How to film timed sports with a phone
Good footage makes good stats. These guides take five minutes to read and work with any phone.
Five rules for every sport.
Landscape, always. Turn the phone sideways before you press record.
High and still. Use a tripod or a clamp, two to three metres up if you can. Never hold it for a whole game.
See the whole playing area. Every line, both goals or hoops, every lane.
Power and space. Plug in a power bank. Keep about 5 GB free for a basketball game.
Do Not Disturb. Turn it on so calls and messages do not stop you.
Where to put the phone, sport by sport
| Sport | Where to put the phone |
|---|---|
| Swimming | In the stands or on the pool deck, level with the middle of the pool. Swimming filming guide |
| Athletics | Level with the finish line, raised, every lane in the picture. Official timing still decides results. |
| Rowing | From the bank or a launch, side-on, steady. |