Tools for Coaching Ice Hockey:

Good coaches are essential for creating a winning hockey team. Coaches maintain order, discipline and make sure the team is functioning as a well oiled machine. Coaches should keep up-to-date with methods, skills, drills, terminology and rules and then pass their knowledge on to the players. Coaches have a variety of tools available to them to assist them, including various technologies, white boards, and classes.

White boards are useful tools to draw up plans, plays and drills. Every dressing room should have a large white board all players can easily see. If possible, purchase a flipping white board that has one side blank and the other with a hockey ice surface drawn on it. This will help coaches visualize where both defensive and offensive players need to be on the ice.
A small bench white board is also important to have if a timeout is called and the coach needs to draw a play plan up quickly.

Coaches today have the luxury of high-definition technology, instant replay and video. After games, or even after a whistle, coaches have the ability to instantly see the game in front of them. Examining and studying game tapes helps to point out where teams made mistakes, where they did things well, and how they might improve. It is important for coaches to watch game tapes, take notes and then share their ideas with the team.

There are hundreds of coaching classes available to coaches. Most leagues have training sessions, or if a coach is serious about coaching professionally, many universities offer coaching classes through their Human Kinetics departments. Video tutorials are available online as well and can be very helpful when organizing drills and practices.

Coaches always need to be prepared. Game planes, practice plans, player plans and season plans are all needed. Coaches should consult and talk to their teams about what goals they have as a team and as individual players. Realistic goals can be set and coaches should help steer the team in the right direction. Having a solid plan is a primary step to success, but coaches need to be mindful that as time passes and teams develop, plans can change. Coaches need to be opened minded to change.

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