If you're in a rush and need to quickly save and print a few ideas for training this is the planning tool for you.
In this video we look at how to find drills, use the clipboard to collect them while you continue to browse and how to add title so that you can print and save the drills to your online sessions folder.
Step by step instructions:
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Once you have found a drill you like, you can add it to your Clipboard by clicking the blue "Add to Clipboard" button below the drill's image or video. The clipboard will now appear on the right hand side, with the added drill. You can add further drills to the Clipboard by following the previous step with other drills.
The order of your Clipboard can be re-arranged by clicking the "Up" arrow next to the drill that you want to move up.
Click "Save" and then "Quick Save" from the drop down menu to save your Clipboard.
You can now edit the title of the Clipboard at the top of the page.
To print your session click the "Print" button in the top right hand corner.
NB. All plans are automatically saved in your Sessions folder.
I want to sketch a drill with the Chalkboard
In this video we show you how you can create sketches using the chalkboard tool.
Chalkboard sketches allow you to be creative and work on drills or display formations, using a number of different pitch templates.
Step by step instructions:
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At the top of the page, click the pencil icon to open the Chalkboard.
Select the pitch template that you would like to use for your drawing.
To add player icons, field markers and lines to indicate movement, use the icons on the left hand side.
Once happy with your drawing, click the save button in the bottom right hand corner.
NB. All chalkboard drawings are saved in the sketches folder.
Opening the drawing from your sketches folder allows you to add a title, description and coaching points, as well as assigning your drill to a category, making it easier to search for. You can also edit your drawing by clicking the blue Edit Sketch button.
How to use the Session Planner
If you're looking to create a plan then this is the perfect tool for you.
In this video we look at how you can create a detailed session plan; adding drills and chalkboard drawings as well as searching the Sportplan website for useful drills.
Step by step instructions:
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At the top of the page, click the pencil and paper icon entitled "Create New Plan".
On the following menu, select the template that you would like to use for your plan.
You can now add all of the relevant information for the session such as venue, duration, ability level and more.
Simply click on the box that you want to edit and a text box will appear for you to type in.
To add to your plan, click the Add Diagram button. From here you have a number of options for inserting diagrams.
Browse Sportplan - Allows you to add drills or your own sketches to the plan. On a drill or sketch, click the orange Insert to Plan button.
New Sketch - You can create a new sketch to add to the session here.
Search - If you're having trouble finding a drill or want to search for a keyword you can do so here. Click the orange Insert to Plan button once you have found a drill.
NB. All of these options will minimise your current plan. You can re-open it by clicking the title of the plan in the bottom right hand corner of Sportplan.
Once a drill had been added, before inserting you can choose to copy the notes of that drill along with the diagram.
Clicking the Add New Practise/Row button allows you to add new sections to the session, or add practices to existing sections.
Once finished, you can save your session, and it will be saved in your Sessions folder.
You can share, print or create a PDF of your session by using the buttons in the top right hand corner.
How to reduce the size of a session planner image
If you've ever inserted a diagram into your session planner and wondered how to change the size of it, these step by step instructions take you through doing just that.
Step by step instructions:
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On the image that you would like to change the size of, click the blue Edit Diagram button which can be found underneath the image.
This will bring a pop-up box from which you are given a number of options. To change the size of the diagram, simply select the drop down box above the image which will be displaying a percentage.
To increase the size of the image, select a higher percentage, and to decrease, select a lower percentage.
Click apply, and you will be returned to the session planner with your image now the size you want it to be.
Changing the background colour on my sketches
This is a simple way you can save ink when printing your sketches.
Open your sketch and click the Colour to Black and White icon (in the top left corner). This will change the background pitch/court colour to black and white.
Click the Save button in the bottom right corner to save the changes.
Click below to see the full screen animated image
How do I delete diagrams from my session plan?
Added a diagram that shouldn't be there? In two clicks you can remove that pesky drill!
Click the blue Edit Diagram button beneath the image/drill you'd like to delete
Click the Delete icon (in the shape of bin) beneath the image/animation
Your session will now reappear, minus the drill you removed. You can now insert new practices by clicking the blue Add Diagram button.
Click below to see a video helping you out!
How to change text size in a session
Struggling to read the text in your session and want to make it bigger? In just a few clicks you can make your session easier to read!
Click the Edit button in the top right hand corner of the session.
On the drop down menu, click the Format Text button.
On the following menu, simply drag the sliders to the text size that you want and click the Apply button.
Your session will now reappear, with the text size amended.
Click below to see the full screen animated image
How can I access old sessions?
If you've ever viewed one of our Sessions of the Week and wondered why you can no longer view it then fear not, the sessions are still available!
All sessions that are made Sessions of the Week and sent out by email to members are available for 4 weeks from the date they are published. Once this has expired, they become available to purchase in the Session Shop. Just like back issues of a magazine, the sessions don't disappear, they can be purchased at a later date.
Simply go to the sessions button on the left hand side of the page in your desired sport and select All Sessions under Session Shop. From here you can browse all of our old sessions and purchase any that you would like to view.
How can I create animations?
If you've ever seen an animation on Sportplan and wanted to create your own, then you're in the right place.
Animations can be created using our very own Sportplan Animator. You can download a free trial of the animator here.
How to save sessions of the week to my sessions folder?
Did you know that you can save sessions of the week to your own sessions folder to use whenever you want?
Open the session of the week either from the e-mail you have received from Sportplan or from the Sessions of the Week section of your chosen sport home page.
In the top right hand corner of the session, click the Edit button and then select Copy.
The page will now refresh and the title will now also say "Copy Of" along with the original title of the session. You will now be able to view and edit the session by going to your sessions folder.
How to convert plans from Word documents
Ever wondered how to convert a plan that you've written in Microsoft Word into a Sportplan Session Plan? Well, it's easier than you think! The following narrated video takes you through each step on the way to converting your plans.
Step by step instructions:
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Start by opening your plan in Word.
In Sportplan, open the session planner by clicking the Create New Plan icon.
In your new plan, you can add a title, date, venue and any other useful information about the session.
When adding drills, you simply go into your Word document, select the text that you want to copy by holding down the left click of the mouse and dragging it to select the text you want. Now press CTRL + C or right click and choose copy, before going back into Sportplan and pasting the text into the part of the session that you want by pressing CTRL + V or right clicking and choosing paste.
You can continue to do this while adding more sections to drills in the form of notes, coaching tips, progressions and more, while you can add more drills or sections by clicking the Add New Practice/Row button.
Once you have finished building your session, click Save and then Finish. You will now be able to share, print, or create a PDF of the session, and can edit it at a later date.
How to add drills to favourites
Ever wanted to compile a list of your favourite drills so that you can view them again at a later date? Well, you're in luck as our new favourite feature lets you do just that.
Step by step instructions:
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Start by finding a drill that you would like to save for use at a later date.
After opening the drill, click the star icon underneath the drill's image.
You are now given the choice of either adding the drill to your favourites, or rating the drill. If you'd like to rate the drill, select how good you think it is out of 5 stars, or to add to favourites, click the Add to Favourites button with the thumbs up icon.
The drill will now appear in your favourites, and you can see these at a later date by clicking the favourites button on the left hand side of the site.
Note:Drills that you rate are also added to your favourites.
How to delete a drill from a Session
If you've ever been creating a session and added the wrong drill or felt that a drill/sketch shouldn't be there anymore, you can easily delete it.
Step by step instructions:
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Start by finding the drill that you would like to remove.
Click the blue "Edit Diagram" button underneath the drill.
In the following pop-up box, click the grey bin icon to delete the drill.
The pop-up box will now disappear and you will be taken back to your session with the drill successfully removed.
Note:Any text added in the same section as the drill will not be removed even if it was added with the drill.
Viewing Sessions Using the Slideshow Feature
Show off your sessions in the best way possible with our new Slideshow feature, which is perfect for presenting your drills to players or students.
Step by step instructions:
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Begin by opening the session that you want to view.
With the session now open, click the edit button in the top right hand corner.
On the drop down menu, click slideshow, and you will be able to see your drills in slideshow mode.
Click the left or right arrows to move between drills. Videos and animations can be played by clicking the play button on them just like they would be in the session. You can also move between drills by pressing the left and right keys on your keyboard.
Click the cross in the top right hand corner to exit the slideshow.
Can I sketch over a diagram?
You can indeed! Using the slideshow tool in your session plans, you can sketch over diagrams and animations (even while they're playing!) to emphasise player movement or tactics!
Step by step instructions:
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Start by finding the session that contains drills you would like to sketch over.
Click the Edit button in the top right hand corner followed by Slideshow. This will bring up the slideshow feature which displays all of the diagrams in the session.
Now, with the slideshow open, simply click the pencil icon in the top right hand corner to begin sketching over the diagrams. You can change the colour and size of the pencil, as well as using the rubber to remove any mistakes you may have made.
NB: The sketches that you make over the diagrams are only temporary as they are for demonstrative purposes in the slideshow.
Can I print only the diagrams from a session?
If you want to print just the diagrams from a session and exclude all of the text that goes with it, our new printing tool let's you do just that. Perfect for popping in your back pocket to help jog your memory.
Step by step instructions:
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Start by finding the session that you are looking to print.
Click the print button in the top right hand corner, and from the drop down menu, select Print - Diagrams Only. It's as simple as that!
How To Use The Sportplan Animator
The Sportplan Animator is the perfect tool for creating your own animated drills and plays. You can download a free 14 day trial at www.sportplan.net/animator.
Step by step instructions:
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To start creating your own animation, begin by selecting the pitch template that you would like to use.
From here you can select a number of objects to add to the diagram, such as balls, players, cones etc.
Click and drop to add items to the pitch.
Once players are on the pitch, you can add click on them to add movement lines. If you have drawn lines on a player who has the ball, then you will be given more options such as pass, shoot etc.
To watch your animation, simply click the play button at the bottom of the animator. You can continue to add lines and items after this.
Once finished, click the Save icon. You will then be given the option to upload to Sportplan, click yes if you would like to. Alternatively, you can select upload to Sportplan by clicking the Sportplan logo icon in the menu at the top of the animator.
Fill in the details of the animation in the command box, before inputting your Sportplan user details. Upon clicking Upload, the animation will be uploaded and added to your sketches.
On Sportplan, you will be able to access the animation from your sketches folder, and can also add notes and coaching points, as well as adding it to sessions and sharing it with fellow coaches or to various social websites.
