Subject: I didn’t see that the first time…
Date: September 24, 2026

Storytime…

When I was 4 years old, my parents bought our first VCR. Definitely dating myself here.

In the mid-80s, VHS tapes were expensive. We didn’t own many. Mostly it was going to the local video store and grabbing a Disney movie. This is before Blockbuster.

We owned one movie I remember.

Star Wars. The first one.

It didn’t have a name. Definitely was not Episode IV. Just Star Wars.

I watched it ALL THE TIME.

Every time I watched it, it seemed like the movie changed.

Something was different.

At four years old, I didn’t have a full understanding of movies. Or an attention span.

But I swore it changed. I’d watch the movie all the way through, then watch it again. And see something I somehow missed. Or didn’t understand.

No idea what the mechanism was. That VHS tape seemed like the magic machine changed the story every time you hit the rewind button.

You know what?

Sometimes watching game film feels like that.

Watch your game from Friday night while the emotion is still fresh. Then wait a few days and watch it again. Or wait till the emotion is gone a few months from now.

It’s a different game.

Check out your opponent on the first watch. Second watch. Third watch.
You start seeing things you missed. Seeing something that wasn’t there the first time.

Is that something that could win a game?

If you don’t want to miss it…

You need a SYSTEM for watching game film. One that’ll keep your inner 4-year old from missing the important stuff.

And keep your adult self from having to watch the film all weekend just to see the key information (while ignoring your 4-year old).

My game film system includes a workflow for self-scout and opponent exchange. Offense, defense and special teams.

Plus a plan for tagging the film to build your tendency reports.

It’s all part of the Game Film Master Class, open for enrollment for one more week. On Wednesday September 30, 2026 at Midnight Pacific the doors close for the rest of the season.

Enroll in the Game Film Master Class now >>

Don’t miss the most important part of the movie this week!

~ Joe Daniel

P.S. For those younger coaches, VHS are like DVDs, which are like streaming videos. From the ancient times. Don’t worry about it. Just make sure you have a system for watching moving pictures.