CoachBase, the app launched by a volunteer youth basketball coach that grew to generate $5 million in business, has introduced a new app today. The app, called PracticePlanner, does exactly what the name suggests. Simply by tapping the screen of their device a few times, users will have an in-depth practice schedule in front of them. The app is perfect for coaches who may not have the time or knowledge to map out quality practices for their squads. The price for PracticePlanner will be $9.99 per month, but a special discount for launch day will reduce that number to $4.99.
After opening the app, the user selects the desired age and skill level and enters a team name. A practice plan is immediately generated based on the user’s specifications. After starting the timer, the fun begins. For example, the ‘Elementary School First Day’ begins with a five-minute warm-up. Once the timer expires, a ten-minute pivot drill session begins with animations outlining exactly how the drill works. The entire practice is an hour and forty minutes in total, consisting of drills, water breaks, and various fun basketball games to keep the kids involved. One of the games is a take on Simon Says that focuses on ball control and change of direction while dribbling. CoachBase CEO Keith Rumjahn thinks that PracticePlanner has the potential to be their most successful app.
“There are a lot of people out there who are coaching part-time or just volunteering, and they don’t have the time to thoroughly plan a practice. Our hope is to get all of those coaches on board for the upcoming season starting in October.”
The idea of having fun games to connect with young players came to Rumjahn after he read The 21st Century Basketball Practice by Brian McCormick. The part of the book that caught Rumjahn’s eye was a theory called game-based learning, which focuses on maximizing the practice time for young players in an engaging manner. A game like dribble-tag, where each player would be dribbling around while attempting to knock each others ball out, resonates stronger with young players than do strict, regimented drills.
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“After I read the book, I partnered with Brian McCormick, and he explained why I was a terrible coach back in my coaching days. I thought I could fix my coaching with a digital playbook, but it’s actually not the plays that needed fixing, it’s the practices.”
The primary target market for PracticePlanner are coaches of kids that are in middle school and below, but the app has certain features that would be useful to any basketball player. For one, Rumjahn forged a partnership with Dell Curry who provided his own 44-minute long shooting workout with video demonstrations. Curry joined a long list of names that have already partnered with CoachBase, including Gannon Baker, Lionel Hollins, Jeff Hornacek, and Don Showalter.
“One of the ways we differentiate from similar apps is through our exclusive connections. You might be able to copy our apps, but you won’t be able to strike a deal with NBA coaches overnight.”
The success of the digital playbook app has created high hopes for PracticePlanner. The team at CoachBase is expecting the new app to be their most successful to date. Time will tell if that proves true, but with the season starting soon, it’s the perfect time to launch.