Offseason Video Review Pilot-Volunteers?

[MrRoboSteve]

In order for tests to provide useful results, the capture/review system should be tested separately from variations on rules for use. This post is focused more on capture/review system design and evaluation, with a focus on identifying the minimal capture system that achieves a meaningful outcome.

Variations to evaluate:

1. 1080p vs 720p
2. Frame rate differences
3. Shutter speed differences
4. Time synced vs non-time synced video
5. Number and position of cameras

I'd recommend going through every match and having independent teams score matches off of the video system with these variations, and then comparing the results. For example, one team would score a match using high midfield cameras only. This would benefit from a careful experimental design.

Here's a first cut at a rig for Stronghold that would allow you to test these variations.

4 defense cameras -- each one looking across the field at the top of the field barrier, along the leading and trailing edge of the defense shields, to be used to determine whether a crossing was successful

2 rear facing castle cameras -- looking down from top of back of castle. These would be wide angle cameras that would be used to determine the ball count in the castle.

2 front facing castle cameras -- these look toward the field from the top of the castle, and each capture about 2/3 of the field. These are used to evaluate which scenarios field end cameras would help with

2 high mid-field cameras -- these are wide angle views of the field from the center on each side. These are used to evaluate which scenarios side cameras would help with

Technical

All cameras should be timecode synchronized, so that the reviewer can be confident that different views represent the same moment in time. Cameras should capture at 1080p, 30fps, with shutter speed no longer than 1/500 sec. and at least 40' of depth of field. (Some venues [e.g., HS gyms] may require additional lighting to support this shutter speed, depending on the camera) Cameras should be mounted in a way that minimizes vibration.

The viewing station needs to support side-by-side viewing of multiple 1080p streams at full resolution, in timecode synchronization. It should be possible to record matches and review previous ones at the same time.