Guide

Annotation tools

A tool-by-tool overview of every annotation type in ChalkReel, with room for screenshots or GIFs of each feature.

Annotation Tool

Select and move

Use Select when you need to reposition, adjust, resize, or delete existing annotations instead of placing a new one.

  • Select annotations directly on the video canvas.
  • Drag existing marks into better positions.
  • Use tool-specific resize handles where available, such as player markers and vision cones.
Annotation Tool

Pen and free draw

Use Pen for quick coach marks, freehand paths, and hand-drawn emphasis that does not need a structured basketball marker.

  • Choose stroke size and color before drawing.
  • Enable arrowheads when a freehand line should show direction.
  • Use draw-on animation for paths that should appear over time.
Annotation Tool

Arrows and rotations

Use arrows for cuts, passes, drives, recoveries, switches, closeouts, and other movement reads.

  • Straight or curved arrows can show different movement paths.
  • Arrow labels can capture quick defensive rotation language like help, recover, or switch.
  • Draw-on animation makes movement easier to follow in the recording.
Annotation Tool

Circle and highlight

Use circles for players, ball location, matchup focus, or any precise visual emphasis.

  • Circles can be outlined or filled depending on how strong the emphasis should be.
  • Highlight animation can pop, pulse, fade, or draw attention to a player.
  • Keep highlights short and focused so the recording stays readable.
Annotation Tool

Zone and rectangle

Use zones for spacing, gaps, help areas, overloaded sides, or parts of the floor that matter to the read.

  • Filled zones can softly shade a space on the floor.
  • Outline-only zones can frame an area without blocking the video.
  • Use opacity controls when a zone needs to sit behind other annotations.
Annotation Tool

Text and callouts

Use text for short coaching labels and callouts when the note needs to point to a specific player or location.

  • Use direct text for simple labels like late tag, empty corner, or switch.
  • Use callouts when a note needs a leader line back to the action.
  • Keep text short so it remains readable in recorded exports.
Annotation Tool

Player markers and X/O symbols

Use player markers for offensive IDs, positions, and simple X/O notation when diagramming a possession.

  • Number and position markers use circular marker backgrounds.
  • X and O markers render as standalone symbols using the selected color.
  • Markers can be resized and moved after placement.
Annotation Tool

Screen marker

Use the screen marker to show contact and screening angles without manually drawing block lines every time.

  • Place the marker across the screening angle.
  • Flip direction by drawing the marker from the opposite end.
  • Use color and stroke size to keep it visible over the clip.
Annotation Tool

Defender vision cone

Use vision cones to explain what a defender is seeing, missing, or responsible for during the possession.

  • Drag from the defender toward the area of attention.
  • Adjust opacity so the cone supports the teaching point without hiding the film.
  • Resize or move the cone when the defender changes responsibility.