Coachology

The iPhone, to the current generation and many more to come, has become much more a tool for achieving many other things than a simple phone call and SMS. Even the iPhone (and now the iPad with it's latest release) have poked fun at their own abilities with "Siri". Go on, ask Siri "What is the meaning of life". Aside the expected response of "42", the more pressing answer is "Isn't there an app for that?".

Indeed. Considering that the app store has just crossed over 25 billion downloads, one can only imagine how many apps are actually available. And in amongst all the brightness 25 billion downloads, surely there are some the shine brighter than others. Angry Birds is one that immediately springs to mind. Who would have thought that sling-shotting birds at pigs would lead to soft toy, clothing and other real life apparel lines.

The application (excuse the pun) of this to coaching is vast. Where coaches previously required thousands of dollars of software programs to analyse the biomechanical movements, angles and speeds of a certain movement, much of this can be done on a handheld device. By doing this in front of the athlete, feedback is immediate and accurate. Figures are hard to argue. Comparisons of one piece of footage to another can be made, and the changes can be shown immediately.

All of this leads to more accurate coaching, and with proper application this leads to better results. Thanks to a device with a 99 cent app installed on an iThing. Win-win I say.

And the next best thing about this technology how easily it is shared. Upload it to facebook, twitter, thousands of interweb forums and the whole coaching group can benefit. Care must be taken, as athlete care must take priority. The subject may not want to be uploaded to the harsh critics of the internets, and shouldn't be subjected to such.

A pedagogic understands.