Category: Blog

It’s easy to focus only on your own athletes, your own goals, and your own challenges. But great coaches know that observation is a powerful learning tool, and the team down the road might have a few lessons to offer.

What to look for:

• How they manage logistics: Do they arrive early? Are their uniforms organized? Take note.

• Team culture: Do their athletes support one another? Do parents show up prepared?

• Communication style: How does the coach address the team? Is there a tone of respect, urgency, or inspiration?

• Visual identity: Is their branding consistent and polished? What can you take inspiration from?

Studying other teams means being inspired, identifying gaps, and always growing as a leader.

Competitions are exciting, but let’s face it, they’re also expensive. Travel, lodging, entry fees, and uniforms can add up quickly. Planning your competition season with a clear budget in mind can help reduce stress and keep your program sustainable.

Here’s how to approach it:

• Start with last year’s data: Look at how much you spent and where the biggest costs came from.

• Prioritize key events: Focus on competitions that matter most for development, exposure, or progression. Not every meet is essential.

• Plan early: The earlier you decide, the better you can coordinate carpools, group rates, and fundraisers.

• Balance timing: Avoid back-to-back weekends that drain both energy and funds.

• Build in uniform planning: If you know your biggest meets are in June or July, start ordering uniforms now to guarantee that everything will arrive on time.

Being strategic with your calendar keeps your team focused, your families prepared, and your program financially healthy.

We’ve all seen it: a team of athletes on the floor, and a row of cheering parents in the stands. Why not make them part of the visual identity too?

Giving parents “uniforms” doesn’t mean matching leotards, it means branded t-shirts, hats, or hoodies that build school spirit and show support.

Ways to bring parents into the look:

• Offer event-specific apparel: Create limited-edition shirts or hoodies for special competitions.

• Encourage team colors: Even without full merch, encourage families to wear your team colors to events.

• Celebrate their role: Make them feel recognized, consider a “team parent of the month” feature with their custom shirt.

When parents feel included, they’re more likely to volunteer, cheer louder, and represent your team with pride.

Merchandise isn’t just for athletes. Parents, siblings, and fans want to feel part of the team too. And when you include them, you’re not only creating community, you’re boosting your team’s visibility and fundraising potential.

Here’s how to make merch that resonates with the whole team community:

• Offer inclusive options: Think beyond uniforms. Hoodies, tote bags, polos, and t-shirts are great for spectators.

• Design with pride: Use bold colors, clear logos, and team mottos that spark emotion and pride.

• Highlight relationships: Add “Proud Mom”, “Coach Dad”, or even fun slogans like “Team Grandma” or “#GymFam”.

• Bundle it: Create packages for parents or families, especially around competitions or showcase events.

When merch makes people feel part of something bigger, they wear it proudly and your team brand grows stronger.

Ever find yourself thinking, “What size did we order for Julia last year?” or “Which vendor delivered on time?” Then you know the pain of not documenting.

Keeping simple records throughout the season helps you save time, improve planning, and avoid repeating mistakes.

Here’s what you should be documenting:

• Uniform orders: sizes, quantities, delivery times, and vendors.

• Parent communications: what worked best? Email, text, or printed reminders?

• Team highlights: collect photos, feedback, and notable wins.

• What went wrong: missed deadlines, sizing errors, or unexpected costs.

Keep everything in one folder (digital or printed). Next season, future-you will thank present-you.

Being a coach is like running a small business. You manage athletes, communicate with parents, coordinate logistics, and keep track of uniforms, competitions, and team goals. To stay on top of everything without losing your mind, a monthly checklist can be your best friend.

Here’s a sample checklist to guide you through each month:

• Week 1: Review your season goals and adjust training plans. Check in with athletes one-on-one if possible.

• Week 2: Confirm any upcoming uniform or merch orders. Check inventory of training gear.

• Week 3: Share updates with parents. Highlight achievements and upcoming events.

• Week 4: Reflect and record. What worked this month? What can improve? Document it for next season.

A consistent monthly rhythm saves time, reduces surprises, and helps you feel more in control. It also sets the tone for a well-organized team culture.

Uniform sizing shouldn’t be a guessing game. That’s why we created our Sizer Sets, a super simple way to get the right fit for everyone on your team.

Here’s how it works:

• Choose a day before or after practice to schedule the fitting.

• Use our pre-labeled Sizer Sets. Each set includes the full range of sizes for girls or boys, so every athlete can try their fit.

• Measure and record the size that fits each athlete best. You can use our purchase order.

• Submit the order, pay, and that’s it.

With proper sizing, you avoid the stress of exchanges and ensure that everyone feels comfortable and confident from day one.

No meets? No problem. Sometimes the off-season is where the magic happens. Keeping your team motivated during quiet months is an art and a huge opportunity.

Here’s how to keep the spark alive:

• Set micro-goals like mastering a new skill, improving flexibility, or nailing a routine element. Short-term wins boost morale and give athletes something to work toward.

• Celebrate effort, not just outcomes: Weekly shout-outs, small awards, or team voting on “Most Supportive Teammate” add meaning to practice.

• Switch things up: Themed practices, partner challenges, or even a playlist made by the athletes can make workouts feel fresh and fun.

• Create leadership moments: Ask different athletes to lead warm-ups or cool-downs. It gives them ownership and strengthens confidence.

Motivation doesn’t only come from medals. When training is meaningful, creative, and full of small wins, the team stays engaged even without a competition in sight.

Parents want to help, but miscommunication can create stress and confusion. As a coach, you’re the bridge between structure and chaos. Here are common mistakes and how to fix them:

• Being too vague: “We need uniforms by next week” is not as helpful as “Please confirm your child’s size by Friday at noon.” Precision matters.

• Sending info across too many platforms: Mixing WhatsApp, email, and printed notes creates confusion. Choose one and make it clear where updates will be shared.

• Not setting boundaries: It’s okay to say, “I’m not available after 7pm” or “Uniform colors are a team decision.” Boundaries avoid burnout.

Clear, kind, and consistent communication builds trust. And that trust leads to smoother seasons for everyone involved.

You don’t need to do it all. In fact, you shouldn’t. Delegating tasks like uniform orders, size tracking, or event coordination doesn’t mean losing control, it means gaining time (and sanity).

Delegation is a leadership skill. It shows you trust your team and allows you to focus on coaching, mentoring, and strategy.

Here’s how to delegate smartly:

• Make a simple checklist of what needs to be done (e.g., collect sizes, confirm payment, pick up uniforms). This gives clarity and avoids missed steps.

• Choose one or two responsible helpers, maybe a team parent or senior athlete. Explain the task in detail, including when and how it should be completed.

• Use tools: Google Sheets, group chats, shared docs, or even a whiteboard in the gym can help keep everyone on track and accountable.

When you delegate with structure and trust, things get done your way, without you burning out in the process.