By Dan Guttenplan, FNF Coaches Editor
Using apps has become an essential part of being a coach, as we try to find new ways to connect with players on a variety of platforms. Here is a collection of apps that have served – and will continue to serve – coaches in the changing landscape of high school football.
Coach.Me
Create your playbooks with ease. Everything needed to bring your play to life is just a click away. With state-of-the-art animation tools and customizable player options, CoachMe® PlayBook provides you the canvas for your masterpiece. The CoachMe® Network (mobile to web collaboration) enables you to create, edit and share in both the mobile and web platforms.
FaceTime/Google Duo
Athletes today prefer to communicate through FaceTime to phone calls, email or even social media at times. Use your FaceTime app to get face-to-face with them for instruction, individual meetings, or just to check in and form closer bonds with your student-athletes. Coaches can communicate this way as well.
Google Meet
Meet uses the same protections that Google uses to secure your information and safeguard your privacy. Meet video conferences are encrypted in transit, and our array of safety measures are continuously updated for added protection. Get the whole crew together in Google Meet, where you can present face to face.
GoToMeeting
GoToMeeting is designed to broadcast the desktop view of a host computer to a group of computers connected to the host through the Internet. Transmissions are protected with high-security encryption and optional passwords. By combining a web-hosted subscription service with software installed on the host computer, transmissions can be passed through highly restrictive firewalls.
GroupMe
It’s like a private chat room for your team, position group or coaching staff. Have as many as you want, and it’s always free. Now, you can coordinate or organize meetings, practices, transportation, or parent communication. Keep in touch with your entire team all in the same place.
Hudl
The app allows coaches to study the video they’ve uploaded, or capture new video using their device. Coaches can watch an entire game, practice or opponent scout video. Analyze full breakdown data and make notes on each clip. Keep stats and upload video.
JustPlay
Just Play provides coaches with football playbook and game planning tools to prepare faster and engage with today’s athlete. Build scouting reports, playbooks, and video quizzes with easy-to-use digital coaching tools. Integrate with Hudl/XOS/DVSport video. Print play sheets and scouts.
Rack Performance
Using the Rack Performance Application, coaches can customize and schedule workouts, automate specific work and rest times, and follow the analytics of each athlete’s progression. By organizing, automating and tracking each athlete’s accountability, coaches can focus on teaching, motivating and building a winning culture.
Rack Performance on Google Play
Remind School Communication
Many coaches chose to communicate with players through this teacher app during the pandemic. Remind is a communication platform that helps every student succeed, whether it is in the classroom, at home, or anywhere in between, Remind makes it easy to stay connected to a school community. Send real-time messages to any device. Message a class, a person, or just a small group.
SportsYou
A free communication app, sportsYou is created specifically for the needs of coaches. It gives coaches the ability to privately communicate, schedule and share media with their team. With no character limits and the ability to send one-way messages, sportsYou is a highly versatile communication app for coaches.
TeamBuildr
A platform for any coach in any setting. Every day, thousands of coaches log into TeamBuildr to write training programs, build questionnaires and access athlete performance data. Whether you use iPads, Chromebooks or Android – TeamBuildr is fully compatible.
TikTok
Plenty of coaches connected with players during the pandemic through TikTok. TikTok is the destination for short-form mobile videos. The company’s mission is to capture and present the world’s creativity, knowledge, and precious life moments, directly from its users. Meet the players where they are by sharing TikTok videos.
Twitter
Football coaches can use Twitter to promote their program, coaching staff, players and brand. Share HUDL videos of players for college recruiters. Engage with other coaches for networking and mentoring opportunities. And keep track of future opponents and rivals through the Twitter app.
YouTube
One way coaches report using YouTube is when players ask them for demonstrations of correct lifting technique or playing technique and they want to communicate or find videos to share. Coaches can set up a YouTube channel, and grant the players access, and communicate through that medium.
Zoom
It seems one of the biggest trends during the pandemic has been to use Zoom video conferencing. Install the free Zoom app, click on “New Meeting,” and invite up to 100 people to join you on video. Connect with anyone on iPad, iPhone, other mobile devices, Windows, Mac and telephones.
