Using video in sports to improve performance is nothing new. 

In the early 1980s, American professional sports and college teams started retrieving videos of games to review in team meetings.  

Teams also acquired the film of opponents’ games to come up with winning tactics. 

It soon graduated to recording practice sessions to dissect individual or team performances for improvement. 

Now, recording your practices is an essential part of sports performance.

It’s even a set job in many professional teams.  

The Rise of Video Training in Sports 

Perhaps one of the most famous video analysts is the Miami Heat’s Eric Spoelstra.

He worked his way from reviewing video training to becoming the team’s head coach many years later and winning two NBA titles.  

Undoubtedly, if you’re a hockey player, video recording is valuable for training purposes.   

Hockey players strive to improve their speed, change of direction, puck control, shooting accuracy, and positioning.  

Each skill requires specific training to maximize performance but can be challenging to master. 

Here are five ways hockey training improves your game and how you can incorporate video into your training, even at home.  

1. Video Enhances Your Self-Assessment 

It's hard to pinpoint your mistakes when you’re skating at high speeds or competing for the puck. 

Your adrenaline is pumping. It’s part skill and part instinct.  

In hindsight, you may be able to identify areas for improvement.  

With video recording of your training sessions, you have the time to step back and perform some deep self-assessment.  

You can detail your training or performance by observing your technique and form. 

Video will show you glaring weaknesses in your game. 

Hockey players who leverage video assessment can significantly improve their game in as little as 30 days.  

2. Improve Your Decision-Making and Tactics 

Hockey is not only a game of brute force but savvy intellect. 

The decisions you make at one end of the rink can significantly impact the results at the other end.  

Reviewing practices and games can help you understand different game situations. 

You’ll likely make better decisions and apply your coach’s directions and tactics more effectively.  

Seeing yourself in action can help you see the game from your coach’s perspective, improving your tactical nous.  

3. Reinforce Good Habits... and Ditch Bad Ones 

What about the more intricate skills and techniques, like puck handling and shooting? 

You can also use video hockey training to improve in those areas. 

Seeing your shooting, passing, or puck-handling technique on video allows you to pinpoint good habits and eliminate bad ones.  

Visual learning helps you commit the things you need to change to memory.  

With the help of a coach, you can spend extra sessions working on those minor details and habits. 

It can also help you with off-ice training.  

If there are strength or flexibility limitations, you can tailor your resistance or mobility programs to boost your performance.  

4. Build Your Hockey Training Confidence 

Sometimes, you can work on a specific weakness or improvement area for months. 

How do you know if you’re improving? 

You can feel faster or more accurate.  

You can get feedback from teammates or coaches.  

Video drives it home.  

Seeing yourself through video over time boosts your confidence and motivation. 

And confidence plays a major role in hockey, as you need it to take risks, play with flair, and best your opponent. 

Video shows tangible improvements, which can translate into better practice sessions and games. 

5. Co-ordinate With Coaches for Professional Insight 

Is there a particular challenge you’re having in your game? 

Is it preventing you from being a better player? 

You may see value in recruiting another coach or specialist. 

That coach will need to see you in action. 

Video training allows for quick feedback and video reviews. 

You’re not limited to location. 

In fact, you can get access to the best in the game through remote coaching and feedback. 

Video training helps to create custom plans with coaches or even former professional players. 

They can slow down and zoom into specific parts of the video to emphasize observations.  

You Can Apply Video at any Level 

Is video training only available for professional teams? 

Absolutely not. 

You can apply video training at any level. 

For instance, if you’re practicing at home on synthetic ice, your iPhone and a tripod are enough to record your practice sessions. 

You can look into other cameras that give you better options, like the DJI Pocket or GoPro Hero 12.  

You can even add tools like apps to boost your video performance. 

Onform, Coach’s Eye, and Dartfish are fantastic apps that allow you to track your technique using drawing tools, vectors, and slow-motion analysis. 

Combine these apps with YouTube videos, online tutorials, blogs, and forums to help you maximize your video. 

With video and apps, you can train on the ice rink or at your home rink with synthetic ice. 

A large synthetic ice panel is enough for you to work on puck control, shooting, or stopping on the ice. 

You can then record those sessions and play them back to understand your progress. 

There’s no need to rely on your coach or wait to reach professional heights. At any stage, video hockey training will make you a better player.  

Become a Better Player with Video Hockey Training 

Hockey players are some of the most competitive athletes on the planet. 

They strive to become stronger, faster, and more accurate. 

Only the best of the best reach semi-professional or professional levels. 

The best way to get there is through consistent training over several years. 

The gap in talent, skill, and performance in all sports is narrowing rapidly. 

You need to find ways to set yourself apart from the competition as soon as possible.  

Video hockey training will enhance your training, motivation, and performance.  

Along with feedback and guidance from your coaches, you can only get better.  

The recommended tools and resources will cater to your individual needs and can even be applied to teens and kid hockey players.  

Embrace the future of training and become a better player with video.