How to Create and Customize Session Templates

Intro

Session templates allow you to standardize your training plans. Instead of building every session from scratch, you can create reusable blueprints for common age groups or practice types - for example, a U12 Standard template that always includes a 10-minute warmup, two main exercises, and a small-sided game. Templates save time, ensure consistency across teams, and make it easy for coaches to generate complete sessions with a single click. In BallersBook, templates are owned by your club and can be used to quickly generate new sessions via the Session Wizard.

⚠️ Documentation note: The database schema (ER Diagram) defines a TEMPLATE entity that clubs own and that can generate sessions. The exact frontend pages and UI labels for managing templates are not fully described in the provided excerpts. The steps below represent the intended workflow inferred from the schema; actual button names and page locations may differ. If you encounter a missing option, refer to the official BallersBook release notes or contact support.

Prerequisites

• A Club Admin account (roles that include manage_templates or manage_sessions; see your club’s role settings).
• An existing club profile with active billing or a trial plan (templates are a club-level feature).
• (Optional) One or more sessions to base your template on, or a clear idea of the sections you want to include (e.g., warmup, exercise, game).

Step-by-step

1. Log in to BallersBook and click your club name in the top bar, then select Club Settings from the dropdown.

2. In the left sidebar, locate the Templates section.

3. Click New Template (or + Create Template). A blank form opens.

4. In the Template Name field, enter a descriptive name, for example U12 Standard.

5. Click Add Section. A modal or inline form appears where you can define a training segment. Give it a Section Name (e.g., Warmup), a Duration (e.g., 10 minutes), and an optional Description or Drill Reference.

6. Repeat step 5 to add more sections - for instance, Main Exercise 1, Main Exercise 2, and Small-Sided Game. You can reorder sections by dragging the handle icon (⋮⋮) next to each section.

7. For each section, you may optionally attach specific drills from your Drill Library by clicking Link Drill and selecting a drill from the searchable list. This step is not required - coaches can replace drills later in the Session Wizard.

8. Once all sections are defined, click Save Template. The template appears in your club’s template list.

9. To use the template, navigate to the Session Wizard (/sessions/new). When creating a new session, select the Use Template option and choose U12 Standard. The wizard will prefill the session structure with your sections and durations. You can then assign teams, dates, and venues, and replace drills if needed.

Tips & Pitfalls

• Use clear, consistent naming - include age group, format (e.g., 11v11 vs. 7v7), and difficulty. Example: U10 - Fun Warmups vs. U14 - Tactical.
• Keep section durations realistic - the sum of all section times should fit within your typical practice window (e.g., 60 minutes). Consider adding a 5-minute buffer for transitions.
• Avoid attaching drills that change frequently - if you link a drill, that drill is referenced, not copied. If you later edit the drill, all templates using it will reflect the change. For static structures, leave the drill unlinked.
• Test a template by generating a session from it and checking the schedule. Adjust durations or remove/ add sections as needed.
• Duplicate an existing template - look for a Copy Template option (or create a new template from the edit screen) to save time when making variations.
• If the Templates section is missing from your sidebar, your account may not have the manage_templates permission. Contact your club super-admin.

Summary

Session templates are powerful tools for standardizing your club’s training quality. By creating a template with clearly named sections (warmups, exercises, games) and optional linked drills, you give every coach a reliable starting point. Once saved, you can generate new sessions from the template in seconds via the Session Wizard. Next, consider creating templates for each age group in your club, and periodically review them as your coaching philosophy evolves.