Sharing Practice Plans
Getting your practice plan into the hands of assistant coaches and parent helpers ensures everyone arrives prepared. This guide covers the available ways to export and share your plans.
Export Options
PDF Export
The primary way to share a practice plan is by downloading it as a PDF.
What the PDF includes:
- Practice title, date, and time
- Complete timeline with all blocks, stations, and drills
- Equipment checklist aggregated from all drills
- Optional: Detailed drill instructions with QR codes linking to more information
How to export:
- Open your practice plan (or finish building one)
- Click the export button
- PDF generates and downloads
- Share the file however you prefer (email, text, print)
Print tip: The PDF is formatted for easy printing. Bring it to the field on your clipboard for quick reference during practice.
For a quick physical copy, use the browser print dialog directly from the practice plan view. This opens a print-optimized layout ready to send to your printer or save as a PDF through your browser.
Social Sharing
The Practice Planner includes share buttons for Twitter/X and Facebook, plus a copy-link button. These share the Practice Planner tool link (/practice-planner) rather than an individual plan. This is useful for recommending the tool to other coaches in your league.
Available share actions:
- Twitter/X: Opens a tweet pre-filled with the practice planner link
- Facebook: Opens a Facebook share dialog with the practice planner link
- Copy Link: Copies the practice planner URL to your clipboard
How to Get Plans to Your Coaches
Since sharing is PDF-based, here are practical ways to distribute your plan:
Email the PDF
- Export your plan as a PDF
- Attach it to an email
- Send to your assistant coaches or parent helpers
- Include a brief note about the practice focus and any special instructions
Text or Group Chat
- Export as PDF
- Send the PDF file through your team's group text or messaging app
- Most messaging apps handle PDF attachments well
Print and Hand Out
- Export as PDF and print copies
- Hand one to each station coach at the start of practice
- Laminate a copy for your clipboard so it survives weather
What to Communicate Beyond the Plan
The PDF covers the structure and drills. When sharing with helpers, add context:
For assistant coaches:
- Which station they are responsible for
- Key coaching points to emphasize
- Any equipment they need to bring or set up
For parent helpers:
- Keep instructions simple and specific
- Tell them exactly what to do at their station
- Let them know the rotation signal (whistle, verbal cue, etc.)
- Remind them that encouragement goes a long way
Future Sharing Features
We plan to add the ability to share individual practice plans via direct links, so anyone with the link can view a specific plan in their browser. Team communication integrations are also on the roadmap. For now, the PDF export is the most reliable way to get your plan to everyone who needs it.
Sharing Best Practices
Be Consistent
Share plans at the same time each week so coaches know when to expect them. A good rhythm: build the plan the night before, email it that evening, and send a quick reminder text a few hours before practice.
Include Context
Do not just send the PDF without any message. Add a sentence or two about what you are focusing on and why. This helps assistants prepare mentally and aligns everyone on the practice goals.
Confirm Receipt
For important practices (tournament prep, first practice of the season), ask coaches to reply confirming they received and reviewed the plan. Follow up if you do not hear back.
Related Documentation
- Using the Practice Planner
- Building Station-Based Practices
- Saving and Reusing Plans
- Player Assignments and Tracking
Related Articles
Learn the broader context of practice management:
- Complete Guide to Running Youth Baseball Practice - Practice philosophy