The player auto-tracking feature is a valuable tool that saves time by automatically tracking players, removing the need for manual keyframing. Coach Paint’s AI tracks a player’s path by analyzing the position of their legs in each frame of the clip.
While auto-tracking can be a time-saver, it’s not always flawless, and you may encounter some tracking errors. This article will guide you through correcting these issues.
First, let's see how can you calibrate the field and track the players.
Getting Started: Field Calibration and Player Tracking
Before using auto-tracking, it’s essential to calibrate the field. Calibration can be done manually or automatically, and it ensures that player paths are tracked accurately. Note: Avoid adjusting calibration after tracking players, as it can disrupt their paths.
There are two ways to run auto-tracking on your clips:
Run auto-tracking and field calibration during clip import:
Track players in already imported clips: Make sure the field was calibrated before this step.
Tools for Fine-Tuning Player Paths
Sometimes, player paths may need adjustments due to tracking errors or overlaps with other players. Coach Paint offers several tools to help with this:
Shape Paths
The Shape Paths tool allows you to manually adjust a player’s path for increased accuracy. This is especially useful for correcting minor errors in auto-tracking. Here’s how to use it:
Select the auto-tracking tool and track the player.
Identify any section where the player’s path needs adjustment.
Select the Shape Path tool and click on the circle below the player whose path you want to edit.
Hold Command (or Control) + scroll with the mouse to select the path section you wish to adjust.
Drag the circle to refine the player’s path.
Swap Paths
The Swap Paths tool is designed to resolve situations where two players intersect, and the tool mistakenly follows the wrong player. Here’s how to address this issue:
Track the player with the auto-tracking tool.
When players’ paths intersect and the tracking follows the wrong player, use the Swap Paths tool.
Click on each player’s circle to swap their paths.
Adjust details if needed with the Shape Paths tool
Join Paths
The Join Paths tool helps when a player crosses paths with another, causing the tracker to lose the player’s path temporarily. Join Paths creates an interpolated path between the moment the paths cross and the moment they separate. Here’s how:
Track the player with the auto-tracking tool.
Locate the moment when the player’s path intersects with another’s (or the referee’s).
Go to the frame where the paths are last separate, then select the Join Path tool.
Click on the circle below the player to mark the start of the joined path.
Go to the frame where the paths separate again and click on the circle below the original player to complete the joined path.
Split Paths
The Split Paths tool allows you to stop auto-tracking and continue manually if the player moves into a congested area that’s difficult for the tracker. Here’s how:
Track the player with the auto-tracking tool.
When the player’s path becomes untrackable, select the Split Path tool.
Click on the player’s circle to end the automated path.
Use the Shape Path tool to manually adjust the remaining path.
Frequent issues with the Auto-Calibration and Auto-Calibration
For common issues and troubleshooting with auto-calibration and auto-tracking, please refer to this article: Auto-Calibration and Auto-Tracking Troubleshooting.