Timely Information for Takedown Scoring and Stats Users
Budgeting for Next Season
Plan and budget for these items to get more value out of your Takedown investment.
With the scholastic season in the rear view mirror, many teams are already planning for next season. Here are some investments to consider.
External Camera
A game-changer for video. Read about our experience here.
Cost: $100 - $500
Camera Mount
Whether you use the iPad or an external camera for video recording, some sort of stablizing mount is very helpful. Choices include a tripod, monopod and/or a table stand. See examples. Good selection on Amazon.
Cost: $50-$100
External Battery
A life-saver when your iPad’s battery is running low. See example. Great selection on Amazon.
Cost: $50+
Apple AV Adapter
Easiest and cheapest way to use Takedown’s Scoreboard feature. Available for Lightning and USB-C iPad connectors. Don’t forget to get an HDMI cable — Amazon is a good source.
Cost: $50 - $70 for adapter, $10-$20 for HDMI cable
iPad
Upgrade or add another iPad to your Takedown deployment. Amazon and eBay are good sources for used iPads.
Cost: $200 +
Protective iPad Cover
If you drop an unprotected iPad from shoulder height onto a solid floor, the screen will likely crack or worse. A folio cover is cheap insurance. Find a new one on Amazon or eBay.
Cost: $20
Video Subscription
Add a video subscription to your Takedown scoring subscription and reap the benefits of an efficient video workflow.
Cost: $150 annually
Digital Display
For Takedown’s Scoreboard feature, you need an HDMI-equipped display. Schools typically have an inventory of these displays and your school’s gym might already have a compatible wall-mounted display.
Cost: $125 and up, depending on display size.
Bluetooth Scale
Use Takedown’s free paperless, wireless weight recording feature to conveniently track athlete progress toward their weight objective. Takedown is compatible with the Befour PS-6615 scale.
Cost: $700 for scale
Using an External Camera (Part II)
We used another external camera with Takedown to record video. It was greater.
We recently implemented the capability of using an external video camera with Takedown. By “external” we mean a separate camera rather than the iPad’s camera.
Previously, we used a Logitech Streamcam with Takedown to capture a high school dual meet. Our thoughts on that experience are in Part I.
This week we used a more advanced camera — Sony ZV-1F — to video record a dual meet with Takedown.
Our verdict: A game changer. Spendy. But…wow.
Why use an External Camera?
There are many reasons to use an external camera.
The video view is independent from the iPad orientation. Put your iPad in a comfortable position for scoring — on your lap, for instance — and still get a great shot.
Separates the scoring and video recording tasks. Scoring and video recording simultaneously can be overwhelming for one person.
If you have a videographer, it allows them to be part of the process (rather than outside of it) without asking them to also score wrestling matches. Not surprisingly, some videographers aren’t interested in scoring wrestling matches.
Potentially, better quality and features — zoom or low level light correction, for example — than the on-device iPad camera.
4. Improved iPad battery life if the external camera has its own battery as is the case with this camera.
The camera we used was a Sony ZV-1F with a standard tripod and mount.
We connected the camera to an iPad (10th generation) running iOS 17. Takedown automatically chooses the external camera instead of the on-device camera.
This camera generates 720P output, the resolution used by most Takedown customers. Pinch-to-zoom works the same as it does with the on-device iPad camera. Unlike the Logitech Streamcam, this camera’s features — and there are many — are accessible via the camera. Importantly, the Sony has a viewfinder, manual zoom and re-chargeable battery.
Results
To our eyes, the video quality of this camera was similar to the Logitech Streamcam.
Here are a few example videos:
Video Recording Experience
We used one operator for scoring and video recording. The camera’s zoom setting captured the full mat area — so panning wasn’t required to keep the action in the view — and used the iPad pinch-zoom feature to get an action closeup. This seemed to be the most practical operating mode for one person. Of course, with a dedicated camera operator a tighter zoom would be possible and often desirable.
Occassionally, we used the Sony camera zoom and tripod panning. This wasn’t sustainable — when the scoring activity picked up we inevitably failed to keep the action in the viewport. So, we reverted to a wide zoom on the Sony camera and used the iPad pinch-to-zoom for tighter shots.
The camera viewfinder was very helpful as it eliminates the need to monitor the iPad’s screen to know if the wrestling action is in the video view. This also means that the camera’s position relative to the iPad is limited only by the length of your USB cable.
Lastly, decoupling the iPad orientation from the camera view yields considerable benefits. We placed our iPad in the most comfortable position for scoring without affecting the camera view. As with the Logitech Streamcam, the entire process of scoring and video recording was much easier.
Cost
Camera — $500 delivered.
Tripod —Pricing for floor standing tripods varies from $50 to multiple hundreds of dollars.
Cable — $10 - $20. Get at least 6’ and it must be USB-C and USB 3+. USB-C alone isn’t sufficient.
Considerations
Not all cameras work as an iPad-compatible external camera for Takedown. Only ‘UVC 1.5 compliant’ cameras are compatible.
Not all iPads work with an external camera. You’ll need a USB-C port and iOS 17 at a minimum. The iPad 10th generation seems the most affordable model that works.
Takedown’s implementation is a bit — technical word here — janky. The perspective shown in the Scoring viewport is rotated 180 degrees around the vertical axis. This doesn’t impact the recorded video; it impacts only the viewport image. You’ll appreciate the Sony camera viewfinder because it offers the correct perspective and makes panning intuitive.
Unplugging the camera when Takedown is in the background can cause a crash when Takedown is brought to the foreground.
More Info
User Contributed Post: Tripod/Monopod Combo Works Well
Takedown user shares experience with helpful accessory.
Below is a contributed post by a long time Takedown user.
As a parent volunteer that manages our use of Takedown, including making sure that all matches are scored and stats are correct, I had thought a short tripod or something that could be used during duals from the scoring table would be helpful but had never taken the time to find a solution. Then I saw the blog post titled 'Table Top Stand is Way Too Easy' and decided to go look again for something that we could use.
I was looking for something that was more designed for panning than the tabletop stand from the blog post. I discovered the Orion Tritech II-M Stabilized Monopod (available on Amazon and other retailers). This monopod was a great find! It's budget-friendly and offers multiple configuration options. I presented this product to our boosters and asked them to purchase one so that we could test it out.
We received the monopod just before our next home dual. I tested the tabletop mode at that dual and it worked great. I still needed to keep one hand on the legs when panning but I suspect that over time that may change as the head loosens up a little more.
That was followed by a tournament where I used the monopod configuration to score matches and still get stability which is much easier at tournaments than using a tripod which we were using in many cases prior.
We haven’t used it in the stabilized monopod configuration yet, but I can see cases where that might be useful as well. For instance, in a dual tournament where we may not be seated at the scorers table, the stability will be better than the straight monopod option. The stabilizing legs can also be left folded making the function that of a normal monopod as well.
In conclusion the Orion Tritech II-M Stabilized Monopod has proven in the short time that we have had it to be a great asset for our team, offering a cost-effective and versatile solution. If you are looking for a cost-effective tabletop scoring option, I would recommend taking a look at this monopod.
C. Shenberger, Parent Volunteer
Midview High School (Ohio)
If you have an experience you’d like to share with the Takedown community, let us know. It’s helpful for others to hear tips and tricks from the folks who are on the ground and using Takedown in the trenches.
Using an External Camera (Part I)
We used an external camera with Takedown to record video. It was great.
We recently implemented the capability of using an external video camera with Takedown. By “external” we mean a separate camera rather than the iPad’s camera.
This week we used this feature to capture a high school dual meet
Our verdict: use it if you can, the benefits are tremendous.
Why use an External Camera?
There are many reasons to use an external camera.
The video perspective is decoupled from the iPad position and orientation. Put your iPad in a comfortable position for scoring and still get a great shot.
Separates the scoring and video recording tasks. Some operators struggle to produce quality scoring and quality video. The workload can be overwhelming for one person. Also, if your team has someone who loves videography but not scoring, it’s a perfect fit.
Potentially, better quality and features — zoom or low level light correction, for example — than the on-device iPad camera.
The camera we used was a Logitech StreamCam with a standard tripod mount. This particular camera comes with a small tabletop tripod that you could also use.
We connected the camera to an iPad (10th generation) running iOS 17. Takedown automatically chooses the external camera instead of the on-device camera.
It is necessary to physically rotate this particular camera onto its side get the correct orientation in the iPad viewport.
All normal resolutions — 1080, 720 and 480P — are available. Pinch-to-zoom works the same as it does with the on-device iPad camera.
Surprisingly, the camera didn’t consume much power from the iPad. With our display brightness at about 30% and wifi enabled, two full high school dual meets consumed about 40% of the battery life.
Results
To our eyes, the video quality of this camera was acceptable. Whether this particular camera is suituable for your team is up to you.
Here are a few example videos:
Video Recording Experience
We used the external camera with a dedicated camera operator and without. With a dedicated operator, it’s easy to zoom in and keep the subjects centered in the video. Since this camera doesn’t have a viewfinder, the camera operator needs to keep an eye on the Takedown viewport to know if the wrestling action is centered in the video. Initially, we thought this might be a problem but in practice it wasn’t an issue.
Without a dedicated operator, it was very easy to reach over and pan the camera as required. Mostly though, we kept the camera in its fully, zoomed out setting which captured the entire mat so that we didn’t need to worry about panning to capture the action.
The benefit of decoupling the iPad position/orientation from the camera view is considerable and seemed to reduce everyone’s stress. We placed our iPad in the most comfortable position for scoring and moved around quite a bit without affecting the camera view. That was huge.
Cost
External camera — $130 delivered. Varies with seller.
Tripod — The model shown here is overkill. Pricing for floor standing tripods varies from less than $50 to multiple hundreds of dollars. A table top tripod is bundled with this Logitech camera.
Cable — included with this camera.
Caveats
Not all cameras work in this capacity (iPad-compatible external camera). Only cameras that are ‘UVC compliant’ can be used as an external camera for an iPad.
Not all iPads work with an external camera. You’ll need a USB-C port and iOS 17 at least. The iPad 10th generation seems the most affordable model that works with Takedown and an external camera.
Takedown’s implementation is a bit — technical word here — janky. The perspective shown in the Scoring viewport is rotated 180 degrees around the vertical axis. This doesn’t impact the recorded video; it impacts only the viewport image and can make panning a little counterintuitive. Also, unplugging the camera when Takedown is in the background can cause a crash when Takedown is brought to the foreground. We’ll fix both of these in a future release.
More Info
Increasing YouTube Daily Upload Limit
YouTube is great. Mostly. Fix YouTube when it isn’t great.
To realize maximum value from Takedown’s YouTube integration, you need to do a little work on your YouTube channel.
YouTube limits daily uploads for new accounts. In the course of time, your track record of uploading appropriate content will result in YouTube allowing more daily video uploads. This organic process can take months.
You can, however, take steps to increase your daily upload limit. See this support article.
We strongly recommend all Takedown video users take action to increase their daily YouTube upload limit.
New Feature: Video Room
Release 3.2 has introduces two new and fantastic features. Here’s one of them: Video Room.
Since we released video support in 2018, Takedown users have had the in-app ability to review video by event. This capability is accessed via the Schedule.
With the new Video Room feature, you can review video by wrestler. This exciting new capability is accessed via the Roster.
In addition, Video Room can filter video by Scoring Actions and Events so that you could, for example, generate a video clip list of all takedowns and escapes (including opponents) for a custom set of Events. Also, similar to Notify Wrestlers in Manage Video, in Video Room you can easily share the video clips with your wrestlers and other interested audiences.
Using Video Room
Access Video Room via Roster. Tap the wrestler of interest.
Filters
The initial view displays all matches for the selected wrestler in the Season.
The initial view displays full matches for the wrestler. Tap Filter for selecting specific Scoring Actions for your wrestler and opponents, and for selecting specific Events. Tap Filter in the upper right to save your selection.
The display updates the results based on Filter selection. Tap the “>” to the right of each row to view the selected video clip.
Video Viewer
The video viewer offers two navigation options. First, we introduce the new ‘Next’ and ‘Previous’ buttons for sequencing to adjacent video clips without exiting the viewer. Note the Scoring Action type and count in the top of the display. Also, Video Room offers the familiar navigable scoring transcript for immediately moving to any Scoring Action in the match.
Sharing Video
Finally, share with your wrestler (or anyone with an email address) the displayed video clips. Tap the sharing icon and, optionally, edit the email message. Add comments if you’d like. Tap the send button (up arrow embedded in blue circle) when you’re ready.
Video Room is an exciting addition to Takedown’s portfolio of video review features. It allows you to easily tailor your review to specific Scoring Actions and Events for each wrestler and share clips and commentary. This is an indispensable tool for developing wrestler-specific training and helping your wrestlers improve their skills.
Take a look at Video Room and let us know your thoughts.
Understanding the YouTube Scoring Transcript
Uploaded match videos on YouTube have an embedded scoring transcript. Here’s what it means.
Scoring transcripts are available in Takedown Scoring and Stats and on the YouTube platform using a desktop or laptop computer. This post explains the format of the scoring transcript on YouTube.
Takedown scoring transcripts on YouTube are implemented as closed captions and serve three purposes:
Provides an in-video display of match score, scoring activity and match clock
Offers a full visual record of all scoring activity in the match
Enables ScoreSeek functionality allowing immediate navigation to any scoring activity
Accessing the Scoring Transcript
If you’re unware of how to access the scoring transcript on YouTube, please see this tutorial.
When closed captions are turned on, the scoring transcript appears to the right of the video:
Decoding the Scoring Transcript
Here’s a close up of the scoring transcript with a description below for all the annotated elements.
Beginning of Period — demarks period transitions
Match Score — your wrestler is first number, opponent wrestler if after the “-” symbol
Match Clock — match clock value when activity occurred
Elapsed Time — elapsed time since match start in minutes and seconds
Choice — position choice at beginning of period
Scoring Type — E1 for escapte, T2 for takedown and so on. “+” is for your wrestler, “-” is for opponent wrestler. Note the ⬤ symbol is a shot attempt.
To use ScoreSeek, click on any of the scoring transcript entries and the video will immediately proceed to that point in the match. Also note the scroll bar to the right of the transcript allowing access to entries that are off screen.
There you have it, a full guide to using the scoring transcript on YouTube. Check it out!
Update: New Video Features
Last summer we added to video recording, review and sharing to Takedown Scoring and Stats.
During this past high school season (2018-2019), about 40% of Takedown users recorded video in the app and produced more than 17,000 match videos. Of these recordings, roughly 13,000 were uploaded to the cloud (team YouTube accounts). Of the videos uploaded to YouTube, roughly 20% were also posted to Takedown LIVE so that fans can view the scoring transcript and video in a single app. Takedown Scoring and Stats, by virtue of a robust and committed user community, is most likely the leading publisher of scholastic wrestling videos on the Internet.
Top five states for recording video:
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Georgia
Virginia
Tennessee
And the top ten programs:
Tuscaloosa
Glacier
Flathead
Paulding County
Seneca Valley
Collierville
West Branch
Quincy
Riverside
John Overton
Takedown users typically record in high resolution with 82% of all videos recorded in 720P or 1080P.
Video is an important feature for Takedown users and we continue our investment in this area.
More info on Takedown video here:
https://www.levelchanger.com/blog/2018/6/15/faq-video-recording
Video + Stats
We’re excited to deliver video recording, playback and cloud sharing features.
Video + Stats Now Available
Takedown Scoring and Stats newest exciting feature is integrated video along with our marketing-leading scoring capability.
Now, Takedown users can simultaneously record video while scoring a match.
In addition, Takedown will upload match video to the cloud and share to your team with a few taps.
Video can be reviewed from within Takedown or on any desktop, laptop or mobile device.
ScoreSeek(TM) allows the user to advance or rewind to a specific scoring activity or shot attempt.
For a FAQ on this new and exciting feature, click here.
For a list of all tutorials and support articles for this feature, click here.
Record Video and Score Matches Simultaneously in Takedown
Just because you like sausage doesn’t mean you want to live in a sausage factory. Video is a lot like sausage.
Coaches love match video. But they don't like hauling around separate recording devices, transferring files from camcorders (or mobile devices), renaming video files, organizing video libraries and making their video library easily accessible to athletes, parents and other coaches. It's one of those love-hate things. Video consumption is valuable. Video production is a pain (and time consuming).
Integrated Video Recording/Review
Luckily, Apple's iPad is a video production powerhouse. Our upcoming Fall 2018 release will utilize the iPad's native video capabilities to offer video recording and review from within the Takedown Scoring and Stats app. This new feature address the major pain points of video production: recording, storage, labeling, organization, cloud storage and sharing.
Here's a Q&A about this exciting feature.
Demo and Early Access
If you'd like a demo or want to kick the tires, let us know by filling out this form. We expect to continue internal testing this month, offer pre-release this summer and App Store availability in October.