New Zealand is hoping to maximize its chances at doing well at the eighth ISF Junior Men's World Fast Pitch Championships through the use of video review.

The country has competed in every world junior fastpitch championships with the exception of the inaugural tournament, which was held in 1981. But this is the first time a video analyst has been used. Out of the 12 countries competing at the fastpitch tournament, New Zealand is the only team who has this position.

"With video you are able to slow things down and pick up things that you can't see with the naked eye a lot, so it is very helpful," said Kath McGilbert, New Zealand's video analyst. "(It's) a great coaching tool."

New Zealand is one of the more competitive teams at the ISF Junior Men's World Fast Pitch Championships and is currently in fifth place with a record of 4-2.

The countries last medal at the event came in 1997 when they lost in the Grand Final to Australia.

New Zealand's best finish at the tournament came in 1989 and 1985 when they won gold medals. The country also finished second to Canada at the 1993 final, which was held in New Zealand.

With the exception of Australia, no country has had more success at the championships. The past two times this tournament has been put on, New Zealand has just missed out on medalling, finishing in fourth place on both occasions.

McGilbert is hoping to help change that outcome in Whitehorse through using video in both a scouting role and instructional tool with the New Zealand players.

"We use it purely for our technical work and scouting and every team should be scouting," she said."Some teams go out with a piece of paper and scout. We try to use as much resources as we can."

McGilbert works for Softball New Zealand and has been a video analysis for three and a half years.

An average day at the championships for her includes waking up at 7 or 8 a.m. and after breakfast meeting with New Zealand's head coach Paul Stokford to go over the video footage she took from the previous day.

McGilbert then heads off to the park to shoot play by play of either her team or another country that New Zealand will face in an upcoming game. After the game she uploads the video onto the computer and then codes it.

As a result of the high number of games McGilbert shoots, her work usually involves her staying up until 2:30 or 3 a.m.

She says the work is worth it because of her love of softball.

"It's a difficult position, but you wouldn't do it if you didn't love it and I am fortunate enough to be traveling all over the world with it."