Choosing A Coaching App? Here's What To Look For

When you’re choosing what software to use for your coaching business, it can be hard to know where to start.

What features does it have? Is it too complicated to integrate? What sports is it compatible with? What devices can I use it on? Can I afford it?

There are so many factors to take into consideration, so I’ve broken it down into a few digestible steps that should help you get started on your journey.

In today’s blog, I’ll give you everything you need to get started.

And I’ll just say from the get-go - video analysis isn’t the only thing that’s important when deciding which platform(s) to use. 

While I will discuss key video features, I want to emphasize that video analysis on it’s own isn’t helpful if it doesn’t improve communication and create a shared understanding with you and your athletes.

You can do all the analysis in the world, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into improvements in your athlete’s performance - you have to know what to do with that analysis.

With that out of the way, let’s dive in.

When it comes to specific video features, some are absolutely non-negotiable.

First, we’ll cover Slow-Mo. 

For technical movements, it’s crucial that you can see the granularity of your athlete’s motion. Smaller movements add up when it comes to their improvement over time. 

In fact, I’d say the difference between an amateur and a pro often comes down to their focus on these seemingly inconsequential details. 

To see these micro-movements, standard camera software won’t do. You need to slow down the video and scrub frame by frame.

That’s why 240 fps slow motion cameras are so important. 

What does that jargon mean? It means you need to be able to process video files that capture 240 frames (aka images) per second. 

Most modern smartphones already have this capability natively. But just because you can upload 240 FPS videos doesn’t mean every platform will allow you to analyze videos at 240 FPS. 

Be sure you read the fine print on the software you are considering. When building out CoachNow’s video suite, we prioritized 240 fps analysis in the app to make sure every second of movement is ready to be analyzed.

That’s one of the many tools that makes CoachNow great for any sport that requires hyper-specific, dynamic motions. 

Next, let’s talk Annotations.

The ability to annotate images and videos is a necessity for video analysis

Doing so helps make it crystal clear exactly what you’re talking about. 

CoachNow comes packed with a suite of annotation tools that are useful for any occasion. 

Try using all of these: angles, rulers, freehand drawings, pre-built shapes, etc… They significantly increase your ability to provide technical and dynamic feedback to keep your athlete hyper-aware of their form. 

While this feature is important, be sure you don’t overdo it! 

Now for the flashy stuff: AI-Integration.

Have you tried Skeleton Tracking before?

This cutting-edge technology automatically detects and tracks the movements of athletes in your videos, overlaying a visual representation of their body structure.

You can then use this overlay with all the other powerful CoachNow analysis tools at your disposal.

Because, as you’ve heard me say before, the entire point of our analysis suite is to enhance your communication. Specifically, this tool will give you that extra layer of precision needed for advanced micro movements/ form. 

Sometimes, it’s really hard to get your point across by simply describing what you’re seeing on a screen. It can be easy for athletes to misunderstand your feedback on their videos, especially when you’re apart.

With this feature, you can visually highlight specific body parts and their movements during intricate athletic maneuvers.

This visual feedback, especially when coupled with a voice over or annotation, empowers your athletes to better interpret coaching instructions and gives them a deeper understanding of how their body should move.

There’s a reason it is one of the most popular features we’ve ever released for the platform. Give it a try!

Many companies simply list their features and think that’s all they need to convince a prospective customer. 

But there’s an even more important (and often overlooked) question you should ask yourself when deciding which app is right for you - is the platform easy to use?

Seems like an obvious thing, but I’ve found that it’s often lost in the mix. Having tons of bells and whistles in your coaching arsenal can be great, but not if it’s super complicated to integrate into your daily coaching sessions.

Efficiency is everything - for coaches, balancing multiple clients, creating personalized programs, tracking progress, and maintaining clear communication can be overwhelming. 

An easy-to-use coaching platform or app is not a luxury—it’s a necessity.

Regardless of your sport, training plans, or particular athlete expectations, our aim at CoachNow is to provide you with a flexible, easy-to-use platform to empower YOUR coaching relationships. 

When it comes to onboarding someone, you ideally want to be able to automate this process. 

Can you onboard an athlete successfully, explaining expectations and everything else they need to know? 

CoachNow has tons of automation features – like Templates, Lists, and View tracking – that take out the guesswork and save you tons of time.

At the end of the day, your video analysis app should only be making your life easier. Think not just about what the software does but how it does it. Trust me, it makes a world of difference.

Communication is obviously key to your business and coaching relationships, so ensuring that the app you use makes communicating easier is a must.

I’ll say it again - video analysis should be thought of as a type of communication. But it shouldn’t be your ONLY type of communication.  It’s only part of the story.

Over the years, we've seen countless coaches use Email for general communication, Text or WhatsApp for scheduling, YouTube or iCloud for sending videos, Social Media for community, etc.

If you’re using a tool that ONLY has a video analysis, you’re probably emailing somebody a video, texting them the feedback, uploading your analysis to Dropbox, etc. 

This disconnect in communications is doing WAY more harm to your mental health (and the health of your business) than you likely realize. 

That’s where CoachNow comes in.

By getting rid of all of your disparate communication channels, you can spend more time focusing on what truly matters - your athlete’s needs.

Here are a few of our favorite CoachNow communication features:

• Spaces: Your private training space to communicate one-on-one with your athletes. Create posts, analyze videos, and give feedback in a secure, private channel dedicated solely to your athlete's improvement. 
• Groups: Coaching a team or group of athletes? "Groups" are like Spaces, but designed with features that support a team environment. 
• Lists: With "Lists", you can send the same post to thousands of people, where they can reply directly to you in their Space.Lists allow you to curate a feeling of personalization and community, all while saving you tons of time.
• Templates: Templates allow you to pre-populate content in one place and have it at your fingertips. No more copying and pasting from a notes app or endlessly scrolling through your phone to find that perfect message.

At the end of the day, the video analysis app that you choose for your business will not only greatly impact your life, but also the lives of your athletes.

That’s precisely why this decision is such an important one for you to make. 

After years of coaching, it’s all too easy to think you always know exactly what your athletes need.

But focusing on what they want rather than what you think they need will make all the difference.

No matter what sport you’re in or what your training philosophy is, start by trying to understand what people are looking for and ready to hear. 

Prospective athletes don’t care about you, they care about what you can do for them.

So when it comes to making the right choice for video analysis, identify what your athletes are looking for and ensure that the app you choose will not only remedy their pain points but empower them to reach their goals.

By making both of your lives easier, you and your athletes will find greater enjoyment in the journey and far more success overall.