1. An apparatus, comprising: a video encoder for encoding at least an image block in a picture using template matching prediction, wherein the template matching prediction is selectably constrained using one or more constraining criterion that reduces a complexity of performing the template matching prediction, wherein the one or more constraining criterion comprises interpolating sub-pel positions for a frame before performing a regular motion search and template matching prediction, and wherein a decision between the regular motion search and the template matching prediction is then sent in the bitstream; and constraining the template matching prediction motion vector search performed for the template matching prediction to a full-pel precision and using a sub-pel interpolation precision when using coding modes that do not require motion search at a corresponding decoder in the video coding standard or recommendation, and averaging a plurality of matches obtained from the template matching prediction.