Swansea University Chooses Control Over Automation with AP Capture

When operating at the elite level of university sport, generic video coverage simply doesn't cut it. This drive for precision led Swansea University to choosing the AP Capture IP Camera solutions, ensuring that the videos and analysis for their sports teams is hyper-specific to their coaching objectives.

For the Swansea University BUCS Super Rugby programme, the ability to control and target every frame of training and match play is non-negotiable for performance improvement. In this post, we'll highlight the impact and transformation it's had for them already.

The Precision Problem with Automated Systems

For Assistant Coach Joe Thomas, the limitation of automated camera solutions was clear: a lack of control meant a lack of relevant, actionable data.

"Compared to automatic cameras where we can sort of get lost here and there, I feel this is really specific", Joe explains. "AP Capture allows us to get a very personal feel of how we train and customised views, really specific to what we're trying to do here as a team."

The goal wasn't just to film the action; it was to film the critical moment that defined the action. This demands full, manual control over the camera's angle and focus, something automated, ball-tracking AI simply cannot guarantee.

Taking Control: The AP Capture Advantage

Hugh Gustafson, Rugby Performance Manager, underlines how the Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) control offered by the AP Capture system empowers his team to capture the footage they need, not the footage the AI decides is important.

"Opposed to automated solutions, using the joystick and the PTZ cameras has been great for us to follow the game how we want to film the game, different to a VEO camera", Hugh confirms. "It’s easy for us to film, track, and determine how we want to produce our footage."

The flexibility of the multi-angle installation means the coaching staff can capture and analyse everything from full-pitch strategy to tight, detailed views of specific skill drills.

The Impact: A Transformed Learning Environment

By investing in operator-controlled camera systems, Swansea University has ensured that their analysis directly supports their coaching philosophy. The high-quality, targeted footage translates into clearer feedback sessions, both on the training ground and in the classroom.

Joe Thomas notes the significant shift: "It’s transformed everything we're doing now around our training. The way we train, how we can train and how we can learn. We can do a lot more analysis in the classrooms."

For a high-performance programme like Swansea University, the investment in a comprehensive, controlled AP Capture system is an investment in better feedback, deeper analysis, and ultimately, a more specific pathway to performance success.

The ability to film multiple drills and angles, three cameras from behind the post, wide, and tight, means the teams benefit from superior detail, confirming that when performance margins are slim, specificity always trumps convenience.

Key Takeaways for Your Team

• Specificity: Achieve a "personal feel" and specific views that automated cameras often miss.

• Control: Use the PTZ joystick to film the game exactly how your coaching philosophy dictates.

• Transformation: Integrate high-quality, multi-angle footage into your training process for clearer learning and analysis sessions.

Check out the AP Capture setup below.

Ready to move past generic footage and capture the specifics your team needs?

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