Coaching Efficiently and Effectively

When it comes to coaching, preparation is everything. But for many coaches—whether they’re parents, professionals, or volunteers—time is often in short supply. That’s why CoachThem was built: to simplify coaching, streamline practice planning, and enhance player development.

In this blog, Rob Tallas, former NHL goaltender and current NHL coach, shares his journey from scrambling to organize drills on paper to co-founding CoachThem, a sports coaching software that empowers coaches across hockey, soccer, and lacrosse. With custom drills, mobile coaching tools, and a team practice planner, CoachThem is designed to make coaching more efficient, structured, and, most importantly—fun.

Here’s Rob’s take on why every coach needs a better way to prepare, organize, and develop athletes.

"As an NHL coach and retired NHL goalie, my primary responsibility is to win games. Having said that, however, it is the quality of the game that matters just as much, and that means the players, both the athletes and the children. Most coaches are doctors, police officers, plumbers and parents who just want the best for their sons and daughters. They have busy and full lives, and are giving their time and hearts to hockey, and often, there is just not enough time to prep for the game or practice. As a result, drills tend to be made up on the spot, or written quickly ahead of time on paper or napkins. The truth is I, too, have spent a lot of time in the past scrambling to put the right practice plans together. My drills used to be stored on paper in a binder, making it difficult to find correct drills for the day's practice. It goes without saying that this felt like a time-waster and added stress to the practice."

"This is one of the reasons why Mike and I created CoachThem: to save time; but also, to restore the fun of the game and to make coaching easy. CoachThem allows you to search for your drills or practice plans using a keyword or category. It also allows drills and ideas for practices to be shared throughout an organization. How easy and convenient would it be to go back to a previous practice that you ran last year?

Having the capability to share practice plans with coaching staff prior to a practice allows for a more efficient and skilled practice. That is what CoachThem aims to accomplish: implementing a system that adds structure and proper development to every team in an organization.

Mike and I are confident that CoachThem will not only change the way that coaches prepare and organize practices, but also will enrich the ways in which our athletes and children are taught, leading them to practice and to play with and to their full potential."

Let’s bring the fun back to coaching—while making it easier than ever.