Starting Point: Why Run the Test at All?
The starting point was pragmatic: a U13 team, 14 players, 2 training sessions per week, plus a match at the weekend. Previous session planning: Excel spreadsheets and a notepad, occasionally drills sourced from YouTube videos.
Planning used to take around 45 minutes per session – sometimes more. That was frustrating. Not because the sessions were poor, but because that time was sorely missed elsewhere.
The motivation behind the test: curiosity. Can an AI training planner genuinely take over the workload – without quality taking a hit?
Day 1: Setup and the First Session
The Setup
Setting things up took around 7 minutes:
- Create the team (name, age group, average squad size)
- Enter the season calendar (training days, match fixtures)
- Quick walkthrough of the interface layout
No endless tutorial. No hefty manual to read first. After 7 minutes, how the AI generator works was clear.
The First Session: 25 Seconds
The first test: a training session for Tuesday. U13, 14 players, 90 minutes, focus on passing.
Entering the session parameters: approx. 2 minutes.
Result after clicking "Generate": 25 seconds.
What appeared: a complete training session with 5 drills across 4 phases (activation, technical block, main part, free play), each drill complete with animation, coaching points, timings, and equipment list.
First impression: the plan was solid. Not perfect – but as a foundation, vastly better than a blank sheet of paper.
What was adjusted: One drill in the activation phase was a little too complex as an opener. Swapped it with a single click, selected a new drill, done. That took 3 minutes.
Total time on Day 1: ~12 minutes instead of 45 minutes.
Days 2 and 3: Routine and Initial Findings
By the second and third training day, the workflow was much smoother. The baseline parameters were already saved – only the focal point and date needed changing.
What stood out:
- The drill selection was generally sensible and methodically structured
- Progression (unopposed → time pressure → opposed) was often incorporated correctly
- Timing estimates were realistic
What was still lacking:
A true sense of periodisation. When should a technical focus feature? When should there be more free play? The coach still made these decisions manually.
Coach OS is our own software. What follows is therefore not a neutral market overview, but an illustrative example. The criteria outlined throughout this article apply regardless – use them to scrutinise any tool, including ours.
Day 4: Testing Sketch
On day four, Sketch was put to the test – the drawing tool for designing your own drills.
The situation: A drill from the coach's personal repertoire that had so far only existed in their head. The aim was to add it to the database.
The Sketch process:
1. Pitch setup via drag-and-drop: player icons, goals, cones, arrows
2. Click "Let AI describe"
3. Wait: approx. 30 seconds
4. Result: title, description, 3 coaching points, age recommendation, variation options – all generated automatically
Honest assessment: The title and description were spot-on. Two of the three coaching points were good. One was slightly generic – and was tweaked manually.
Total time: approx. 4 minutes for a custom drill that is now permanently stored in the database and can be suggested by the AI generator.
Days 5 and 6: The Strengths Emerge
After 5 days, one thing became clear: the AI training planner possesses genuine strengths.
Strength 1: Drill Variety
The database has enough depth so you don't exhaust the options within a fortnight. The AI rarely suggested the same drill across two consecutive sessions.
Strength 2: Time Saved
The average time spent was around 8–12 minutes for a full training session plan. Including tweaks. That cuts the previous planning time in half – at the very least.
Strength 3: Structure as a Catalyst for Reflection
The intriguing aspect: the AI suggestions prompted reflection on one's own planning choices. "Why pick this drill rather than that one?" The AI brings implicit decisions out into the open.
Day 7: The Honest Critique
After 7 days, there are also aspects that are not quite perfect.
Point of criticism 1: Periodisation requires more clicks
If you want to link sessions across a season plan – actively building a periodisation timeline – it is possible, but not immediately intuitive. You need to delve a little deeper into the software. It's not a dealbreaker, but it takes 10–15 minutes to get the hang of it.
Point of criticism 2: Sketch has a learning curve
The drawing tool is powerful – but you need 2–3 attempts to get comfortable with all the features. Multi-phase animations in particular aren't self-explanatory straight away. Nothing you can't pick up in 30 minutes – but worth knowing if you expect to hit the ground running immediately.
What is not a flaw: The fact that the AI doesn't produce a flawless session at the push of a button. That was never the objective. The coach reviews and decides. That is exactly how it should be.
The Verdict After 7 Days
The takeaway:
The AI training planner is a valuable tool. It saves time, delivers solid foundations, and leaves ultimate decision-making with the coach.
Does it change training quality?
Yes – but not through the AI alone. Saving time means having more energy out on the pitch. You arrive prepared, relaxed, and focused – rather than rushed and half-ready.
Would you keep using it?
Yes. Not for every single session without reviewing it – but as a standard routine: AI suggestion, 5 minutes of fine-tuning, done.
What Coach OS Means for You After the Test
Coach OS is the AI training planner used in this test. If you want to test it yourself:
Coach OS offers:
- AI generator for complete sessions at the touch of a button
- 1,244+ animated drills as a foundation
- Sketch for custom drills with AI descriptions
- Player OS for players
- PDF export
- GDPR-compliant, hosted on servers in Germany
→ Try for free: coach-os.com
FAQ: AI Football Training Planner
How long does it take to set up an AI training planner?
With Coach OS: around 7 minutes for initial setup. You can generate your first session immediately afterwards.
How quickly does the AI create a training session?
The AI generator in Coach OS takes just seconds at the push of a button. Including review and adjustments, the total time comes to 5–10 minutes.
What happens if I don't like the AI-generated session?
You can swap individual drills, change the order, and add your own coaching notes. The AI provides a suggestion – not a rigid, unchangeable plan.
Can the AI incorporate my own drills?
Yes. Custom drills created with Sketch are added to your personal database. The AI can then suggest them in your upcoming sessions.
Is the AI training planner suitable for less experienced coaches?
Yes. Less experienced coaches in particular benefit from the AI suggesting methodically structured sessions. It offers a solid baseline to build on with your own growing experience.
How much does an AI football training planner cost?
Coach OS can be tested for free. Pricing details for the full version are available at coach-os.com.