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How the Austrian record champions are freeing up valuable analyst resources and improving the quality of talent development by automating video recording.
The SK Rapid youth academy is one of Austria's most renowned talent factories, known for developing national players such as Leopold Querfeld, Niklas Hedl, and, more recently, Nikolaus Wurmbrand. Professional video analysis is an essential part of the development process for shaping such top talents.
But even at this elite level, a fundamental operational hurdle was encountered that many clubs are familiar with: analysts, whose valuable time should actually be spent on tactical evaluation, were often busy operating a camera. This case study shows how SK Rapid eliminated this inefficient process, improved the quality of its recordings, and professionalized its analysis workflow in the long term through the strategic implementation of the permanently installed zone14 TWO AI camera.
Mobile camera systems were initially used on the training grounds of the academy and Rapid II. To gain insight into the daily work, we spoke with Maximilian Escher, analyst at Rapid II. He clearly describes the operational hurdles prior to the implementation of zone14:
“We wasted too much time as cameramen,” he says. “When we wanted to film a unit, someone always had to set up the equipment, control the recording, and stay in place for the entire duration. We then lacked those 1-2 hours per training session for the actual content analysis.”
The main challenges were:
The goal was clear: A “set-and-forget” solution was needed that would radically simplify the recording process, reduce the workload for analysts, and deliver uncompromising, reliable video quality.
A customized solution was developed in close collaboration with SK Rapid. Several permanently installed zone14 TWO AI cameras were mounted at optimal, elevated positions on the training grounds.
The analysis workflow at Rapid II has been significantly improved by zone14:
In addition, the system makes it possible to make the analysis process even more immediate and drastically shorten feedback loops. With zone14's live tagging feature, crucial training scenes can be marked during the session itself. This allows coaches to show a player the scene they just recorded seconds later on a tablet at the edge of the field. This immediacy of action, analysis, and instant correction in the next round is a powerful tool for further accelerating the learning process of talented players.
The partnership between SK Rapid and zone14 is a prime example of modern efficiency in football. It proves that even at the highest level, automating standard processes is key to making the most of valuable expert resources.
What does this mean for clubs in all other leagues? The logic is the same, but the benefits are perhaps even more direct. While a professional club like Rapid integrates 4K recordings as a perfect data source into its existing, highly specialized workflow, dedicated clubs get the complete, integrated success package from a single source with zone14.
You not only get professional camera technology, but also the accompanying, easy-to-use analysis system. With zone14 REPLAY, you can analyze tactical patterns like the pros, edit scenes, and annotate them with drawings. However, the real game changer is zone14 STATS: our AI extracts valuable performance data such as running distances, sprint speeds, and heat maps directly from the video image—without the need for expensive and cumbersome GPS vests. This unique combination of tactical video analysis and objective performance data gives you insights that were previously unthinkable in amateur soccer.
It is a scalable solution that proves that the smartest technology is often the one that simplifies everyday life the most—whether in the Bundesliga Academy or in the lower leagues.
