If XOS Technologies has its way, the long hours spent drawing on chalkboards and honing game plans on the practice field may go the way of the rapidly disappearing single-wing offense.
The first technological advancement in football training that allows players and coaches to interact in a digital medium.
Ties an activity that most athletes enjoy (video games) with something that many do not (practice).
The Florida-based company works with almost 500 clients across the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS, NCAA and NASCAR. Its services range from coaching solutions to facility design to fan interaction.
The company’s most recent creation, the PlayAction Simulator, combines innovations developed by XOS and EA Sports in a video simulator that is used on a computer or gaming console.
XOS already works with nearly every team in pro football and major college programs to help them digitally analyze game footage using video editing and motion-capturing technology. EA’s TDT Engine is the brain center of the company’s iconic Madden NFL and NCAA Football video games.
Together, XOS and EA created the PlayAction Simulator, which allows coaches, teams and programs to turn chalkboards into three-dimensional fields that create virtual training and testing scenarios for players. The program allows coaches to evaluate players, and allows those players to practice without leaving the comfort of their own couch.
The simulator can also be combined with XOS’s 3D Motion Capture and virtual reality goggles to make it more realistic.
“The idea is that teams will buy this to help bring their players along,” said Steve Chiang, senior vice president and group general manager at EA Sports.
Since players use gaming consoles, computers, or virtual reality studios to operate the simulator, they avoid practice injuries. Also, the system gives players coming off the bench more “practice” time and reps.
XOS has signed the football programs at the University of Tennessee and Louisiana State University as its first two clients. The Green Bay Packers also are evaluating the system.
Given LSU’s recent BCS championship, Chiang believes it’s only a matter of time until the simulator catches on.
“I think the LSU victory and the fact that the PlayAction maybe had something to do with it [will help],” he said. “These various leagues are so competitive and they’re all pretty copycat, so when one group has a tool that seems to be working the others usually pick it up.”
