Coaching Ice Hockey Using Digital Video Technology

Digital video technology allows the coach to breakdown and analyzes the team & player's performance. Digital technology can revolutionize the way every youth coaches can prepare their teams and players. Digital Cameras and application are affordable for most coaches. Video allows you to analyze performance and let you see things you couldn't see during the games & practices. Videos can be used to teach skills, systems, tactics and breakdown the game. Every coach should video games and some practices. We video tape all the practice during training camp. We then video practices two times a month for each age group. We use videos to evaluate individuals and teams performance. We use the videos to teach skills and take work segments. These work segments do not lie! Videos shows us where we are improving. Videos allow us to fine tune our focus and improve our weaknesses in future practices.

• What you see is what you get
• You improve on what you focus on

Video Technology allows you to provide accurate feedback to your players. We use Facebook to give players instant feedback on their performance. We post videos daily to aid in the teaching process. We use videos to highlight good plays and motivate the players. If used right, video technology can be used to facilitate mental training and psychological skills necessary to win. Equipment Needed:

• Editing software 
• Quality digital camera 
• Good laptop or desktop computer

The simplest way to breakdown game videos is a followed: 





Offensive Rush: Keith McAdams Coaching Tips: Slovakia Tomas Tatar Goal - Rush ...

• 1 v 1, 2 v 1, 2 v 2, 3 v 2, 3 v 3, 2 v 1 + 1, 3 v 2 +1
• Overload
• Cross
• Overlap
• Regroup

Offensive Control: Keith McAdams Coaching Tips: Invert Offense Causes Confusion ...

• Cycling
• Crossing
• Boards
• Give & Go

Forechecking: Team USA Failed to Capitalize on Good Forechecking vs. Finland

• Soft Dump
• Cross Corner Dump
• Hard Around Boards

Defensive Read Rush: New York Ranger Michael Del Zotto Defends Perfect 2 v 1

• 1 v 1,  2 v 2, 3 v 3,
• 2 v 1, 3 v 2,  4 v 3, 5 v 4
• 2 v 1 + 1, 3 v 2 +1, 4 v 3 +1

Power Play: Chris Kreider Goal - Hard Rims Can Be Effective Play On Regroups

• Rush
• Offensive Control
• Forecheck
• Transition from Defense to Offense
• Face Offs

Penalty Killing: Keith McAdams Coaching Tips: Little Things: Patrick Dwyer Penalty ...

• Rush
• Offensive Control
• Forecheck
• Transition from Defense to Offense
• Face Offs

Face Offs: New York Rangers Quick Transition On Defensive Zone Face Off

• Offensive Zone
• Center Ice
• Defensive Zone
• Special Plays

Scoring Chance Form: 


Period: Time Stamp: Team: Type: Description 
1 1.23.01 ERZ OC 1st line cross, cycle shot & rebound 
1 1.40.23 ERZ R Fatih driving wide, pulled down, leads to PP 
1 2.10.06 ERZ PP FO/OC/Goal, Point shot, screen tip & rebound 


You should record scoring chances from both teams. Keeping track of scoring chances, provides an accurate view of your teams strengths and weaknesses.




Power Thoughts: 


"I believe God gave us crises for some reason—and it certainly wasn’t for us to say that everything about them is bad. A crisis can be a momentous time for a team to grow—if a leader handles it properly." -Mike Krzyzewski