Look down any youth football field this fall, you will see dozens of video cameras recording the action on the field.

There’s a big difference, though, between focusing on one player – namely, your child – and being the video coordinator for the entire team.

Coaches trust their video volunteers to capture game action so they can review what happened and help young athletes get better during practice. There’s nothing more frustrating than discovering video is choppy or missing key moments.

Good game film is also vital to getting the most out of a Hudl Club and Youth account.

Here are some easy tips anyone can use to film the game right.

• Find the right equipment. Your best bet for filming games is any hard drive camera. These cameras are easy to find, and you may even have one already. You'll know it's a hard drive camera if the video is recorded to an SD card or an actual hard drive and features a USB port. Here are some recommendations for affordable, high-definition cameras perfect for filming games next season.
• Use a tripod. Holding the camera while filming will work OK, but investing in a tripod saves your arm some aches and ensures the video is steady. You can find tripods here. We've had a lot of success with this one.
• Pause between downs. There is no need to record the entire game from start to finish. Pause the recording at each dead ball and start again right before the snap. This will make it easier to upload video to Hudl.com as clips will already be created.
• Don't go zoom-crazy. Set up the camera far enough away from the field to get the entire play without needing to zoom in or out. Move the camera with the players, but don't feel like you have to zoom in at the end of each play.
• Follow the players, not the ball. For example, during kickoff, follow the players down the field. Do not follow the ball. The players will lead you to the ball-carrier.
• Know the rules. Knowing the rules of the game makes you more intuitive about the shots you take. If you stay behind the action and predict what is about to happen, you'll have an easier time than someone who doesn't understand the game.

It's important to understand the fundamentals of the game as well as the style of your coach.

This article first appeared on Hudl.com/youth.