With the winter sports season not far away, clubs and schools have started their registration and trial processes for tamariki and rangatahi.  As a coach or manager, have you given thought to how you will communicate with your team or their parents throughout the season?

How will you let everyone know in a couple of clicks that training is cancelled, a last-minute ground change, or even if the game has been postponed due to Covid? 

Sport Waitākere Community Coach and Club Lead Mick Coultard says coaches and managers across West Auckland report they can use up to three different platforms to ensure everyone receives the appropriate messages.

“As a result, we want to support clubs, teams, managers, coaches, volunteers, and parents to reduce confusion of where information can be found, decrease the time they spend communicating and ensure messaging is getting to the right people at the right time.

“We have reviewed four different apps that allow you to send messages, create schedules, upload photos, show availability, provide event details, and conduct flash polls. Now, we hear you saying, “do I have to download another app?” Well, yes but hear us out. As we dig into the apps a little deeper.”

Mick shares his findings below.

1. Team Reach is a free app that is available on both iOS and Android. This app is perfect for those coaches or managers who look after multiple teams as it allows you to communicate with different teams individually. It is a very user-friendly app that is easy to pick up. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a web function and there are no added features.

2. Teamer is a free app that Is available on both iOS and Android. Whilst it does all the basics, it also has the option to receive payments. While we recommend that payments for subscriptions and club issued uniforms be made centrally to the club, this is a notable feature for everyone to chip in for the halftime oranges or any special team gear you may order.

3. Stack Team App is a free app that is available on both iOS and Android. The app allows the user experience to be personalised and boasts added features such as an online merchandise store, live scoring, standings and much more. The added bonus with the Stack Team App is that it can be managed from your desktop.

4. Heja is one of the early team management apps which is free and available on both IOS and Android. Whilst the app is jam-packed with some great features, these will need to be paid for.

Mick particularly enjoys using Team Reach and the Stack Team App, but recommends you give them a go and find out what works best for you and your team.

On the conversation of apps, did you see our story last year about apps that help you keep track of playing time for the players on your team? If not, check it out here.

Article added: Tuesday 08 March 2022