How to Record Matches on Club Courts Automatically

When a club installs a camera on a court, the initial outcome is often an unbroken stream of video that remains unused. To make the footage useful, additional steps are required. These include locating the match in the timeline, determining if a member is authorized to access the video, transferring the large file, and deleting older recordings to avoid storage issues and privacy concerns.

These manual tasks tend to be neglected when the club is occupied, frequently leading to the camera being left installed but not utilized.

Traditional solutions involve using specialized match-recording products, such as proprietary cameras and apps, and assigning separate accounts for players. However, these systems are complex, requiring multiple logins and support contacts, and are often disconnected from the booking system. Another common approach is to use a phone on a tripod, which is both free and unreliable.

The recommended method is to integrate the camera with the booking system. The booking should dictate when and where the camera records, rather than relying on manual intervention. This approach entails four key elements: the court must have a camera; recording should only be available on courts equipped with one; players should opt-in to recording during the booking process; and the video should be automatically delivered to the booking member upon completion.

To successfully implement this system, the club needs a camera capable of streaming using the Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP). Numerous cameras on the market support this standard, including Dahua, Hikvision, Reolink, and Axis models. Setting up the camera involves creating an account, assigning the camera a name, and specifying the court it should monitor. The system then generates an RTMP URL and stream key, which must be entered into the camera's streaming settings.

Certain technical settings are critical for a successful installation. These include selecting the H.264 video codec, using AAC audio codec, setting the stream to be the main stream, maintaining a resolution of 1080p with a bitrate of around 4 Mbps, and configuring the keyframe interval to 1 second. Additionally, the camera should use Constant Bit Rate (CBR) without variable settings, and the time zone should be set to UTC without Daylight Saving Time (DST) adjustments.

A continuous memory card is essential for recording, with the camera set to overwrite the card when full. This provides a backup in case of internet disruption during a match. The club can read the SD card to recover any lost footage, though manual intervention may still be necessary.

Once a court is equipped with a camera, the recording add-on is visible in the booking interface. This seamless integration ensures that the camera's functionality is directly tied to the booking process, making it easier to manage and ensuring that the footage is delivered directly to the right person.