If a coach stands at the front of the room, rolls a video, and says: ‘Ok, guys, this is what it looks like.  See A? See B? See C? That’s what we’ve gotta do,” I think the chances of behavior change and learning among the athletes is fairly low.

One of the principal roles of a coach is to align individuals’ understanding of how ‘we’ respond in any given situation, bridging the gap between individualised mental models (MMs) and a shared mental model (SMM).

It is important to structure your ‘play-back’ sessions. Put as much investment into this as you may do for all other planned activities with players. Really think hard about the purpose of the ‘play-back’.

Whether it’s through a club’s own scouts, its use of video and data as an identification tool, or through a network of trusted agents, providing enough detail on the required playing profiles that the club needs, allows for the most suitable options to be presented.

“Having an impact on athletic development and hockey IQ by using video as a learning tool is clearly beneficial. However being able to effectively communicate and teach with it is a skill and one that can be hugely underpinned by lived experience.”

“Taking that deep dive into the fine detail requires a concerted effort from all the parties involved in a cross-department effort to maximise training effectiveness”