What does a Video Coach Do? - A Deep Dive Into The Modern Video Coach of 2023
What does a video coach actually do? This is the question I often get in person and on the Pro Hockey Video Coaches pages (see links at bottom to follow). As the position continues to evolve and as people become increasingly aware that this position exists, the answer to this question changes. If you follow 200 foot coaching on twitter (click here if you don’t) you will have noticed this tweet a few weeks ago.
This answer is a great starting point but what other tasks are video coaches responsible for and can we dig deeper into ChatGPT’s response? Lets take a look at what the modern day video coach is responsible for in 2023:
Pre Scout Games
Normally a video coach will take their opponent’s three previous games and breakdown basic system events. Defensive zone coverage, forechecks, neutral zone coverage, special teams, chances, face-offs, breakouts and any other miscellaneous fields related to what the coaching staff wants. The responsibility may vary from team to team. Some video coaches might be responsible for downloading the games, marking the games and then handing if off to the assistant coaches. Some video coaches might be responsible for this as well as getting it down to 40ish clips and having the assistant coaches finalize that package.
Miscellaneous IT Questions
The video coach is the default IT person for the coaching staff. Wifi not working? Bluetooth not connecting? Cable box not working on the TV? Printer not working? All of these tasks are your responsibility and more!
Microsoft Office
As more and people enter the workforce as video coaches, it’s pretty fair to say that this and the next generation of video coaches grew up on computers and using word, excel, powerpoint and all the other tools that comes with microsoft office.
Setting Up Meetings
Depending on if you’re at home or on the road, you’re responsible for setting up the meeting space. You might have to just plug a computer into an HDMI that connects to a TV or you might have to set up a table, wires with a projector screen. Sometimes you have to be creative on the road! You might have to use the a drink try and stand for your projector depending on where the outlets are located in the room.
Post Game Workflow
All video coaches will have some work to do post game. This could be anywhere from downloading a pre-scout game from the same night you need for your next opponent, chance reports, face-off reports, sending shifts to players, scoring changes and making sure your coaches have the full game synced to their computer.
Disseminate Information
The video coach is responsible for posting the schedule for the day along with the lineup, any stats, standings or any other miscellaneous items the head coach might want printed out, digitally posted or written up for the players on a whiteboard. If you’re on the road, don’t forget to take any sheets down before you leave the building!
You’ll also be responsible for exchanging lineups with the opposition in the morning and submitting the digital lineup after the warmup.
Video Review
The NHL introduced the coaches challenge for the 2015-2016 season. This has started a trickle down effect at lower levels. You may be in contact with an assistant coach on the bench via walkie talkie and the coach might ask what happened on a certain play or if you should challenge a play. Its your responsibility to know how to work reviewing plays into your workflow while you are cutting the game.
Miscellaneous Video Requests
As the video coach, you will at some point during the season submit video to management, player development staff, the league for point changes and video to the medical staff when there are injuries.
Camera Operators
As we discussed in a previous post about being new to a team which you can view here, the video coach is responsible for training and staying in communication with the camera operators who film the game.
Digital Drawings
You might be responsible for drawing up plays digitally or signage the coaches want displayed. This can be anywhere from powerplay breakouts, in zone setups, penalty kill diagrams, system diagrams or drawing up the practice drills to post. You should get familiar with HockeyShare, CoachTHEM and other apps.
Filming practice
As the video coach, you don’t get a break during practice when everyone is on the ice. At home, you might be expected to film practice and maybe special teams on the road.
Technology
It’s your responsibility to know what technology is out there. This can be other video softwares from what you use, different ways to post digital signage, understand how the Ipads work on the bench in the NHL and anything else you can think of that might benefit your team. Don’t be shy to ask your peers to see what they use in different situations.
Dual Roles
Depending on what level you work at, you might be expected to either take on all the responsibilities of a team services coordinator or help out. In the NCAA, the Director of Hockey Operations is the position of video coach and team services manager. In the AHL, there are a handful of teams where the video coach doubles as the team service manager. This includes booking ice times, meals, bus transportation, potentially plane transportation, hotels on the road and any other items that might fall under the team services umbrella.
If you’re a video coach and you have a background working with goaltenders, you might ask to double as the goalie coach along with your responsibilities as the video coach. This is common in major junior and some NCAA programs.
Coaches Office On The Road
When you’re on the road, the video coach along with the equipment managers are responsible for setting up the coaches office. You need to make sure each coach has a workspace, an available outlet to charge their computer, water and then make sure the coaching boards with markers and a rag are available. The equipment managers should ask where everyone likes to sit and then set up their skates/gloves/tracksuits/shoes accordingly. The equipment managers will have gum & candy to set up as well.
The video coach is responsible for a lot more than just “hitting a few keys during the game and showing the coaches & players whats good and bad”. If you’re looking at a career in video coaching, I hope this post has enlightened you to all the responsibilities as you move up levels. If you’re a video coach and have a hard time explaining what you do, hopefully you can just forward this link to people who ask exactly what do you do.