Choose a question before you press play
Watching a full game again without a focus makes useful decisions easy to miss and can turn a review into a long meeting. Start with one observable question, such as “What did the weak-side player notice when the ball moved across the floor?” Named markers let you return to relevant moments and compare similar situations.
This article covers organizing footage you already have, not recording a game. Before recording or sharing video, check team and competition permissions and protect players’ privacy.
1. Narrow the review question
Choose something visible on film rather than a broad instruction like “try harder.” Examples: “Who found an opponent after the shot?” “Who was first to protect the basket after the turnover?” or “How did the ball handler and defender respond to the screen?” Begin with a team-wide learning question, not a search for individual blame.
2. Load footage and add short labels
BoardStrategist’s official feature page describes importing and playing video, adding named timeline markers, moving between markers, and editing or deleting labels. Check the current features page for availability. Place a marker at a useful moment and give it a short label that tells the group what to notice, such as “first step in transition” or “recovery after help.”
- Write down one review question.
- Load the video and scan only as much of the game as the question needs.
- Mark a few relevant moments and use concise, neutral labels.
- Return to each marker and watch the surrounding sequence, not just a frozen frame.
You do not need a marker for every possession. Start with two to four representative examples and compare similar situations to separate recurring cues from exceptions.
3. Treat categories as working labels
A team might group moments under labels such as “start of offense,” “chance,” or “defensive transition.” These are practical labels for a review, not a universal official taxonomy. A JBA youth technical report describes analyzing footage in five phases: transition, create, chance, break, and finish. It also cautions that the U16-and-older model is not automatically recommended for U15 and younger; age, maturity, learning sequence, and tactical load should shape the adaptation.
For younger players, reduce the number of categories and use familiar words. Do not turn the five phases into a required practice script or assume the same tactical task fits every age group.
4. Ask what players noticed
At each marker, look beyond the outcome. Ask what players could see just before the action, which options were available, and what the team’s shared rule was. Invite the player’s explanation before giving yours: “What did you see when the ball moved?” or “What would you try if this happens again?” Slow playback, pause to sketch spacing, or include a few seconds before and after the marker when that helps answer the question.
5. Carry one learning point into practice
End the review with one action to test in the next session. For example, decide who protects the basket first in transition or rehearse the recovery after help in a 3v3 activity. Reuse the same question in a later review to see what changed. Use footage to improve teaching around a situation, not to rank players from a few clips.
Video and sharing features
The official features page describes video import, playback, and markers; exporting and sharing video clips are listed as Pro features. Before sharing any footage, check rights to the recording, team and competition rules, and the privacy of everyone shown. Limit access to people who need it.
Frequently asked questions
Should I mark every possession? No. Select a few examples connected to the question, then watch enough surrounding context to understand the decision.
Can I use the JBA’s five phases with every age? They are one reference for organizing analysis. The JBA report itself calls for age-appropriate adaptation, so simplify language and tasks for the group.
Can I share marked clips externally? The official page lists clip export and sharing as Pro features. Also check video rights, consent, and player privacy.
Sources
- BoardStrategist Features (video markers and clip tools)
- JBA, Paris 2024 Technical Report: Youth (five phases and age-appropriate adaptation; the source page is a June 17, 2026 archived snapshot, so verify current guidance separately)