How to Record Your Kid's Soccer Game (Without Filming Yourself)

Recording a kid's soccer match hands-free needs three things: a stable tripod, a camera that follows the ball without manual input, and a position that gives the camera a clean view of the pitch. The setup that works across 5v5, 7v7 and 11v11 is the same: half-way line, 2.5 to 3 metres high, framed wide for warm-ups then tightened for the match. Trackd handles the framing automatically.

Tripod height by age and field size

Where to put the tripod

The half-way line is almost always the right choice. From there the camera can pan equally to both ends of the pitch. Avoid setting up behind a goal — the ball ends up moving toward and away from the camera, which is harder to follow and produces less watchable footage. Avoid the corner flag for the same reason. If parents stand on the same side as the bench, set up a few metres away from the cluster so you don't get jostled.

Steps to record the match

Filming a tournament across multiple matches

• Bring a portable battery — Trackd charges the phone while filming, but back-to-back matches can drain it.
• Free up at least 8 GB of phone storage. A full 60-minute match at 4K is roughly 4 GB.
• Number your recordings (Match 1, Match 2, etc) so you can find them later.
• If you're filming two pitches at once, Trackd doesn't multi-cast — you'd need a second unit. /for/clubs covers the multi-team setup.

What you don't need

• A second cameraman.
• A drone — local rules around drones at youth fields vary wildly. Sideline filming avoids the question.
• An expensive standalone camera. A modern iPhone shoots better-quality video than most consumer camcorders.
• An internet connection. Trackd records locally to the phone.