Underwater video can unlock untapped potential in swimmers.
Video technology has evolved to allow swimmers to observe and correct their technique mistakes from an in-the-pool vantage point. Tiny video cameras enclosed in water-tight plastic casing has become an important advantage to many swim programs. They allow athletes to think about their strokes visually, instead of relying upon a coach's verbal interpretation.
Construction
Many waterproof underwater video cameras are enclosed in a plastic capsule. Clear glass or plastic panels allow the small cameras inside to record images in the water. Cameras are attached to a pole--many of which can extend--that coaches can hold to record video. Video cables attach the cameras to a television, video recorder or video camera.
Displaying Images
Many options exist to replay swimming video to swimmers.
Cameras send analog or digital images out of the water through cables. How those images are received depend on the equipment available and the needs of the athletes. Video input can be connected directly to a television, providing real-time images. Real-time images are useful for instructing someone on the pool deck while another person swims at the same time. However, to replay video for a swimmer after he finishes swimming requires additional equipment. VCRs or camcorders can record video and play it back after a swimmer is done. Digital video recorders can also put video playback on a delay, playing video automatically after a swimmer exits the water.
Underwater Camera Uses
New swimmers can benefit from underwater video.
A swimming program that invests in an underwater video system has many options. Swimming stroke technique can be analyzed, allowing coaches and athletes to watch arm and leg position, body rotation and presence of air. Racing turns and starts can be analyzed, watching for streamlined body position and improvements to increase speed. Learn-to-swim programs benefit from allowing new swimmers to compare their strokes to video of accomplished swimmers. Diving programs can use underwater cameras to analyze entry positions and evaluate underwater save techniques to decrease splash.
Available Models
Simple web searches reveal several companies that sell underwater video cameras. AquaCam, produced by Motivational Concept, provides a compact, water-tight camera with a long video cable. Black-and-white and color models are available. As of March 2010, pricing ranges from $599 for a simple black-and-white model to $1,650 for a complete kit with digital video recorder for playback. Other companies sell waterproof video cameras marketed for fishing; however, those cameras do not have the pole for camera aim.
Another Underwater Video Option
Some pools have underwater windows where video can be recorded.
Many pools across the United States and around the world have windows built into their pool walls. The rooms connected to the walls with pool windows are convenient locations for underwater swimming video. However, if immediate playback is desired, this option is inconvenient if the swimmer must swim and then leave the pool area to see video recordings.
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