By Jamie Kyte
If you’re into rugby or sports analysis, you might have seen this cool video of the South Africa Rugby team’s pre-game prep. In the video, you can see how the head coach has created a special piece of software that looks a bit like a video game. It’s designed to help players dive into their playbook together and communicate before the game. Watching it in action, it’s clear that this tool brings a new level of interaction to the team’s strategy sessions.
This approach got me thinking: Are other sports doing something like this? And with today’s players so tuned into video games, how can teams use similar ideas to keep their athletes engaged?
Turning the Playbook into a Game
In most sports, pre-game meetings can feel a bit old-school. Coaches usually go over strategies and plays, with players sitting and listening, trying to absorb it all. But let’s be honest, just watching a presentation or flipping through a playbook doesn’t exactly get players hyped up.
That’s what makes South Africa Rugby’s new approach so interesting. With this software, players don’t just sit there—they’re actively involved. They can move through the playbook, ask questions, and discuss strategies together. It’s like being inside a game where you’re one of the characters, and you get to figure out your moves with your teammates.
Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash
Some of the benefits are this are below:
Keeps Players Interested: It’s way more engaging than just watching a presentation or looking at diagrams.
Teamwork in Action: Players get to talk things through and see how their role fits with everyone else’s. It’s a team-building exercise, not just a strategy session.
Learning on the Spot: Players get immediate feedback on their choices, which helps them really understand the game plan.
Better Memory: We tend to remember things better when we’re actively involved, so this kind of tool can make plays and strategies stick.
Could This Work for Other Sports?
This idea of gamifying the playbook isn’t just for rugby. Imagine this in sports like soccer, basketball, or football. Young athletes these days are basically raised on video games, so using something interactive that feels familiar could be a great way to connect with them.
What Could the Future Look Like?
This video game-style analysis tool is just the beginning. As tech gets better, we could see even more tailored platforms for each sport—think of an app where teams can customise plays, simulate situations, and get real-time analysis all in one place. It’s a natural fit for today’s players, who already love interactive, game-like experiences.
Imagine a future where every team has a “digital playbook” that players can jump into, explore plays on their own time, or even use in virtual reality. It’s a new way to get players ready that feels a lot less like homework and a lot more like a game they’re excited to play.
Photo by Maxim Tolchinskiy on Unsplash
Wrapping It Up
South Africa Rugby is onto something really cool here. They’re making game prep more interactive, engaging, and—let’s face it—way more fun. It’s not hard to imagine this catching on in other sports, too, as coaches look for ways to keep their players engaged and game-ready.
For athletes, especially the younger ones, it’s a perfect blend of what they love (games) with what they need (preparation). Who knew that video game tech could be the next big thing in sports analysis?
You can view the video through a thread on X – https://x.com/SimonNo09739164/status/1791079781578023216
J.L.Kyte@bham.ac.uk