The Next Level: Using Technology to Develop Young Athletes
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Three Towns
Project code: 1208
Amount applied for
£1,000
Project Summary
Turning every game into a learning opportunity using video analysis to build better players, improve fitness, boost confidence and support the mental wellbeing of young people.Project Description
We are looking for £1,000 in funding to help us purchase an XbotGo Falcon + NT4 Pro Tripod Field Pack, costing £883.99, along with the small amount of equipment needed to store, protect and keep the system ready to use.
At first glance, this might look like we're simply asking for a camera. It's much more than that.
We want to use the camera to help our young players get more out of every game they play.
At the moment, when a match finishes, our coaches have to rely on what they remember seeing during a fast-moving 90 minutes. We might remember a great goal, a missed opportunity or something we want to work on, but there is no way to see everything that happened across the pitch.
Having the ability to record our games would change that.
We would be able to sit down afterwards, look back at the game and work with the players to understand what happened. We could show them good decisions they made, areas they can improve and things they might not even have realised they were doing during the game.
The idea is simple:
Record it. Watch it. Learn from it. Work on it. Improve.
Who Will Benefit?
The main people who will benefit are the young players.
We want our players to have a genuine say in their own development. Rather than simply telling them what they need to improve, we can involve them in the process and ask them what they see, what they think they could have done differently and what they would like to work on.
This can help develop much more than football ability.
It can improve decision-making, communication, teamwork, movement, fitness, confidence and resilience.
We also believe there is a real wellbeing benefit. Young people can sometimes focus heavily on the things they got wrong. Being able to look back at footage gives us an opportunity to put those moments into perspective, recognise the things they did well and show them that improvement happens over time.
How Will We Use It?
The camera will be used to record our competitive matches throughout the season.
After games, coaches can review the footage and identify areas that need attention. Those findings can then feed directly into our training sessions.
For example, if we notice that we are struggling with movement off the ball, we can build that into our next training session. If we identify that players are making good decisions but need to improve their fitness or positioning, we can work on those areas too.
We can then see whether those changes are making a difference in future games.
This gives us a simple cycle:
GAME → REVIEW → TRAIN → GAME → REVIEW → IMPROVE
Supporting Sport, Fitness & Wellbeing
The project fits closely with the aims of supporting young people through sport.
Sport: Players will receive better feedback and more opportunities to understand the tactical and technical side of football.
Fitness: Match footage will help us identify movement, work rate and areas where our players can improve physically.
Mental Wellbeing: We can use positive video feedback to recognise progress, build confidence and help players understand that mistakes are part of learning.
Personal Development: Players will learn to reflect on their own performance, accept constructive feedback and take responsibility for their own improvement.
Project Costs
Item
Cost
XbotGo Falcon + NT4 Pro Tripod Field Pack
£883.99
High-capacity MicroSD card
£60.00*
Protective equipment/storage
£30.00*
Additional charging equipment
£25.00*
Total
£998.99
We are therefore requesting £1,000 to deliver the project.
Accessory costs are provisional and will be confirmed before purchase.
Why We Think It Deserves Funding
We think this is a worthwhile project because the benefit won't stop after one game, one player or one season.
The equipment will become part of our ongoing player development. It will allow us to learn from games, make our training more relevant and give young people a better understanding of their own progress.
Most importantly, we want to give our players opportunities that they might not otherwise have access to.
We're not looking to create professional footballers overnight. We're trying to give young people the tools, support and environment to become better footballers, healthier individuals and more confident young people.
Every game gives us something to learn from. Every player has something they can improve. This project will help us turn those opportunities into real development.
I confirm that I will provide any additional information requested to complete my application by the application deadline.
Yes
I confirm my understanding that if successful, I must submit my bank account information to North Ayrshire Council by the deadline requested.
Yes
Did you receive funding in the 2025 round of PB (Locality, Youth or CWB funds)?
No
If you were funded through PB last year, please confirm that you have submitted a monitoring update using this form before submitting your application: https://forms.office.com/e/RRkTgEWKPq
N/A
Location: Our project is based around St Matthews Academy, where we use the facilities for our games and activities. The project will directly benefit the young people who play with us, but we also believe it can have a positive impact on the wider local area.
Proposed on behalf of: Ardeer Thistle F.C 2010's
Don't have defined milestones
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