Johannesburg - Top South African sportsmen are paving the way forward for the youth through the use of video-analysis technology in the form of the iTrainer which was launched at the Wanderers on Tuesday.
The iTrainer is a web-based program which allows athletes to upload a video of themselves playing their specific sport, from any camera onto the website, and then receive professional feedback via the website.
Swimmer Roland Schoeman, cricketer Albie Morkel, rugby player Victor Matfield and the South African men's Davis Cup tennis captain John-Laffnie de Jager are just a few of the sportsmen who will be viewing the video clips and offering free advice and assessments.
“Swimming, in particular, is very technical and, until you actually see what you're doing underwater and actually analyse the video frame by frame, you're not going to be able see exactly what's going on,” said Schoeman.
“I've been to six or seven different coaches throughout my career and my stroke changes from year to year and I know what it takes to develop a solid stroke,” said Schoeman.
“I think this is going to revolutionise sport. I'm a little disappointed I didn't have this sort of thing when I was growing up as I could've been far more successful at an earlier age,” he said.
Although video technology has been around for a long time in sport, the iTrainer is unique in that it allows ordinary people to connect with world-class sportsmen and receive advice. The service is available through a subscription to the website.
“The predominant coaching systems out there at the moment require you to write in and they send you programs of what to do, so there really isn't anything else like this out there,” added the Olympic and Commonwealth gold medal swimmer.
“For us as professional sportsmen, there's a lot of downtime. So, if you have half an hour, you can have a look at five or six clips that come in and everybody gets their lessons.
“It gives me goosebumps to know we're going to directly help the youth of our country.”
Morkel, who believes in a more individual approach to playing sport, is confident more cricketers, in particular, will come on board.
“Jacques Rudolph is involved, Morne (Morkel) is involved and I'm looking to bring in quite a few more guys so we have a wide range of top sportsmen for the kids to choose from,” said the older of the two Morkel brothers.
“I don't believe in coaching according to a manual. If he/she has the basics right, then I will try and enable that child to play the game to the best of their ability.
“On a day-to-day basis, we as professional sportsman don't get the chance to get out to all the schools and this we will be a great way for us to interact with whoever needs our help.” - Sapa