The game of hockey, and sports in general, have come a long way in a very short amount of time when it comes to technology and how it improves the chances of success for players. Almost every sport has teams that have positions in their front office for things such as data scientists or analytics. Another way technology has been utilized for players is the video room, where players and coaches often log hours of off-ice time studying previous games as well as their opponents. But did you know that there is a Video Coach in the video room, that helps prepare and breakdown footage for players and coaches? Not every team has one, but the teams that do rely on them for research and instant access to specific parts of game film. But that is not all. There is so much more to a position that does not get much publicity in the NHL, but certainly has a role moving forward as the second-chance eyes and ears of the coaching staff.
What is a Video Coach?
It is exactly as it sounds, a member of the coaching staff that is there to use technology and video footage to help the players and the team succeed. With the improvement in technology and the digitization of footage, players and coaches can quite literally ask for any play from any game in the NHL. The Video Coach has full access to the NHL games database and is able to pull footage to cut and edit each game for specific plays and series that may need to be reviewed.
You generally will not see the Video Coach on the bench with the other members of the coaching staff though. They are usually holed up in an office or different part of the arena where they have access to multiple computers and monitors to constantly review and prepare footage for intermissions and post-game reviews. Before, it was mostly after or between games when coaches and players would want to re-watch game film, but now, it can be at any time, even streaming footage for coaches to review on the bench in real-time. Talk about utilizing technology during the game!
How Do Coaches Use a Video Coach?
The coaching staff is always in communication with the Video Coach, in case there is something that they need to review or re-watch on the fly. Video Coaches need to be agile and anticipate what a coach may want to see before they even request it. Whether it is at intermission or even during a TV timeout, the coach can ask for some video clips at any time as current day coaches all have tablets and laptops right on the bench that they can use.
Another crucial role that the Video Coach has in todayโs NHL is in advising when a head coach should challenge a play or call. If a goal is scored after a missed offside, or if a goal was ruled to be scored with a high stick and was called back, the Video Coach will be called upon immediately to provide some digital evidence to the coaches. So every faceoff, every shot, every time a team enters the zone, all of these need to be watched with an eagle eye in case a play can be challenged.
How Do Players Use a Video Coach?
Some players are extremely keen on watching game film to either improve their game or hone in on areas where they may need improvement. Coaches on the bench are often seen holding a tablet for players to watch between shifts, all of which is available in an instant by the Video Coach. Players also like to watch film of games on the bus, in the plane, or during their individual training sessions, as a way of reviewing their own tendencies as well as scouting upcoming opponents. Is this advantageous to players? Absolutely. Think about how helpful it is for us to see instant replays on the television when we are watching games at home. Players are often shown watching replays on the giant video boards that hang in the arena, but now they can just as easily re-watch these on the tablet on the bench.
More Than Just Re-Watching Games
During any given game a Video Coach can be monitoring hundreds of different plays to cut, edit, and save for the coaches after the game. The Video Coach needs to have a feel for what the coaching staff needs, as well as being able to recognize and identify key plays or sequences in a game that the coaches may have missed. And it is not just the game being played right now either. A lot of coaches will request footage of other teams around the league especially if they are an upcoming opponent.
Technology in sports has come a long way and teams are continuing to find more ways of utilizing it to their advantage. Who would have thought coaches and players on the bench would be reviewing plays between shifts? The NHL is such a high speed game it is almost impossible to keep track of plays throughout a game but that is where the Video Coach comes in. To have another knowledgeable coach behind the scenes providing instant advice is invaluable to a teamโs success. This is exactly why a Video Coach is a coach and considered an essential part of a teamโs coaching staff in todayโs NHL.
