REAL TIME COACHING: CHANGING THE GAME AS WE KNOW IT

By John Reinhardt

INTRODUCTION TO HEADZONE AND RTC

HEADZONE took an interesting approach to create this product.They did not see any problems with the performance of the athletes; but, they saw that the way they were being coached was flawed.

INTRODUCTION TO HEADZONE AND THE RTC

The task was simple; find a way for coaches to talk to their athletes in the water, but what HEADZONE created was something that had never been seen before in the world of surfing.

INTRODUCTION TO HEADZONE AND RTC HEADZONE’s response to this inefficient way

of coaching was producing the RTC. RTC, which is an acronym for Real-Time-

Coaching is a waterproof helmet with a built in radio transmitter that surfers can wear to receive advice and information from their coaches on shore.

RTC HELMET AND UHF HANDHELD The entire coaching system is complete

with the UHF handheld device for the coach. http://www.headzone.com/headzone_helmet3.htm

This coaching system certainly provides the competitive edge.

REAL-TIME-COACHING

TABLE ANALYSIS (FOR SURFER) MAJOR ADVANTAGES MAJOR DISADVANTAGES

The surfer can receive instantaneous news on his or her score from the coach.

The bulkiness of the helmet might hinder ultimate performance and maneuverability

The surfer has a competitive advantage by receiving news about incoming sets

Helmet could potentially limit full range of sight.

The speed of the technology provides for quick exchange of advice in competition.

Extra voice from the coach could pose a potential distraction to the surfer while riding a wave.

TABLE ANALYSIS (FOR COACH)MAJOR ADVANTAGES (No Significant Disadvantages)

The Coach does not have to wait until each heat is over to offer advice and coaching to the surfer.

The Coach has a bird’s eye view of everything happening in the water for example, wave formations, and he can regurgitate that knowledge to the surfer in the water.

The UHF operates up to 2.5 miles away so the Coach can enjoy prime seating arrangements wherever those may be.

WHY RTC GIVES SURFERS SUCH A COMPETITIVE EDGE

What RTC allows for is for coaches to inform the surfers where the incoming sets of waves will be breaking and how far and fast they should paddle.

The driving forces that are setting RTC and the UHF aside from other sport technologies are its abilities to transfer precious information to the athletes in the water that other surfers aren’t receiving.

HTTP://WWW.HEADZONE.COM/SPORTS_COACHING_GALLERY.HTM

Face to Face coaching is now a thing of the past.

SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON

COACH’S VIEW SURFER’S VIEW

REFERENCESHutchinson, Initials. (2009).

Neoprene. Farlex. Retrieved (2010, April 20) from

http://encyclopedia.farlex.com/neoprene Poynton, Initials. (2010, January

8). Headzone sports coaching and communication systems.Retrieved from http://www.headzone.com/index.shtml