A top rate team like the Dallas Cowboys is well aware of the fact that they need to maintain their name, legacy and placement in football. They are also aware of the fact that when you are on the top you either stay their or, the only other way is down. These are two of the reasons that their practices now include scoreboards as a method to keep them strong.

Jason Garrett decided to give the Cowboys a visual aid for the players during training camp in Valley Ranch. His attitude is that the two scoreboards will offer the players the intellectual IQ of the performance. This may be the same psychology as a ballet dancer performing in front of a mirror or actors previewing their craft on video. The players can get an up to the minute idea of how they are doing as an individual and a team.

When the Cowboys play at either of the stadiums, they have the high tech electronic scoreboards to rely on, but when they went to practice, this method of measurement was reduced to a stop watch. This was a poor follow up, especially in today’s higher technology world. The scoreboards are a compliment to a method they are already accustomed to.

Thanks to the new scoreboards, the various players and the team as a whole has made a variety of changes in their approach and reaction time. Other areas of change included defense stops and offense ball control. They compared the day’s practice with the games that they lost and realized the changes they were instituting weren’t accomplished during the down games. Critical plays were examined during the lost games and adjustments were made by and for the team to overcome these situations.

While some might think that having scoreboards would put undue attention and pressure for the team members, the Cowboys view this as a well needed tool. Sports teams need to be flexible enough to make changes on the fly and the decision has to be supported and executed in precision like manner. A team also needs to perform as a team, in all its completion. The scoreboards offer the chance to repair or change a problem before the all important game.

Team members watch the scoreboards and accomplish replays of specific problem areas. As they make adjustments, the scores will reflect the changes and can then be used in the games to come. This is an advantage for both individual and team performance.

Garrett’s decision to add the scoreboards was probably one of the best choices he has made. His main focus is for the team to play smarter and have the ability to identify and correct the problems that may have caused a lost point or a lost game. Garrett knows that in order to stay on top the team must maintain the almighty competitive edge and using technology to achieve this is a definite win for the team.

While the art of sports is a time honored tradition, the use of scoreboards may just be the beginning for the use of technology for game and performance improvement.

Source:
www.chron.com