data base of dives of Olympic caliber athletes that the system has to offer. Just so you know, among the 5 heights used in diving, there are over 700 different dives! This does not include very essential non competitive skills all divers must know how to do. Coaches also use a trampoline and dry board with a safety harness, rope and pulley set up that can be used with DART FISH or TIVO.If you have not seen this system, go to www.dartfish.com
In answer to your question about how to market this to the sport, I would like to be the person that assists you in presenting it to the diving world. I have many years experience in all levels of the sport (national and international level club diving, high school and college) and personally know high ranking coaches, divers and administrators. This includes every Olympic coach since the 1980's as well as the best NCAA coaches. I know that they would be interested in subscribing to your program if presented in the right way. There are some important things you would have to do to your system to tweak it the right way to get their interest. I think there are some very good ways you could present why a coach should use Power Chalk - you just have to know the sport to do it. This is where I could be of value to you.
I would like to discuss your program over the phone at your earliest convenience sometime this month after you have read my resume and qualifications. I will be sending you my background information to you this week to the address in North Carolina I saw on your website.
I look forward to speaking with you on how I can help your Power Chalk program be presented to our great sport as well as other acrobatic sports I am familiar with and get the traction with coaches you are looking for.
