New Video Technology a Game-Changer for Australian Squash Athletes

Australian athletes around the country have received a boost ahead of this month’s Commonwealth Games thanks to new state-of-the art video technology from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).

The AIS Video Optimisation Grants program, supported by the Australian Government and in partnership with Australian company Fulcrum Technology, helps give coaches and athletes real-time feedback as they train.

A total of $1.17million worth of multi-camera video training systems have so far been allocated across 28 high performance training centres spread across every Australian state and territory, including Squash Australia’s High Performance Training Centre on the Gold Coast.

Australian Sports Commission CEO Kieren Perkins OAM today met with members of Squash Australia’s Commonwealth Games squad on the Gold Coast, ahead of the team’s departure for Birmingham.

“This is world-class technology delivered simply,” Mr Perkins said. “It’s one thing for a coach to try and explain something to an athlete, but it’s an entirely different ball-game when you can show training vision on a phone or tablet within seconds of it happening. That immediate visual feedback and coaching analysis is where learning and development can really be fast-tracked.

“The data that sports collate from this technology will also have an ongoing impact, providing a library of training vision for deeper analysis and potential advances in artificial intelligence. This is a wonderful story of Australian innovation and collaboration, with Government, sport and technology combining to give our athletes the best chance of reaching their potential.”

AIS Director Matti Clements said enhanced technology for coaching and facilities around the country would boost athlete development in a defining era for Australian sport.

“This investment makes world-class video technology more accessible to coaches and developing athletes right around the country and will help to super-charge their development for future success,” Ms Clements said.

“As this technology continues to be installed, it will have long-lasting impact for Australian athletes, including those aspiring to compete at events such as the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Victoria and the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.”

The cameras installed at the Squash Australia National Training Centre on the Gold Coast, covers all three courts, allowing the coaching staff to hold real-time and detailed debriefs with their athletes in the dedicated strength and conditioning space set-up with assistance from the AIS Small NSO Infrastructure Grant Program.

20-year old Commonwealth Games debutant Alexandra Haydon, who relocated to Squash Australia’s National Performance Centre in 2020, said: “Having access to this technology in my home training environment means I can get instant visual feedback on the changes my coach and I are working on every session.” 

 Squash Australia CEO Rob Donahugh reinforced the great opportunity this technology provides for the current and next generation of high performance squash athletes.

“Video analysis has been quite common in sports for a long time now, but in squash we haven’t had access to this fixed technology and players have used recordings from mobile phones or broadcast for performance analysis” he said.

Having this technology here in the National High Performance Centre will greatly benefit our athletes who are always looking for those small advantages to give them a competitive edge.

“Especially with the Commonwealth Games in a few weeks, having this technology in time for that has really helped our doubles athletes in their preparations.”