Where the mixed feedback on the workflow comes from
The criticism and mixed feedback regarding usability have understandable reasons. In the past, digital tools often felt clunky for coaches. Anyone wanting to quickly assemble a session faced confusing menus or a limited selection of suitable templates. When software tries to cover both long-term season planning and detailed drawing of game forms, high feature density results.
Coaches who only wanted a quick diagram for the next youth training session sometimes felt overwhelmed by nested setting options. In earlier phases, specific templates were missing, so sessions had to be created manually. Switching between mobile use on the smartphone at the pitch and editing on the computer also interrupted the workflow when user interfaces were not perfectly aligned.
Furthermore, switching from pen and paper to digital generators requires a shift in mindset when entering parameters such as pitch size, equipment, and player count. Anyone trying to draw complex exercises without preparation found the operation tedious at times or missed immediately available graphics. These experiences explain why reviews of usability and workflow were mixed.
How usability and workflows are currently structured
Today, user operation is clearly structured to make work as efficient as possible for individual coaches, grassroots clubs, academies, and youth development centers. At its core is easy access via a shared digital platform that runs as an app on iOS and Android smartphones as well as on desktop browsers. A single login works across the Coach OS app, the desktop interface, and the drawing tool Sketch.
The session generator uses a guided wizard in eight structured steps. Coaches select available pitch space, time and duration, session distribution, present coaches, players and groups, session type, and available equipment step by step. When creating content, the software relies on its own exercise database of more than 1,244 individually designed and animated exercises. There is no scraped content. In addition to sequence and title, every exercise includes detailed info on introduction, coaching points, equipment, intensity, duration, and cone setup. All content can be precisely filtered by category, age group, player count, equipment, difficulty level, and focus area.
For drawing custom drills, the drawing tool Sketch is available for use on desktop computers and tablets. The tool offers five team shapes, eight colors, and three arrow types for passes, runs, and dribbling. Goals from 1 meter to 7 meters in width can be rotated freely. Cones, tall cones, marker discs, poles, magnetic grids, centerlines, numbers, zones, and flexible pitch dimensions are also available. Auto-morphing between individual motion frames allows smooth animation of sequences. With one click, you can switch between a two-dimensional tactical top view and a three-dimensional view. Additionally, multiple coaches can draw on an exercise simultaneously.
You can export finished sessions as a PDF file for printing or use them in live mode directly on your smartphone at the pitch. Exercises, timings, and group assignments can be adjusted in real time during training. In addition, pitches and equipment such as balls, hurdles, agility ladders, or bibs are entered once. The session generator always calculates sessions based on this exact inventory.
Real limitations in digital workflows
Despite structured workflows, clear technical and functional limitations exist. The software does not offer video recording or video analysis of matches. Match data can be imported via an interface, but actual video analysis takes place in external systems. Club accounting or member management with fee collection and dunning procedures is also not integrated.
No proprietary measuring devices or hardware such as GPS vests or heart rate monitors are available for tracking load data. Data from third-party manufacturers can be connected via interfaces in academies if needed. Official software certification by DFB, UEFA, or FIFA does not exist. Licensing always applies to the coaches developing the content, not to the digital product itself. Those looking purely for video analysis or financial management still require specialized third-party providers.
FAQ: Usability and Workflow in Training Software
How does drawing your own drills work in the Sketch tool?
You draw your own drills in the browser on a computer or tablet using flexible elements such as cones, zones, goals, five team shapes, and eight colors. Different arrow types for passing, movement paths, and dribbling are easy to place. Thanks to auto-morphing, you can smoothly animate movement sequences between individual steps and switch directly between the 2D tactical view and 3D perspective with a single click.
Can I edit drills together with other coaches?
Yes, you can draw and make adjustments to the same drill simultaneously with multiple coaches. Your drafts remain protected initially and are only shared with others once you actively set them to public. This allows your coaching team to coordinate complex drill formats before incorporating or exporting them into the final training session.
How do I create a complete training session using the assistant?
The assistant guides you through the complete planning of the training session in eight structured steps. You select parameters such as available space, duration, number of players, attending coaches, training type, and equipment step by step. The software then automatically compiles a matching session consisting of a warm-up, main section, and conclusion from the database, which you can then manually adjust as needed.
How are sessions used on the pitch during training?
On the pitch, you can use planned sessions directly in live mode in the Coach OS app on your smartphone or fall back on a printed PDF document. On screen, you have direct access to all setup diagrams, timings, and coaching points. In case of last-minute absences or adjustments, you can change group assignments, timings, and drill sequences on the spot in real time.
The drawing tool Sketch runs in the browser on desktop computers and tablets. You use five team shapes, eight colors, and three different arrow types for passes, runs, and dribbling. Place goals, cones, and zones flexibly on the pitch. Thanks to auto-morphing, you animate movement sequences between individual frames. You can also switch between a 2D tactical view and a 3D perspective with one click.
Yes, multiple coaches can draw and make changes to the same exercise simultaneously in Sketch. Drawings initially remain protected with their creator. Only when you actively set an exercise to public is it shared with others. Finished graphics can then be included in your own training sessions or exported as a file.
The session generator guides you through planning in eight steps. You select pitch space, duration, distribution, coaches, players, session type, and equipment. The software then compiles a session consisting of warm-up, main part, and cool-down. It relies on the database of over 1,244 animated exercises. You can manually adapt or replace suggested content at any time.
At the pitch, you use the live mode of the Coach OS app on your smartphone. There you see planned exercises with coaching points, duration, and setup diagrams. In case of unexpected changes, you adjust groups, players, or drills directly in real time. Alternatively, print the session in advance as a PDF document or share it digitally with fellow coaches.
Frequently asked questions about usability and workflows
How do I quickly create an exercise diagram when time is short in daily training routines?
You save time by uploading a photo of a paper drawing or using a short text description. AI analyzes your input and automatically suggests a suitable title, sequence, and coaching points. This means you do not have to manually place every element or type out text. Adjust details briefly to get completed diagrams with the AI drawing tool Sketch.
In which formats can I export drawn exercises for my team?
You choose the format based on your intended use. For printed folders, create a PDF exercise sheet or save the graphic as a PNG. If you want to illustrate motion sequences to your players, export the animation as a video or present the exercise as a 3D scene. Via a QR-Code, you can even deliver drills as Augmented Reality to mobile devices.
How do I switch between tactical top view and eye-level view while drawing?
You select the desired perspective with one click while drawing. First create your drills in two-dimensional Tactical View from above to set distances and positions precisely. Then switch directly to three-dimensional TV View so your players see the sequence from the stadium perspective. The tool runs flexibly on your computer or tablet.