Common Mistakes Coaches Make in Video Analysis (And How to Fix Them)

Video analysis is one of the most powerful tools a coach can use to improve team performance, correct mistakes, and strategize effectively. However, many coaches unknowingly fall into common pitfalls that limit the impact of their film sessions. Avoiding these mistakes and making a few key adjustments can turn video analysis into a game-changing asset for your team.

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Mistake 1: Watching Too Much Without a Focus

One of the biggest errors in video analysis is passively watching entire games without a clear purpose. Coaches often go through footage hoping to catch patterns, but without a structured approach, this becomes overwhelming and ineffective.

✅ Fix

Define a clear objective before starting a film session. Are you analyzing defensive rotations? Offensive execution? Individual player habits? Focusing on specific aspects allows you to maximize the time spent reviewing film.

Mistake 2: Overloading Players with Too Much Information

Another common mistake is showing players too many clips and over-explaining every detail. When athletes are bombarded with excessive information, they struggle to retain key takeaways and apply them in games.

✅ Fix

Keep film sessions concise and targeted. Limit clips to a handful of key moments that reinforce your coaching points. Stick to one or two teaching points per session to ensure players stay engaged and absorb the lessons.

Mistake 3: Only Focusing on Mistakes

Many coaches use film solely to point out errors, which can lead to frustration and low morale among players. If every session feels like a list of mistakes, athletes may start dreading film study instead of seeing it as a tool for growth.

✅ Fix

Balance criticism with positive reinforcement. Highlight great plays, good decision-making, and progress in key areas. A mix of corrective feedback and praise creates a more productive learning environment.

Mistake 4: Ignoring Opponent Tendencies

Coaches often focus only on their own team’s performance, neglecting to study the tendencies and habits of upcoming opponents. This can lead to missed opportunities for strategic advantages.

✅ Fix

Dedicate part of your film review to scouting the opposition. Identify their offensive sets, defensive schemes, and individual player tendencies. Teach your players what to expect and how to counteract their strengths.

Mistake 5: Not Teaching Players How to Watch Film

Some coaches assume that players naturally know how to analyze film effectively, but many young athletes don’t know what to look for beyond basic highlights.

✅ Fix

Train your players to watch with intent. Teach them to focus on spacing, positioning, decision-making, and timing. Encourage them to analyze not just their own play, but also their teammates' and opponents’ movements.

Mistake 6: Using Film Without Applying It in Practice

Watching film is only valuable if it translates into action. Some coaches review mistakes but don’t structure practices to correct those errors, missing out on a key opportunity for improvement.

✅ Fix

Connect film study to practice. If you notice defensive rotations are slow on film, dedicate drills to improving reaction time and communication. Show clips before a practice session and work on those specific areas immediately after.

Mistake 7: Failing to Get Player Engagement

Players often sit silently during film sessions, absorbing what’s shown without active participation. When they aren’t engaged, they don’t process the lessons as effectively.

✅ Fix

Encourage interaction by asking players questions during sessions. Have them explain what they see, why certain plays worked or failed, and how they can adjust. Making them think critically about the game improves retention and accountability.

Video analysis is a powerful tool, but only when used correctly. By avoiding these common mistakes—watching without focus, overloading players, fixating on negatives, ignoring opponents, failing to connect film to practice, and not engaging players—you can transform your film sessions into an essential part of your team’s development.

A well-run film session isn’t just about reviewing the past; it’s about preparing for the future. When used effectively, video analysis can sharpen skills, improve decision-making, and build a smarter, more confident team.

We've developed the CoachLens app to help coaches analyze videos and conduct film sessions effortlessly. The CoachLens app is intuitive and easy to use – simply add your video and start annotating it right away. The app features a complete drawing toolkit that includes professional tools like freehand and straight lines, circle, rectangle, and angle measurement. If you're a coach, parent, or player looking for an effective video analysis app, you'd love to use CoachLens.

Download the CoachLens app here.

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• PlayBook – A tactic board app for coaches to create their plays easily.

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• StatSheet – A stats-tracking app for coaches to track game stats effortlessly.

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