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November 15, 2014
Four Nations 2014: Australia turn to iPad training apps pioneered by NFL clubs
THE Kangaroos have turned to technology pioneered by American football clubs to gain an edge over New Zealand in Saturday’s Four Nations final at Westpac Stadium. More at Fox Sports ››
August 10, 2014
NFL's new sideline tablets receive mostly positive reviews after 1st preseason weekend
Adjusting to new technology just isn't easy for some people, even in the NFL where everyone is trying to find that winning edge. More at Fox Sports ››
February 19, 2014
Tennessee Titans Move to iPad playbooks
Gone are paper playbooks the team has always used. In are playbooks and the ability to watch film on an iPad, where the team can scrub information from it if it’s lost. More at ESPN ››
Jan. 27, 2014
Despite Multi-Year MSFT Surface Deal, Nearly All NFL Teams Use iPads As Playbooks, Says Apple
On today’s Q1 earnings call, Apple’s CFO Peter Oppenheimer bragged that “nearly all NFL teams use iPads as playbooks. More at Tech Crunch ››
Jan. 14, 2014
St. Louis Rams' iPad Playbooks
Find out how iPads are revolutionizing the way Rams players prepare for game day. Read more ››
Nov. 20, 2013
Washington Redskins Go State-of-the-Art with iPad, UC and Wi-Fi Deployments
The NFL team replaces its aging phone system, implements a major wireless infrastructure upgrade, and rolls out iPads to replace playbooks for coaches, players and scouts. More at Biztech ››
Oct 23, 2013
Behind the scenes: Nebraska's video department
Go behind the scenes with the Cornhuskers Video dept and latest technology. More at Footballscoop.com ››
Sept. 6, 2013
Cameras to analyze player moves
The NBA announced Thursday that it will install motion-tracking cameras in every arena this season to provide coaches, players and fans reams of data aimed at pulling back the curtain on what it takes to succeed at basketball's highest level. More at ESPN.com ››
July 29, 2013
49ers Utilize iPad Playbooks
San Francisco’s coaching staff surprised the team by introducing digital versions of the playbook at the start of training camp. Playbooks have been replaced with iPads.
More at 49ers.com ››
July 1, 2013
NFL Playbook Security Ramps Up
Kansas City and Jacksonville are two of the latest franchises to place their playbooks on iPads for the first time this offseason.
More at Fox Sports ››
June 27, 2013
Georgia Bulldogs Go Digital with Playbook
The Bulldogs move to a digital playbook that allows them to access play diagrams, video footage, scouting reports, notes and quizzes all from iPads.
More at ESPN ››
June 12, 2013
NFL Playbook Security Ramps Up
Kansas City and Jacksonville are two of the latest franchises to place their playbooks on iPads for the first time this offseason.
More at Fox Sports ››
May 14, 2013
Samsung and Apple's Next 'Court' Battle: Tablets in the NBA
Professional sports teams are increasingly turning to tablets to help improve players' performance.
More ››
May 14, 2013
SAP Targets Sports Industry to Extend Its Reach for Consumers
SAP AG (SAP), the biggest maker of business-management software, said it's targeting the sports and entertainment industries to increase its access to consumers and help it meet a mid-term sales target.
More ››
April 14, 2013
UCLA Bruins Go Digital with iPads
Coach Jim Mora and UCLA Bruins go "green" issuing 130 iPads to players and coaches. More ››
April 2, 2013
Buffalo Bills Switch To iPads for Playbooks and Game Plan
The Buffalo Bills join 14 other NFL teams going digital with their playbooks. More ››
March 9, 2013
Stanford Basketball Use iPads for Watching Game Film and Studying Gameplans
Via Stanford Athletics More ››
November 28, 2012
A Technology Touchdown: Indianapolis Colts Step Into the Digital Era
Coach Chuck Pagano's decision to use iPad devices instead of paper playbooks has reaped mobility and security rewards for the NFL team. Full Story ››
November 15, 2012
Move to better seats with the Pogoseat app
By using Pogoseat, fans in the nosebleeds can upgrade to fill unoccupied seats closer to the action. More ››
November 5, 2012
NFL Playbooks, There's an App for That
Want a competitive advantage? As NFL teams are discovering, there’s an app for that. Across the league, teams are trading in their 500-page printed playbooks for iPads. More at ESPN.com
October 26, 2012
Cincinatti Bengals Playbook Goes Digital
Sleek new iPads replace big playbooks and DVD's for Cincinnati Bengals players who can now prepare anytime, anyplace. More ››
September 24, 2012
Duke Basketball Embraces Tablet Technology
The Duke men's basketball team is trading in the traditional notebook and hard copy scouting reports for the latest in technology More ››
September 24, 2012
49ers Announce SAP as Stadium Partner
The San Francisco 49ers and SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) announced Monday that the world’s leading provider of business software and analytics will be a Founding Partner at the new stadium in Santa Clara.
More ››
September 4, 2012
Seattle Seahawks' Digital Playbook
Gone are the days of binders filled with hundreds of pages of paper, as the Seahawks have switched to a digital playbook.
More ››
August 6, 2012
Washington Huskies transition to digital playbooks on iPad
Coach Sarkisian's program joins Stanford and Ohio State with switch to team-issued iPads
More ››
June 21, 2012
Miami Dolphins Transition Playbooks to iPads
The Dolphins have distributed their digital playbook and game film on team-owned devices
More ››
June 4, 2012
Denver Broncos transfer player playbooks to iPads for 2012 season
Another NFL team goes digital with iPad playbook app. The Denver Broncos have issued team-wide iPads running on Verizon's LTE network. More ››
May 25, 2012
Playbooks Go Digital
Starting this season, Broncos players will receive iPads for studying the playbook and watching game film. More ››
May 23, 2012
Ohio State Athletics Works with University Digital First Initiative
Ohio State to Provide iPads to Student-Athletes More ››
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Is a Digital Playbook the key to Winning the Super Bowl?
Sunday's SuperBowl is projected to be a ratings juggernaut between the best two teams in the NFL, both on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks are the final two teams left in what is undoubtedly a long and grinding season in the National Football League.
It's well documented that the Baltimore Ravens were one of the first NFL teams in 2011, that began using Apple's iPad® tablet for distributing digital playbooks and weekly gameplans. Last year it came in handy as they hoisted the Lombardi trophy in New Orleans. But is a digital playbook the key to winning the Super Bowl? Yes and no. This year, the Ravens didn't even make the playoffs, so consistency in winning depends on several factors.
As this year's Superbowl matchup proves, a true contender needs to have the talent on the field to compete through 16 regular season games plus the Playoffs. Both mentally and physically, players need to have the strength and dedication to compete day-in and day-out. Beyond the physical talents though, emerges the game-changing effect of technology and tablet-based software applications such as ours.
Performance on the field depends greatly on player preparation throughout the week prior to gametime. Whether its watching or downloading game film on their iPads, studying their playbooks remotely or communicating with the coaching staff, a player's retention
of gameplans and strategies is the link to being ready on game day. With no bigger gameday than the global stage of the Super Bowl, It will come down to which one of the two teams is better prepared. As I write this blog post, players and coaches are undoubtedly studying their playbooks and video cut-ups, going over final strategies and schemes for Sunday's matchup.
Both the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks use the iPad® as the tablet of choice across their respective organizations. Despite a multi-year Microsoft has with the NFL, most teams, including 75% of our clients, selected Apple's iPad over other devices.
In the end, the potent combination of the right personnel, players and technology, can boost a team from good to great. If Sunday's Super Bowl is any indication of where sports teams are headed with technology, we can expect the tide shifting even further from paper to digital playbooks... one page (and video frame) at a time.

Posted by: Michael Hunziker
Rugby Teams Join Digital Playbooks Client Roster
As Digital Playbooks continues to expand its service offerings to regions and countries outside of North America, we have quickly learned that sports teams around the world can benefit from a digital playbook solution. Budgets vary from team to team, but one thing is certainly clear from our many conference calls with team managers and coaches around the world. They are all generally seeking the same thing. An easy-to-use, creative and smart product to implement across daily business operations and team activities. At my previous company, TeamLync, my team and I focused primarily on football (soccer) teams before eventually deciding to expand our software to other sports. Rugby was always in the back of our mind given our location in Europe and the continued referrals from team managers we worked with.
Digital Playbooks, LLC has made Rugby a priority given the recent flood of inquiries from New Zealand and Australia and the company is poised to retain 5-8 teams in the initial pilot program this year. Rugby's field view and rules are different than other sports, but the overall day-to-day operations and player engagement are not that different from other clients.
We recently learned of a company called PlayerLink based in South Africa. PlayerLink is a sport management company focused on addressing the needs of professional athletes. A leader in the industry, the PlayerLink team aims to help the professional athelete in every aspect of their lives through communication, including financial, marketing and post-career needs. Started by former rugby players, PlayerLink has quickly grown to include several offices across SA and Europe.
Alot of our research into rugby while at TeamLync, involved understanding not only the sport and regulations of rugby, but also the cultural influences that were unique to each fan base and region. With DigitalPlaybook™ Rugby, we know that the opportunities for continued partnerships and product development are endless.
For more information about PlayerLink, visit their website: www.playerlink.co.za.

Posted by: Michael Rojkind
Touchdowns & Touchscreens: A Digital Superbowl Showdown
Sunday's SuperBowl is projected to be both an epic game between two strong, defense-minded teams and a tale of two brothers, both head coaches of their respective teams. Affectionately tagged as the "Harbowl", this historic matchup has been generating buzz since the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers became conference champions. Behind the scenes, and perhaps an interesting take on Sunday's SuperBowl, is the ongoing conversation about innovative ways sports teams, including NFL franchises, prepare for opponents week to week.
It's well documented that the Ravens are one of a handful of teams, called "early adopters", that began using Apple's iPad® tablet for distributing digital versions of their playbooks and weekly gameplans. Some advantages to going "digital" are pretty clear. Young players, having grown up with technology literally at their fingertips, are thought to be more focused using iPads, spending greater time studying team playbooks, watching game film, and preparing throughout the season. There is also an ease of use with tablets that enhance the user experience both for players and coaches, allowing admins to create digital game plans with, literally, a couple clicks.
The San Francisco 49ers, tech innovators in their own right, and having recently announced their partnership with SAP to enhance the fan experience, are on the cutting-edge of technology. Based in Santa Clara, the NFL team is surrounded by some of the brightest minds in the tech/software industry (not to mention that the region is home to companies like Google, Facebook and several other digital startups). Players have already embraced tablet technology and continued the recent wave of sports teams going paperless.
It will be pretty exciting to see the clash of two teams at the forefront of "smart" technology and smart business decisions. The outcome of the Superbowl may ultimately come down to who has the better "Digital Game Plan". If it comes down to "the wire", my money is on Baltimore to pull out the win.

Posted by: Michael Hunziker
NFL's San Francisco 49ers leading the charge with player technology and fan engagement
The San Francisco 49ers have always been one of the storied franchises in the National Football League. Historically, they are a highly-regarded team not only for their talent on the field, but also because of its upper management and "brains" behind the operation. As an iconic brand and symbol of American football, the 49ers have come to exemplify an understated elegance and timeless allure of American football to fans outside of the U.S. Besides the Dallas Cowboys, The San Francisco 49ers are the most well-known and popular NFL teams around the world.
Recently, it was reported that the 49ers were partnering with SAP as as stadium partner. SAP AG is the world's leading provider of business software and analytics. As a founding partner of the new stadium in Santa Clara, SAP will ultimately take the fan experience to the next level by integrating new apps and features within the stadium on game day. SAP will also integrate new technologies that will help map out the fan experience in time for the 2014 NFL season. But aside from the fan experience, much of the value will be felt "behind the scenes", across the 49ers' business ops. A key benefit for any business, whether it be a sports team or a fast food restaurant, is having the technology and proper system in place to help operations function more efficiently.
A while back, I was fortunate enough to be contacted by Michael Christianson, the Offensive Assistant & Coordinator of Football Technology for the 49ers. We discussed the team's need for an online playbook solution and he was gracious enough to share his expertise, both from an Xs and Os perspective and a technological one. Christianson's wealth of knowledge made it clear that part of the 49ers' success as an organization is due to his involvement in both the football and the technology operations. Having someone in-house with the skills to coach players and lead the charge with new technologies is an invaluable one.
There are a handful of teams whose coaching staff may be considered more "old school", not quite ready to make crucial business decisions when it comes to technology. One thing was clear about my conversations with Christianson. The 49ers are always looking ahead and are at the forefront of developing and integrating new technologies. In the end, teams with even the slightest technological edge in a "game of inches", may prove to be the difference in solving crucial situations, both on and off the field.

Posted by: John Welker
DVSport vs XOS Digital? Tech leaders in sports... but which one is Coke and which one is Pepsi?
Sports teams, both professional and collegiate, are run very similarly to how a CEO and its management team run a business. There are several moving parts, wins & losses (profit & loss), and tactical day-to-day operations that a team is responsible for its continued success. Within each team, there is usually an IT department (or at least one or two technicians) along with a Video department. One of the most important aspects of a team's weekly operations is the collection and editing of video (AKA "cutups"). Across the different leagues, digital video has become a real "game-changer" for coaches and players.
While there are a wide range of Video editing programs on the market, two of the largest and well-respected companies in this market are XOS Digital and DVSport. Both companies boast a solid portfolio of clients and their softwares offer similar features. How does one make the choice when it comes to choosing a vendor? Is it price? Is it client roster? NFL franchises tend to have pretty robust budgets when it comes to spending on new toys for their players and coaching staff. So money isn't usually the determining factor. Perhaps it's brand awareness.
What makes someone prefer Coke over Pepsi? In a blind taste test, can someone really tell the difference? You would be surprised how many people, loyal to a certain brand or product, stand by that product, sometimes without a clear reason. Consumers make purchasing decisions sometimes purely based on packaging.
The "packaging" of both XOS and DVSport is pretty solid. Both companies share the same space and are competitors nevertheless. DVSport recently redesigned their website, an upgrade to their earlier iteration. Larger, glossier images and a clear feature list make it an easy read for potential clients to peruse their suite of products.
They have a distinguished client list, among them the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers, The Dallas Mavericks and West Virginia Mountaineers. XOS Digital, on the other hand, doesn't publicly advertise a partial client list but instead focus on all of the different products and services they offer. XOS has several locations and specializes not only on video editing and software development, but they are also leaders in sports licensing and digital rights management across leagues and conferences. It should be noted that XOS Digital's clients include the New York Giants and New England Patriots, among the 20 NFL teams they service.
Earlier this year, one of Digital Playbooks' partners was invited by XOS to visit their Boston office to learn more about each other's products and service offerings. The experience was a valuable one, seeing first-hand how a well-run software giant does business in a very competitive space. We had the good fortune of meeting Ted Ellickson, director of marketing for XOS. Similar to other sports/tech gurus we've had the pleasure of meeting, Ellickson is a former player and now specializes in technology for sports teams. Their product offering is vast and spans across several sports.
So let's cut to the chase. Which one is Coke and which one is Pepsi?
In a taste test, side by side, is there a clear winner? Well, that all depends on whether you are a Coke drinker or a Pepsi drinker. Is there a clear difference? Is there a clear answer? The jury is still out. In all fairness, we dont have first-hand knowledge of DVSport's products or facilities. But if XOS has 20 clients in the NFL, and there are only 32 teams total (and assuming DVSport has the other 12 locked), XOS wins. Unfortunately, as is the case with other things in life, there isn't a clear-cut decision, and we are only sampling one league here. My honest opinion, both companies are strong leaders in sports technology and healthy competition will push both companies to ultimately develop newer and better products.
Think "Cherry Coke" or "Pepsi Max". The possiblities are endless.

Posted by: Michael Hunziker
Several NFL teams trade playbook binders for iPads. But is iPad the "cool kid on the block" or the best tablet for your sports team?
You've heard the big news, "NFL teams trade their paper binders for iPads." It seems like blog after blog pick up the same "trending" headline and then retweet it for the simple purpose of attracting similar visitors to their own site. Content-wise, there isn't much originality in most of these posts, but what is clear is that they love using the term "iPad Playbooks" as if Apple has somehow endorsed the product.
The recent trend of sports teams purchasing iPad tablets, both in the NFL and college, has been a profitable one, not only for Apple but for app developers as well. The good news is that we're lucky to be working in a burgeoning industry that only promises to grow and flourish with innovation and potential. As we continue to grow our studio here in the US, Europe and Australia, on occasion, we receive a good deal of inquiries and requests for custom development. What we have learned is that most visitors to our website are generally interested in Apple and iPad/iPhone products and love our App because of its understated allegiance to Apple and iOS.
But is the iPad the best tablet on the market for sports teams? Is it the "cool kid on the block" that everyone knows and loves? Or does it offer a deeper level of security features and native file management system far beyond its competitors? Is it the iPad's UI and UX that make athletes, coaches and users alike feel "warm and fuzzy" inside everytime they hold it or pinch + zoom an image?
What makes the iPad, the tablet of choice? Perhaps clever marketing, great design and the overall sense that Apple is a great company with great products. We tend to agree.
However, there are sports teams using other tablets for their interactive needs. One such team is the NBA's Phoenix Suns, which in February deployed more than 100 Samsung Galaxy 10 tablets to their team. Coincidentally, that same week we had the chance to meet with the severl members of the VIdeo and IT Departments of an NFL team that had not yet made a decision on which tablet to supply its players and coaches. They too liked the Android operating system and were inclined to explore the Motorola XOOM tablet a little further.
While Apple does offer a very stable and popular tablet, we are finding that several high profile teams along with our customers in Europe, while fans of the iPad, love Android as an operating system. Whether it be the ease of use for app distribution or the flexibility of coding with Java vs ObjC, Android tablets are making a push, both in sports and business. A recent call from the marketing department of one of the top phone/tablet makers in the US, prompted our development team to begin developing an Android version of our Digital Playbook™ App— partly because it was a good challenge, but realistically, we are a studio focused on expanding our global reach.
While it's true Apple owns a big share of the tablet and phone market, (and we are primarily a Mac-based company), there are other kids on the block, and sometimes being "cool" only lasts so long. Eventually kids grow up, become adults and begin making smarter purchasing decisions. Is iPad the "best" tablet on the market for sports teams? Possibly. Nevertheless, there is more than enough room in the sandbox to play nice with others.

Posted by: Oliver Mach
The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Digital Playbooks, LLC or any of its cients. Third-party websites that can be accessed with links from this website are not under our control and Digital Playbooks is not responsible for the contents of any of these third-party resources. The third-party links presented on this website are provided for your convenience only. The inclusion of any link on this site does not imply any recommendation, approval or endorsement of that site by Digital Playbooks.