Learn how the basketball teams at the University of California — Santa Barbara use Hudl Focus camera technology to advance their video workflows and maximize their staff efficiency.

The continued development of video analysis technology has seen it become an integral part of the day-to-day structure of how sports teams operate. An area that was once accessible only to professional sports teams, can now be seen used regularly in elite college-level sport.

John Seavey is the director of scouting at University of California - Santa Barbara (UCSB), where this past season both the men’s and women’s basketball teams, known as the Gauchos, have been benefitting from the use of video analysis through Hudl Focus. Seavey is in charge of capturing the practices as well as dealing with the exchange of video for their opponent. 

“We look at the breakup and break down of different parts of the game that we value,” he explained. “Obviously, we look at possessions either our own or an opponent’s, certain shots and rebounding as well. Basically, we’re finding a lot of videos to support certain stats that we value as a team.”

UCSB Basketball - known as the 'Gauchos' - qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in ten years in 2021.

Video can be a gold mine of information for Seavey and using it correctly can dramatically elevate the workflow of the coaching staff. However, if your video quality is poor, it will rarely lead to the desired outcome. 

“When you watch film as much as us coaches do, the quality is super important,” said Seavey. This is why UCSB decided to go full speed with implementing Hudl Focus.

Hudl Focus provides automated video capture with 180-degree panoramic HD quality from a range of angles. Once the smart camera is installed, it records, uploads and livestreams—all automatically and integrated with the Hudl.com online platform.

An example of the quality of footage and camera angle from the UCSB Hudl Focus camera.

“The ability to see a court in a clear and concise way, jersey numbers or score if it’s on a clock – the smallest things like that – are very helpful in our day-to-day work whether it’s scouting or match analysis.” 

Coaches are now looking for the complete analysis – how their team is performing in practice and on the field, as a group and as individuals – in every aspect of the game. To gain a tactical advantage over the opponents, video filmed with a single camera is often not sufficient. 

The right video solution needs to offer not just great quality but also different perspectives. According to Seavey, Hudl Focus solves this problem by offering the option of choosing multiple angles. “Having access to those multi angles has been fantastic for us because you don’t miss a thing and it’s just up to us to toggle back and forth from which angle we like.” 

“The ability to see a court in a clear and concise way, jersey numbers or score if it’s on a clock – the smallest things like that – are very helpful in our day-to-day work whether it’s scouting or match analysis” John Seavey - UCSB Director of Scouting

The positioning of the camera also adds to the user experience. “For us, the Hudl Focus is high up there along the side-lines of the court,” explained Sealey. “The angle looks down on the court using a more overhead view which is great for us because it’s easier to see when you’re above the action looking down on it rather than just a little bit above eye level.” 

The installation of the Focus camera was surprisingly easy, according to Sealey. “Obviously, it depends on the gym or arena that you’re putting it in. If you have a clear spot that is accessible, that's a lot easier. The software is user friendly, the app is simple. You can preset recordings or you can do it in real time, right before you start.”

Analysis is a big part of how the Gauchos are prepared for both practice and on-court scenarios.

Capturing the video is just the first step. Coaches then have a limited amount of time to work on the video and this can get tedious for coaches and performance staff, in terms of uploading, downloading and waiting for those things to happen. It has become more crucial than ever to be able to use tools that maximise the bandwidth of your staff during the season. 

“Waiting for a video is tough, especially for me because my head coach loves watching video, it’s a big thing in how he coaches. Providing access to video as quickly as possible is a big part of my job,” said Seavey. 

"The software is user friendly, the app is simple. You can preset recordings or you can do it in real time, right before you start" John Seavey - UCSB Director of Scouting

The integration between Hudl Focus and Hudl Sportscode can significantly improve speed of workflow and give coaches the extra time to dive in and do a deeper analysis than in the past. Seavey goes on to say, “With Hudl Focus, when a practice or game is over, I could switch off the camera knowing that the film would be accessible to all the UCSB coaching staff within minutes. 

They can log in into their Hudl account and get access to everything the Focus camera captured. The quick turnaround on that was fantastic for us.”

UCSB director of scouting John Seavey.

What has been of extra benefit during the pandemic is the ability of Hudl Focus to be operated without human intervention. When COVID-19 hit, student managers and volunteers were taken away from the practice and game environment of the USCB, just to limit the number of people in the gym. 

“In the past, we would have one or two guys up there manning the camera,” explained Seavey. Having the Hudl Focus camera was phenomenal because it didn’t require someone to be up there manning the camera. It saved me from having to do a lot more work myself, especially this past season.”

The Gauchos men’s team won the Big West Conference Tournament this season and earned their first berth into the NCAA Tournament since 2011, demonstrating how you can elevate your team performance through technology.

Want to learn more about Hudl Focus can revolutionize your team's video capture process? Click here. 

Also check out our basketball case studies with University of Washington, Saint Louis University and Panathinaikos BC.