Lake Country This Month

Page 8 • FREEMAN & ENTERPRISE LAKE COUNTRY October 2015 246244004 Call 262-542-2500 for home delivery The FREEMAN Waukesha County's Daily Newspaper Or subscribe online at: gmtoday.com/subscribe MARK BELLING Read his column every WEDNESDAY in The Freeman! By Chris Bucher Freeman Staff WAUKESHA — Technolog- ical advances have made great strides over the past 15 years and Pewaukee's foot- ball team is taking full advantage of them as they play on the gridiron. With the help of an iPad, a television, video recordings and some software, Pewau- kee has implemented a unique system of coaching players during every football game. Every game — like most other teams — Pewaukee records each series of plays to show coaching staff and players potential areas of improvement. Contrary to other teams, the recording is immediately relayed to the sideline, where a television sits atop a table. After each offensive series, the offense — besides those offensive players who also play on the defense — sits down in front of the TV and is shown first- hand what areas it should alter. "We started using it around game five last sea- son," Pewaukee coach Justin Friske said. "It allows us to immediately download the previous series of plays and we're able to see it from our sideline and end zone cam- eras. After each series, coaches and players sit down and look at what the defense and offense are doing and talk about adjustments. "It gives our guys a chance to learn as the game is going and then it's relayed to me so that I can make better play- calls." The software — which Friske referred to as an EchoBox — enables coaches to draw lines and arrows and playback the video in slow motion, thus demonstrating to players where improve- ments could be made. While the entire offensive unit uses the system, the offensive line seems to get the most use out of it. "It's working pretty well," senior offensive lineman Brandon Kennedy said. "It allows us to make adjust- ments to the defense right in the game rather than waiting until halftime. We can be ready the very next series." Kennedy added he thinks the software has gone a long way already in improving his feel of the game. "It's made me better," Kennedy said. "Say you make a mistake during the drive, you're able to see and fix your mistakes right away the next series. They can specifically show me the hole for the running back to cut up and where the guy is sup- posed to be when you make your block." Junior quarterback Carl Renz said he's enjoyed the system and it's helped to open up a good amount of gaps in the opposing team's defense. "We're a very run-heavy offense," Renz said. "When we can show the (offensive) line what the defensive line is doing, it's a huge advan- tage for us to make adjust- ments and calls." Specifically as a quarter- back, Renz said he feels see- ing what he did right or wrong the previous drive enables him to stay sharp with his passes. "I can see how my mechan- ics are doing," Renz said. "I'm able to make sure my mechanics aren't breaking off as the game goes on because a lot of time you can get tired and lazy. Now I can see it and the coach can point out if I'm getting sloppy so I don't throw picks." Friske said at first it was difficult to get his team accustomed to immediately moving to the TV once an offensive series concludes, but it's worked in their favor. "They never had this at their disposal," Friske said of his team. "Getting them to get off of the field and sit down and get coached while the defense is on the field has been one of the hardest things. We've been using it primarily with offensive guys but our defense is using it more." He added that there's been a learning curve for his coaching staff too, because it's "utilizing something you've never used before." Even when playing in inclement weather, Pewau- kee is able to use the system. Kennedy and Renz said the team sets up a tent and a tarp on the sideline to keep the equipment dry and function- al. Friske gained knowledge of the technology at a confer- ence and fundraising within the community enabled the team to make it a reality. "I first heard about it at a coaching clinic that I attend- ed," Friske said. "We looked into it and fortunately we've done a good job of raising funds, so those went toward purchasing the software and equipment. "It's nice to be able to give kids a visual to see right away and it gives us the abil- ity to draw in the lines of where we want them to go. The kids like being able to have that as a point of refer- ence." Concussion caps reducing risk of head injuries The additional technology to Pewaukee's football team doesn't stop at iPads and soft- ware. As increased discussions have occurred regarding the safety of players, Pewaukee has been at the forefront. Friske said this season his program began using added protection to helmets during practices. Known as Guardian Caps, a shield of additional foam is strapped to the top of hel- mets. The added gear is said to reduce the risk of concus- sions, as well as virtually eliminate knee- and elbow-to- helmet injuries. "I can't say quite yet if they make a difference or not, but if there's a potential for them to be helpful, why wouldn't we use them?" Friske said. After pitching the idea to purchase the caps to Pewau- kee's booster club, they were happy to lend a hand in fund- ing for the caps. "In this day and age with the current knowledge we have about concussions and with football in the limelight, it doesn't hurt to be proactive and attempt to limit the risk," Friske said. "A lot of those concussion impacts occur in practice and on the line. It reduces the wear and tear kids go through and gives them a sense of securi- ty." Kennedy said he's experi- enced firsthand the positives of the caps. "It's allowed me to general- ly get less headaches," Kennedy said. "Being on the offensive line, we bang heads a lot and sometimes you get a shock and a small headache. These have helped to prevent that." Renz said in his experience playing football at the high school level, there's normal- ly a concussion during every season. Since the addition of the caps, he said they've gone a long way to limit the risk. "Usually we get about one kid that gets a concussion in practice," Renz said. "So far we haven't had any. They've definitely helped. It took a lit- tle while to get used to them because they do look a little weird, but it's helped with the hits we take." Kennedy added the caps aren't very bothersome and he could see additional teams using them in the future. "It's not a nuisance," Kennedy said. "They're very lightweight and don't feel like you have anything on top of your helmet. They allow you to play hard and be a lot less worried about concus- sions and other injuries." As the seasons go on using the protective equipment, Friske said he thinks the number of concussions will inevitably drop. "They are designed for the day-to-day stuff," Friske said. "I think they've been a great investment. As adults, it's important that if we're able to limit it, we should do what- ever we can do. "It was an easy decision to purchase them and we'll see as we progress if there are limitations with concussion symptoms. I'll keep track with our trainer and I think if we look at the numbers in three or four years, we'll see less and less." Email: cbucher@conleynet.com TV on sideline helps Pirates Pewaukee getting technology lesson Robert F. Borkowski/Special to The Freeman Pewaukee senior Xavier Straub looks to block for senior team- mate Jasper Fritz, who carries the ball during a preseason practice. The whole team is wearing concussion-reducing hel- met caps called Guardian Caps. Pat Neumuth/Freeman Staff A Pewaukee coach shows the offensive line the end zone camera during a game against Wauwatosa West. An iPad hooks up to the TV and the coaches use a software called EchoBox to play back the video in slow motion to help gain an advantage on the field. PRESENT THIS AD AND RECEIVE A FREE TREATMENT PACKAGE 246573001 David Fife is a fully qualified and certified acupuncturist. 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