Teaming Up With video

Show your little leaguer the way to keep from stepping in the bucket as he or she rounds the bases. Use your own video footwork to get a tight shot of your favorite punter's golden toe as it impacts the pigskin. Or follow through with your documentation of the follow through on your neighbor's golf swing. Whatever the sport, taking yourself and your camcorder out of the "standby" mode can win appreciation from the athletes of your choice.

The supple bend of a plie. The dramatic flight of a grand jete. The graceful posture of an arabesque.

Before you see them on stage, the dancers have spent long hours working before a wall turned into a vast reflective surface. Dancers have long known that one way to improve their skills is to practice in front of a mirror.

Other athletes of all stripes have found another kind of "mirror" that lets them review and analyze their performances. Players and coaches know that one way to improve their game is to practice in front of a video camera.

Before the audience sees the faked handoff and the hustling roll-out to the left, you can be sure the team has watched itself carry out that play scores of times on videotape.

With a camcorder of your own, you can apply the same training techniques the pros use to improve the performance of your favorite athlete. A good balance of effective coaching, video feedback, and practice is the game plan.

The cause is so noble, the technology so inviting, you'll be tempted to rush right out to help young Bobby win the gold. But don't. Not yet.

Resist the urge to wade in and start shooting immediately. Even Alfred Hitchcock wrote out all the details before he began filming; you too will produce better results with a little preparation. Essentials follow.

• Protect your eqnipment. Many athletic events often take place in less- than-perfect videomaking environments-hot, dusty, freezing, rainy. Prepare for the worst.
• Set an objective. If you don't have a destination, how will you know when you've arrived?
• Ask questions. Even if you know what you're doing, someone else may have an insight you've overlooked.
• Plan your shots. Mentally walk through the shoot. Try to predict the advantages and disadvantages of each shooting angle and technique.…

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