Video Analysis Tool

Posted In Training | 18 comments

Video Analysis Software

Kinovea - Video Analysis Software for Sports

As you know, I’m a big fan of using video to help improve performances. From reviewing your competitions to assessing your practice, video is an important tool that can make a huge impact on your development.

While I see many people record their runs at the competitions I’m at, I often wonder what people do with the footage. How many people video and then leave it on the camera? Maybe looking at it once after their run to see how it turned out.

I think a limiting factor for most people when dealing with video, is knowing how to work with the video after it’s off the camera and on a computer. Most computers come with some software that allows you to edit your footage and make fun videos. Here’s one that my wife Kim, put together on her Mac.

Now this is pretty cool and I love watching the videos, but it doesn’t really do a ton to help you improve your performance. And this is why Kim and I use other software to analyze training and competition with the specific goal of improving performance.

When you go looking for video analysis tools for sport, probably the biggest and most popular brand out there is Dartfish. It provides a whole lot of tools to break down the video and do timings, measurements, side by side comparisons, and overlays. Excellent stuff to help you work on your game. The draw back is the cost. It’s not cheap.

Now the news is not all bad. If you’re interested in getting more from your video, there’s another program which I’ve tried out and it offers many of the same features as Dartfish, only it’s FREE! That’s right, no cost. However, it is only available for the PC.

The software is called Kinovea and you can visit the website here.

Here’s a video I did a while back for a flyball practice. It’s just an example of one of the things you can do with Kinovea.

It didn’t take much playing around to get the software to do what I wanted. There are many other ways to use this software. It really is just limited by your imagination. Analyze your own runs or make videos as a teaching tool, whatever you like. I think Kinovea will make a great tool to add to your training toolbox.

While you’re here, take our poll located to the right on the sidebar. Let us know if and when you use video to help prepare.

Also, I’d like to know how you use video to improve your performance. Share with us in the comments, and if anyone has any experience with other video analysis software, give us your opinion. What software have you used. How did you use it, and would you recommend it.

Leave A Reply (18 comments so far)

The comments are closed.


  1. Linda
    13 years ago

    Couldn’t get the video to open. It said to try again later. I certainly don’t use it like I should. Thank you for the free software. I’ll try it.


  2. Bonnie
    13 years ago

    I Video my runs and downlaod them when I get home on my Mac. I use this to decide what I have to practice in the weeks following the trial. I can see by the video where I was late in my message to my dog. Some runs are so beautiful that they make my files. Lately I have been looking at my near perfect runs and deciding where I can make up more time on course.


  3. Cindy
    13 years ago

    Wow, this is great news! I have looked at Dartfish several times but just can’t justify the cost. I had the same trouble getting the Kinovea video to play but am very excited to check out their web site. Thanks!


  4. Irene
    13 years ago

    Bummer about it only being for PCs cause I do use video to look what I did right and what needs improvement.


    • John Cullen
      13 years ago

      I switched over to Mac almost a year ago and I’ve been on the look out for an alternative ever since. I still have my PC so I just move my footage over to it to use Kinovea.


  5. Karen
    13 years ago

    I do video my performances & practices but not as consistently as I should. It’s difficult to video everything I would like to…larger trials & multiple dogs makes it hard. And I’m usually practicing at odd times which makes it hard for my husband to help run the video. I’ve tried using a tripod but I don’t get the detail I’d like to have…and downloading into my computer isn’t easy. I have always wanted software that would help me analyze but haven’t had a recommendation that I trusted. I’ll definitely gives the Kinovea a try!


    • John Cullen
      13 years ago

      It’s tough to get good video when you’re on your own. That’s why you need an entourage 😉 All kidding aside, if you compete with several like minded individuals (i.e., like to have video), hopefully you’ll be able to trade time videoing of each other. The tripod isn’t the ideal solution but when you’re on your own, it’s better than nothing. I’ve tried capturing the whole practice area and zooming in on just one area and I prefer the former. I can’t get the detail but I use it more for triggering my memory of what we worked on.


  6. Katherine
    13 years ago

    I have been videotaping my competition runs for years, and occasionally practice sessions if I was struggling or found myself getting stuck. But a few weeks ago, I got an iPad, and being able to instantly review my training sessions on a big screen (as opposed to my camcorder’s teeny playback screen) has been invaluable! It is like having an agility instructor watching me — I can see poor clicker timing, late crosses, mediocre reinforcement… It’s incredible. Worth every penny.


    • John Cullen
      13 years ago

      Very cool. I don’t have an iPad yet. Do video with the iPad or do you use a camera and then transfer it?


  7. Abi B.
    13 years ago

    Thanks John, great (and useful) ideas!

    PS I ran my baby dog in the same gamble run as Kim at Spot On – thought it looked familiar!
    (we Qd too!!)


    • John Cullen
      13 years ago

      Spot On is a great venue! Love going there. Although I don’t get out as often as I used to. Congrats on the Q!


  8. Jean
    13 years ago

    Thanks for the information, I am looking forward to trying out the software.
    We are fortunate to have professional videos available to purchase at most of our trials.$5 to $8 per run, Besides using them to spot training issues, I can review course challenges when a Judge is coming back to our area. We do trade taping with our friends as well, but the pros film from a pole high above the ring and with much better quality. Youtube has an HD and slow motion option which makes it even better.


  9. Gary White
    13 years ago

    I use Kinovea regularly and love it. Usefull for handling analysis and especially useful for students training running contacts.


  10. Jake
    13 years ago

    We record all the competition and all our lessons.
    I send the competition ones to our instructor after I analyze them and she picks them apart for me.
    This way we get positive feedback and constructive criticism. It has helped me see the errors as they happen on course at trials.


  11. Sarah Kevin
    13 years ago

    Just started training, and have done some tripod with backyard training, I’m still not sure what to look for. I did learn one important lesson at a demo my husband and I did with our dogs, do not give the camera to the husband who is into photography and artsy, not such a useful video!
    Just curious, if you’re a Mac guy, I’ve heard that the video editing software is easy to use, but does it do the things you need it to? Or is it worth it to partition the hard drive and run windows on the Mac?


    • John Cullen
      13 years ago

      The software bundled with the Mac is pretty easy to use but it’s designed to make videos, not analyze sport performances. I haven’t been able to use iMovie to get frame by frame control so that I can measure time down to the frame (33ms), or measure distances and angles. I just go back to my PC to use Kinovea. You might be able to run something like VirtualBox and install Kinovea on a Windows virtual machine. Depending on how much RAM and the speed of your processor, your mileage may vary. It would save having to boot into windows and then boot back into OS X.


  12. Marco
    13 years ago

    I’ve been using Kinovea for a while and I like it very much.

    When analyzing trial runs, I usually check my positional cues and the timing of those cues so I’m able to evaluate the quality of my handling and spot areas where I need to practice. I also watch the jumping style of my dog throughout the course as well as the number of strides he put between obstacles.

    In training I analyze handling drills the same way as I do for trial runs. Finally I analyze my running contact sessions, especially on the dogwalk. It’s a must-do anyway.


  13. Shelley Jennings
    13 years ago

    I haven’t used video in the past as I haven’t known what to do with it afterwards, so thanks for this article – I’ll get downloading the software and will start filming stuff!! Thanks a lot.