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Video Evaluation Service

Posted by Glenn Mills on Jan 20, 2010 01:24PM (16,724 views)

Ever wonder if your swimming technique is all it could be?   Want a quick way to get some feedback, inexpensively?  Go Swim's Online Video Evaluation Service is here, and for only $25 per length.  Click here to go directly to the service, or read more below.

The best way for us to evaluate your technique is to look at footage taken with an underwater camera.   We will offer advice for those of you who wish to upload video taken with a standard above-water camera, but for best results we recommend an underwater camera so that we can see your technique from above and below the surface.

With so many inexpensive underwater video cameras available today, it's time to consider adding one to your bag of training equipment.   Here's a short list of some of our favorite underwater video solutions:

Casio Exilim EX-G1 12.1 MP Slim-line Endurance Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Red)

Flip Video AWC2T Underwater Case for UltraHD and Ultra 2nd Generation camcorders (Clear)
Flip UltraHD Camcorder, 120 Minutes (Black) - Purchase these two items together

Pentax Optio WS80 10MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 5x Internal Optical Zoom and 2.7-inch LCD (Black and Orange)

Olympus Stylus Tough-8000 12 MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Wide Angle Optical Dual Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Black)


Once you've acquired your underwater digital cam, follow the instructions below, or go directly to the link.

When you click on the link for the service, you'll need to do a new log-in.  Your standard Go Swim log-in won't be valid and this is simply because we want to provide extra security for your identity and information.   If you're new to this service, click on the "Create New User" button.

If you're a new user, set up your account and provide your regular information.  This service is for swimmers and coaches.  If you're a coach, you're welcome to use this system to evaluate your own swimmers, either for a fee, or free.

Once you've set up your account, you'll have a choice of making your video public...or keeping it private, for your eyes only.  If you'd like to have your swimming evaluated by everyone or anyone, choose the public option, but please know that your videos will be seen by all the people under the video tab.  We'll get into HOW to upload your video in the next screen.

To start uploading your video, click the "Upload" button in the grey bar at the top of the screen.

Browse your computer to find just the right video to share with us.  Ideally the clip will show you from the side, swimming one length of the pool.  The system will automatically convert your video and get it ready for the service. 

Once your video is online, you need to find a coach.  Click the "Coaches" button in the grey bar, and a list of all the current coaches will appear.

You'll can read about the coach and, if their evaluations are public, you'll be able to watch some of their advice.

Once you've selected a coach, locate your uploaded video and click the "Request Coaching" button.  If you want to give extra information to the coach, enter it on this page.  If the coach charges a fee, you can prepay for the session by selecting the "Prepaid coaching session" button.

When we get your request, we'll mark up the video, add voice annotations, and give you some ideas of drills to watch.   The system will automatically notify you when the eval is done and available to you.

We also have the option of presenting you a side-by-side video in the system.  We're busy populating the evaluator with video of high-level swimmers.  While we can't yet offer our Olympians, the swimmers used for comparison will be national-level athletes.

Go Swim is currently charging $25 per eval, and we consider an evaluation to be a critique of one length of your swimming (we can tell a lot in one length!).  The clearer your video, the better your experience is going to be, so be selective about what you upload into the system.  We've been performing video evaluations for many years, and will do our best to make your experience worthwhile; however, if the uploaded video is unclear, there is only so much we can do.

If you get stuck, go to any tab in the grey bar, and look to the right side of the page for the "Tutorial" button.  That page is filled with videos that can help you with any problem you're having.  If you have additional questions, send Glenn an email.




Responses

Responded Jan 22, 2010 05:16PM

This is great!!!

Responded Jan 23, 2010 04:48PM

What would be the most ideal style for critique with camera stationary? Underwater front for 15 seconds??

Responded Jan 24, 2010 04:39PM

Probably side is much better Steve. Just like shown in the video. Shoot a few times, and pick the best one and upload it. Front is alright, but won't show as much as side.

Responded Jan 27, 2010 04:58AM

This is a great idea, Glenn. I have tried this on the USMS discussion board for both myself and my 10 year-old son. My son is on a swim team but really doesn't get much individual instruction, especially on his catch in terms of positioning or timing. Most athletic things don't come naturally to him, but he is a hard worker and good learner. We work on his stroke in a pretty relaxed manner, and have fun in the process (including some of the drills you suggest). I don't work him hard, I leave that to the coaches. But I give him advice on certain things and watch him from all angles. He really could use some expert eyes, especially underwater. Unfortunately when I asked for some help on the boards people assume that I am some overly aggressive dad taking the fun out of it for him. There seems to be this strange swimming community culture, where it is accepted that the naturally talented should win all the races and everyone else should just have fun rather than learning the nuances that come natural to the best swimmers. And so the poor form becomes engrained in the kid's muscle memory. I will use this service for my own stroke and my son's.

Responded Jan 28, 2010 04:38PM

Getting help for your son should never be seen as an "overly aggressive dad". It should be seen as someone who is willing to accept advice from others to help your son advance his own goals. It's part of our jobs as parents.

If the goals were YOUR goals for him... that's different. If he wants to swim, and swim better, then NOT helping would be the bigger problem.

I'll watch for your vids, and look forward to doing what I can to help. Thanks.

Responded Feb 02, 2010 08:37PM

Posted mine....

Responded Feb 05, 2010 03:08PM

At what speed should I swim Glenn?

Responded Feb 11, 2010 02:50AM

Glenn, there was a recent discussion on USMS board relating to thoughts of a coached video review section. If it's OK (too late now though), I briefly mentioned your service.

Responded Feb 11, 2010 02:52AM

Responded Feb 11, 2010 03:02AM

Thanks and cool. :)

Responded Feb 12, 2010 07:37AM

still no comments on my post...

Responded Feb 24, 2010 06:31AM

Glenn, one of the best new waterproof cameras to consider, is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 and the very latest update called the TS2 (http://www.dpreview.com/news/1001/10012603...). One of the few that can do HD video and has a separate video button making it easy to operate. I am hoping to get one as soon as the TS2 becomes available. The TS1 is still a good option and available at good discounts.

Responded Feb 24, 2010 02:36PM

Looks like a nice cam. Thanks PJ. Looking forward to seeing some video from it. :)

Responded Mar 04, 2010 04:44PM

Glenn,
How do we assign athletes to the vid's? I want to keep videos of my clients private unless they give approval to make them public, but still give them the ability to view the videos. I haven't been able to figure that one out, and when I hit the "help" link, I get a page that says "under construction". Thanks.

Responded Mar 04, 2010 04:54PM

Hey David. When you upload a video... make the "client" the owner of the video rather than yourself and make it private. They should then receive an email stating that they have a new video and coaching session and even though it's "their" video, you still have access to it. Hope that helps. G

Responded Mar 04, 2010 10:37PM

Hi Glenn, I just uploaded a video but am confused about how to get it coached. I know GoSwim charges $15, but what are the individual coach "Prepaid" options? I sent a video of myself to "GoSwim" (you I assume?) but didn't know who is prepaid or not, and how prepaid is different from the normal GoSwim charge. Thanks.

Responded Mar 29, 2010 04:16AM

Using a small camera, I am finding it hard to film properly underwater more than a couple of strokes...filming a whole length under water seems well-nigh impossible!

Responded Mar 30, 2010 04:40PM

Glenn:

Great service, I definitely want to take part in.

I've got an waterproof Olympus. Can I edit a single clip so that I have a length of swimming from the side (with a panning camera) and then a stable camera (as shown in your instructional video) filming my open turn? (I.e., and have the two clips edited together count as one length?)

Also, is it worth paying for a second evaluation of open water swimming?

Thanks, Jon

Responded Mar 30, 2010 05:30PM

Hey Mario. To be honest... we really only need a few strokes to give you some valid feedback. If you upload it, and I can't see anything valid, I'll let you know, and no charge.

Jon. Sure on the swim and turn. If you're doing a different technique for open water, send it. If it's the same, but in open water... probably not worth it. We'll get what we need from the pool shots. Thanks.

Responded Apr 14, 2010 10:01AM

and still......no comments on my post.....

Responded Apr 14, 2010 12:37PM

Hi Juliette. When you post a video without a coaching request, you'll just have to get lucky that someone reviews it. If you'd like one of us to review it, you'll have to send the request, and the cost is $15 US. Because of everything else we do for free, we ourselves simply can't evaluate people's videos for free, but we do allow them to be posted in the chance someone will offer advice for free. We hope you understand, and sorry no one has opted for the free option.

Responded May 18, 2010 07:32AM

Thanks Glenn I only saw the comment today!! as I usually am on the forums....thanks

I actually bought the Pentax WS80...quite good but needs good light for good video.

Finally I have devised a sort of camera pool deck carrier which hopefully will help me film my son properly when I find some time and finally send some footage .....to which coach do you suggest?

Responded May 18, 2010 04:05PM

goswim - That guy's great. ;)

Responded Jun 08, 2011 01:27PM

Great service. I tried this out yesterday, and it worked amazingly well. I uploaded the video in the morning and Glenn had a response back very quickly. The voice commentary on the video is clear, insightfull, and helpful. The frame on the video freezes for each comment (there were more than a dozen of them), and I now have much needed feeback on my kick, timing of rotation, catch, pull pattern, and alignment. I could (and have) spent months in the pool without being able to figure out what I need to work on. There is a big difference between half way knowing that your stroke needs improvement and having a real expert point out the things you need to work on, with freeze frame animation, graphics showing you the angle of your arms, and voice commentary that is spot on. I couldn't wait to get up to goswim at 4:45 this morning.


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