Video analysis is becoming increasingly useful for identifying and correcting problems with someone's sporting technique, and for analyzing individual and team play in sports. There are many video analysis software packages available, with a range of features, and ranging in cost from freeware to very expensive.
Software Features
The range of software features will vary. Here are just some of the features to look for in a video motion analysis software.
- Support for a large range of video formats (e.g. AVI, MPG, MOV, WMV, MP4, MKV)
- Slow motion and Instant replay
- Freeze-frame and magnification
- Grids
- Angle measurement.
- Chronometers (timing)
- Trajectory tracking
- On screen drawing - line/arrows, freehand pencil, cross marker, text label.
- On screen commenting and voice-over
- Split screen side-by-side comparisons, using synchronization
- Output to a range of file formats
Software Packages
- Kinovea — a free and open source video analysis software for coaches, athletes and medical professionals.
- Video Expert Coach (Silicon Coach) — A simple to use software package for analyzing sporting technique, within the budget of many coaches and athletes.
- Peak Performance Technologies, Inc. — Peak Performance Technologies supplies 2D and 3D motion measurement systems to the medical, biological, ergonomics, sports and animation markets. Peak software captures and calculates the 2D and 3D co-ordinates of specified points on a moving object using video or real-time hardware.
- Sports Clip Maker — an affordable and easy to use sports analysis software aimed at the Amateur and Semi Professional Coach.