PitchVision: Spreading schools cricket across the globe

PitchVision are changing the way schools cricket is being viewed and coached

Every school in the Schools Guide is asked, "What is your school's finest moment on the field?" There are some superb moments to savour, from double-centuries to fine team performances. But unfortunately, many of these moments succumb to the annals of history and can only be remembered and admired by those who were there to witness them.

PitchVision are changing this.

With their PV/Match system, matches can be filmed, uploaded, shared and analysed. Neil Fairbairn, a director at PitchVision, told The Cricketer more. "The Cameras are HD quality and totally portable. They can be placed on sightscreens or just next to the pitch and used in any location, from village green to professional stadiums. All the equipment is included in one bag and can be set up in five minutes then live streamed across the world.

"It is essentially your own video production unit in one portable wheelie bag."

All the equipment fits perfectly into one wheelie bag

With more students coming to England from abroad to study and further their cricketing education, PitchVision grants their parents the ability to watch their son or daughter perform, and be there for the big moments. Whether it be a century on home turf, or a five-wicket haul on tour, PitchVision are broadening the reach of schools cricket.

"We are already working closely with Cricket South Africa and cover all provincial matches as well as the Coca-Cola schools comp and Red Bull Campus cricket in India." Schools can look back and watch highlights of matches at the click of a button, while a player can watch back their own individual highlights via the intuitive mobile app.

These videos and analysis can be publically available or, if the school prefers, be watched only by those who have been granted access. The scoring function and the footage work in harmony to enable not only a smart, professional-looking on-screen scoreboard, but also a highlights reel so you can go back and watch your cover drives or the in-swinger that sent the off-stump cartwheeling.

"The analysis taken from PV/Match has been the most significant coaching aid for our cricketers over the past two years. 65% of our Individual Player Development Plan Goals for the winter programme have come directly from PV/Match"

Mark Garaway - Director of Cricket, Milfield

The benefits of PitchVision to schools' cricket do not end with recording matches. Schools such as Millfield and Denstone College are taking full advantage of everything PitchVision has to offer. "Mark Garaway (Millfield) and Simon Guy (Denstone College) are very much on the front foot in using the PV/Portal – a player management system being used by all ECB counties and comes with any PV/Match system purchase," Fairbairn explained.

"We work alongside them to give them what they need so they can document and publicise growth to third party stake holders such as clubs, minor counties, and counties. Coaches can put a personal highlight reel together from a game for any player."

This open communication between schools and all other stakeholders in the player means both parties can be entirely up-to-date on a player's form and development, so when the summer holidays come around, the county knows exactly what the player needs to work on.

"PV/Match has added an exciting element to cricket matchdays at Denstone. The portability allowed us to take it on tour to Dubai and stream games back to parents. We are looking at usability for other sports with PitchVision to follow on from the success we have had from cricket"

Simon Guy - Director of Cricket, Denstone College

PitchVision also encourages players to be pro-active in their development. Rather than just being told what to do by coaches, players can log in to their online profile and analyse their own performance from video footage and take charge of their own game. They can see pitch maps and wagon wheels, all generated automatically at the touch of a button when scoring during the game. Grids can be placed on-screen, so players can see if their head is directly over the ball at the point of contact, or if their bowling action is as efficient as it could be.

An upload function also allows players to compare their technique to the world's best; so you can model your cover drive on Virat Kohli's.

"Garaway and Guy, through their use of PitchVision, are really trying to evolve the way cricket is coached at schools, helping their players fulfil their potential and to understand the more technical aspects of the game."

This is not just an investment for cricket. The cameras and analysis function can be used for other sports, such as tennis, hockey, rugby, football, squash and netball. Cameras can be securely fastened but are also able to pan to keep up with game.

But it is in cricket that PitchVision have made the most impact. Whether it is a 1st XI debut, or a wayward backlift that may have previously gone undetected, with PitchVision you will never miss a thing.

For more information visit www.pitchvision.com or email info@pitchvision.com

First five schools to order will receive a 10% discount