The role of SkyCoach replay in Southside’s dominant football season

Photo courtesy of Southside

As Southside High School charges into the semifinals of the 2024 AAA Centennial Bank State Football Playoffs in Arkansas with an undefeated 14-0 record, their run of excellence stands out. Behind the scenes, their success has been supported by SkyCoach replay technology for several seasons.

Head Coach Kenny Simpson, who has led the program for nearly 15 years, vividly recalls their turning point in around the 2018-2019 seasons. At the time, Southside was using Hudl Sideline for in-game replay but encountered persistent issues at critical moments.

"It just felt like in the biggest games, it didn't work," Simpson shared. "We had some Zoom calls with SkyCoach and ended up going with them, and we haven't looked back. We're very happy with how it works.

“Reliability is No. 1,” he added. “Coaches are looking for something that you know is going to work whether it’s too cold or too hot. We haven’t had many issues but when we did it was nice to be able to talk to someone at SkyCoach that can actually help us. That’s been the two biggest things that separate SkyCoach from Hudl.”

Photo courtesy of Southside

SkyCoach’s reliability and user-friendly system have given Southside an edge, providing seamless, high-quality replay for both sideline and coaching box analysis, although, Southside prefers to make most of their adjustments on the sideline with the players.

As Simpson and his staff prepare for the biggest games of their season, the confidence in their tools remains unwavering. "We’ve been very happy with the in-game adjustments we can make and a lot of that is seeing the video and making those fixes. It’s been a really good year for us and hopefully it continues,” he recently told SkyCoach.

Southside primarily uses SkyCoach to fortify their defensive strategy. According to Simpson, his team often starts games slow as they assess their opponent’s game plan, but they adjust quickly, giving up fewer points as the game progresses. The Southerners rely on an iPad and TV on the sideline, with a coach meticulously marking plays to refine their strategy. "I don't know if there's a specific incident I can recall," Simpson noted, "but I know it's helped us in multiple one-score games."

Southside’s record-breaking season is a testament to their hard work, talent and preparation, supported by tools like SkyCoach to stay sharp in crucial moments when the game is on the line. As the Southerners prepare to take on Arkadelphia in the semifinals on December 6, their ability to adapt and execute will be tested once again on their quest for a state championship.