TactX set to revolutionise coaching

The days of the boot room tactics board are set to be a thing of the past thanks to a new tool set to be launched on the UEFA Training Ground early next year.

Tactics revolution
TactX is an application that can be used by coaches of all levels, from elite down to grassroots, to organise training drills, devise match tactics and analyse performances. Users will be able to demonstrate player moves via computer, with high quality 3D animations developed from motion capture video that are simple to create, edit and can be viewed from a number of different angles.

Big names
The launch of TactX comes ten years after the release of the popular TactFOOT package, which is used by thousands of coaches from all over the world, including big names from club and international football such as Gérard Houllier and José Mourinho. This original software was also endorsed by UEFA and distributed to all UEFA member associations to be used in conjunction with their coach education programmes. TactX, however, will go one step further and be accessible by the public via the UEFA Training Ground. It is due to be launched at the UEFA Grassroots Conference in Hamburg on 16 March.

Educational
"We are convinced uefa.com's programme of e-learning and coach education will be hugely augmented using TactX and we're confident that users will enjoy the many assets that will be made available to them using TactX as a platform," said Lesley Little, who has helped to develop the software. "A high priority for TactX is the national associations who received our original product and who we are confident will be blown away by what their coaches will now be able to do with the new TactX programme. We are working on a launch programme for the national associations and we will be bringing them exciting news on how they can start to use TactX in their own coach education programmes during the grassroots conference in Hamburg next March.

Exciting venture
"We see the UEFA Training Ground as the ultimate medium for football education through which coaches and players can access all aspects of coach education, regardless of their experience or ability. TactX will be part of an international portal where audiences access the best video content, the best interviews and the best coaching advice demonstrated with 3D Animation via TactX. TactX is going to revolutionise how coaches communicate their training and tactical skills."