TacticalPad
One of the most frequent topics of discussion amongst indoor soccer coaches (or any coaches, really) is…..coaching, of course. Specifically, the how-to. Setting up drills, explaining strategies and moves, etc., can be difficult at times, especially when your audience ranges from 8-16 yr old. One of the ways we handle this is by using indoor soccer training apps.
Among the many soccer training apps available for soccer coaches, one of my personal favorites is TacticalPad. Over the last several years, I have slowly accustomed myself to using different methods of instruction but using the app to create and explain indoor soccer drills to my kids is my go-to method. In this article today, I will explain how I use this app to bolster my training sessions.
The app uses a display field (called a board) on which you can add players, balls, and even practice equipment, like cones, rings, etc. These can help you set up your field in a number of adjustable ways and for practically any scenario. The graphics are high quality, neat, and look great. TacticalPad has the professional look of a 5-star application.
Let’s discuss how the app does all this. The app displays a “board,” which is your field of play with the basic lines and goals. One of the things I appreciate about the developers here is that there is no logging in, no holdup, and unnecessary clicking involved. Opening the app takes you straight to the field.
You can use the basic menu on the left to manage your projects (open, save, share, etc.). You can also use this menu to change the view of your board. For example, you can change it to look at it from the top or behind either goalpost. Once you’re done editing, there is a cool option for 3D viewing, which makes me feel as if I’m watching a game being played.
Once you’ve added your objects, you can use the Tools menu on the right to add arrows, wiggly lines, curves, connectors, etc., to describe your drill or strategy.
There is so much you can do to adjust the visuals to what you are comfortable with. I would suggest that you play around with the controls for a while to get familiar with everything. You can also jump directly into setting up your practice drills, whatever shoots your goal.
You can save or export your moves as images or videos (if you add animations). I use the app to explain soccer formations to my younger players, and it’s way better than using any other method of explanation.
The sheer versatility of the app is amazing. The first year I used it, I kept discovering new features. The app lets you customize your teams and add details to individual players, like height and weight. It’s a bit time-consuming initially, but it’s really helpful in the long run to have your teams organized and labeled 😉.
Another great feature is that you can load videos and edit them by adding annotations. These videos can then help you point out gaps in your team’s training or explain the opposing team’s tactics.
There is a subscription fee if you want to use all the features, even for saving a project, but the amount is within reason. However, it is a little inconvenient not to be able to save even a single project without paying. It works on both Android and iPad/iPhone.
Pros
- Intuitive interface
- Really flexible
- No fuss dashboard
- Super versatile and customizable.
- Different views, including a 3D view
- Extremely helpful for explaining drills to the players
Cons
- Projects can only be saved on a subscription plan.
- The app can sometimes lag or not register pressed buttons, but these occurrences are rare.
I would 10/10 recommend anyone coaching soccer, indoor OR regular, to go ahead and sign up for this app. I guarantee that you will find it extremely useful.
If you’re new to indoor soccer and you’d like to know more, head over to my blog, The Indoor Player, where I discuss everything related to indoor soccer. I would love to see you there!
About the author: Matt Anderson, an indoor soccer coach, lives in Kansas, USA, with his wife and three kids. Since his early retirement from his soccer career, Matt has been helping young kids to develop their soccer skills. He loves coaching indoor soccer and futsal, and it is his dream to coach a national team one day. He uses his spare time to write for his blog, The Indoor Player, which is aimed at increasing his understanding of the game he loves.
