Welcome to CoachFives

Transform your coaching with meaningful player feedback that builds skill, confidence, and team connection.

How CoachFives Works

1

Get Ready

Register and set up your team in minutes

2

Get Set

Understand player development with our skill ladders

3

Go!

Focus, observe, and have meaningful conversations with your players

Prefer to watch and learn? This introduction video walks you through the CoachFives approach and can be viewed alongside the written guide content—use whichever format works best for your learning style.

💡 Key Principle

CoachFives isn't about more control — it's about more connection. We help you communicate better, not more, creating space for players to thrive while feeling truly supported.

Setting Up Your Team

Get your CoachFives account ready in just a few simple steps.

1 Log In with Google

Google Account Login

CoachFives uses Google authentication for secure, easy access. Simply log in at app.coachfives.com with your Google account to get started.

2 Create Your Team

Team Details

After logging in, you'll create your team with just a few essential details: team name, season start date, and season end date. CoachFives keeps setup simple so you can get started quickly.

3 Add Your Players

Adding Players

To add a player, click the 3-dot menu in the top right corner of your Team Page, then select "Add Player". You can add players at any time throughout the season.

Player Information

Currently, you only need to provide the player's name. CoachFives keeps it simple and focused on what matters most.

⏱️ Time Estimate

Complete setup takes about 5-10 minutes for a typical team of 8-16 players. You'll assess individual player starting levels during your first few observation sessions (covered in the next sections).

4 Add Assistant Coaches (Optional)

Invite Assistant Coaches to Your Team

If you have assistant coaches who will help with observations and feedback, you can invite them to join your team. Assistant coaches will have the same capabilities as you—they can capture player observations, have feedback conversations, and access all team data.

  1. Generate Invitation Link: From your Team Page, click the same 3-dot menu where you add players, then select "Add Coach"
  2. Copy and Share: Generate the invitation link and copy it to send to your assistant coaches via email, text, or any messaging platform
  3. Assistant Coach Joins: When they click the link, they'll log in with their Google account and automatically become an assistant coach on your team

Note: Assistant coaches will appear in your team's coach list but won't be labeled as "Head Coach"—that designation stays with whoever created the team. All coaches can capture observations and feedback equally.

Understanding Skill Development

Learn how to visualize player development in the core skills.

Skill Ladder Videos

Before starting your observations and feedback we recommend you spend some time viewing all the Skill Ladders accessible from the main navigation. This will help you to understand and visualise what young player development looks like on the field.

6 Core Skills Framework

CoachFives centers observations and conversations around 6 core skills that form the foundation of player development:

First Touch

Receiving the ball and maintaining control

1v1

Using moves to create space to run, pass, or shoot

Passing

Combining with teammates & maintaining possession

Attack

Creating and finishing goal-chances

Defense

Anticipating, intercepting, winning the ball back

Team Spirit

Supporting teammates & respecting the opponents

Skill Ladder Example: First Touch

Each skill has 5 progression levels beyond "Starting Out" (the baseline level). Players may begin the season at any level depending on their current abilities, giving coaches a clear development path to guide each player's individual journey.

First Touch Development

✓
Starting Out
✓
Tries to Control
Safe Feet
Clever Under Pressure
Air to Ground
Gold

In this example: The player is currently demonstrating "Tries to Control" and their next development step would be "Safe Feet".

Visual Learning

Throughout the app, click on the info or video icon to watch demonstrations and refresh your understanding of each skill level.

Making Focused Observations

Use your learning from the Skill Ladders to make focused in-game observations.

1 Select a Focus Skill

One Skill at a Time

Football (soccer) is a fast moving and complex game. It is impossible to watch, assess and give easy-to-grasp feedback on every skill every week.

So select one of the 6 core skills every 2-3 weeks. Then move on to another. Click on the skill boxes at the top of your team page to select your focus skill for the team.

2 Observe Each Player in Action

During Match Day

Try to step back from the emotion of the game. Game day is their day, with no need for a coach's constant instruction. One of your key roles is to simply OBSERVE and make a note on how each player is doing in the focus skill.

During Training

If the emotion and stress of game day makes quiet observation too difficult, then you can use your free play part of a training session to make your player assessment.

3 Capture Your Observations

In the App: Quick Capture

Select a Player/Skill
Click "Capture Observation"
🖐️ "Not There Yet" (Single Five)
For effort and trying - they're working on it but haven't quite achieved the skill level yet
🙌 "Yes! Onwards" (Double Five)
For clear progress - they've consistently demonstrated the skill and are ready to go to the next level
Add Notes (Optional)
e.g. "Great first touch under pressure made space for a shot and a goal!"

A Note on Setting Player Starting Levels

If this is a players first assessment, the default is Starting Out. To move a player more than one level: Click on Yes! Onward / Save / Reopen Capture Observations / Click again on Yes! Onward / Save And so on until your current assessed level is reached.

Observe with Appreciation

Don't just see what players can't do. Look for what they're trying to do, moving towards, and succeeding in. Focus on progress, not perfection.

Providing Valuable Feedback

Transform your observations into positive, growth-focused feedback conversations.

The CoachFives Conversation Framework

What's Up?

Always start with an open question about the previous game:
• What did you think about the game?
• What was your best moment?
• Your worst?

Well Done!

Talk about the Focus Skill (e.g. First Touch) and what a player is doing well (even if it is not progress); always give a five!
Make a big deal — a double five — if you have seen progress to the next level. And link that progress to the player's value to the team and effort in practice.

What's Next?

Explain what the football gurus say about the next level in this focus skill.
How that would benefit the player and the team.
Ask the player if they can show this. Demo a couple of times with the player and give them some way to practice this at home.
Purposeful practice is the key!

This is the basic 1-2-3 feedback formula.

Of course feel free to add or change to chat feels right for you and your players.

Conversation Example

A 2-3 Minute CoachFives Conversation

What's Up?

Coach: "Hi Alex, how's everything going? What did you think of Saturday's game?"

[Listen to their response, connect personally]

Well Done!

Coach: "We've been focusing on First Touch, and you're getting much safer with the ball — I noticed how you kept possession even when two players were pressuring you. That's a solid five! 🖐️ It really helps the team when you can do that."

What's Next?

Coach: "The football gurus say the next level is 'Clever Under Pressure' — do you know what that means? …. that means when the ball goes to you with an opponent in close pursuit, you use your first touch to avoid the pressure and find space. Keeping possession for the team and maintaining attacking momentum. Let's practice that. Here I'll pass then pressure."

Coach: "Great! See if you can practice this at home? Maybe get your mum or dad to be the pressuring opponent! Show them you can be Clever Under Pressure!"

After the Conversation

Capture in the App

Click "Capture Conversation," confirm the date, and add any notes for future reference. This builds your feedback record over time.

Age-Appropriate Delivery

Younger players (6-9): Keep it short, visual, and skill-focused
Older players (10-14): Include how their skills contribute to team success

Remember

This isn't about "telling players what they can do better" — it's a two-way conversation that encourages reflection, reinforces strengths, and guides next steps.

Additional Tips

Core principles for effective coaching through observation and feedback.

Timing & Frequency

Recommended Schedule

Observations: During every match and 1-2 training sessions per week
Conversations: 2-3 players per week (ensures everyone gets feedback monthly)
Focus Skills: 2-3 weeks per skill (allows for depth and progress)

A Note About Goalkeepers

Version 1 of CoachFives does not include a specific observation and feedback for goalkeepers. Younger teams would probably not have specialist goalkeeper. Even a budding goalkeeper would benefit from junior years that include being a field player. We are considering goalkeeper support for a future version of CoachFives. If you do have a dedicated goalkeeper, then for now you can give your feedback outside of the app.

Addressing Over-Coaching Concerns

💡 Our Response to "Don't Over-Coach"

We agree — kids don't need constant instruction. CoachFives isn't about more control, it's about more connection. We help you talk better, not more. Better feedback means you can step back more during games because you've already built the connection and clarity kids need.

Connect With Us

CoachFives is YOUR feedback app. If you have ideas for features or improvements that would support your coaching needs, we'd love to hear from you. Email us at info@coachfives.com or visit us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/coach5s/.