CoachComm, GridIron tackle high-school football with 3D system

By Andrew Lippe
High school football coaches often envy the superior technologies college and professional football coaches possess but that’s no longer the case thanks to a joint enterprise of CoachComm and GridIron technologies. A new software tool developed by GridIron is hoping to help coaches improve a quarterback’s knowledge by allowing plays to be practiced in a three-dimensional computer graphic environment.

“GridIron is in professional football and in the colleges and we wanted to bring it to the high school market,” said Jason Lamb product manager of software at CoachComm, which began distributing GridIron products in July.
The software consists of the GridIron GamePlanner Prep where coaches can take diagrams of plays in 2D mode and with a controller put them in 3D mode for players and coaches. It offers unique angles, and perspectives, showing in helmet views of every player position and their view of the field. The “plug-in and play” software requires no additional staff to operate and can gives high school coaches an upper hand in training young and aspiring players thanks to an innovative technology called SmartPlay.

“SmartPlay makes up a scenario and puts the quarterback at the line of scrimmage,” says Lamb. The quarterback then decides what to do and depending on his decision the program gives immediate feedback. “GridIron, simply, will allow teams to win more games,” says Peter Amos, CoachComm president.

A third component of the system is 3D SmartVision that allows coaches to make innovative game plans, test new strategies, design plays and techniques based on scouting reports and then email their playbook to any player or coach.

The technology was exhibited on large monitors at The 2006 Texas High School Coaches Association Tradeshow from July 30 to August 2, 2006 in Austin, Texas. “The feedback was great,” Lamb says. “We have already started getting orders and more are sure to come.” Pricing is roughly $3,000.