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For Coaches

For Athletes

Messaging & Sessions

Messaging Athletes

FormLab includes built-in messaging so you can communicate directly with your subscribed athletes. Messages are organized by subscription, making it easy to keep conversations in context.

Accessing Messages

Navigate to "Messages" from the main navigation. You'll see a list of all your conversations, organized by subscription.

  • Each conversation shows the athlete's name and subscription tier
  • Unread conversations are highlighted or badged
  • Most recent conversations appear at the top

Sending Messages

  1. Click on a conversation to open the message thread
  2. Type your message in the input field at the bottom
  3. Press Enter or click Send to deliver the message
  4. The athlete receives a notification and can reply

Messages are text-based. You can share links, provide follow-up coaching tips, schedule sessions, or answer questions.

Tip: Use messaging to provide quick follow-ups after video reviews, check in on athlete progress, or answer questions between reviews. It builds stronger coaching relationships.

Unread Messages

Your dashboard shows an unread message count so you can quickly see when athletes are trying to reach you.

  • The Messages page highlights conversations with unread messages
  • Messages are marked as read when you open the conversation
  • Keep your unread count low to maintain good athlete engagement

Sessions

FormLab includes built-in video calling so you can coach athletes live from anywhere. Athletes can book sessions if their subscription tier includes a session limit. Navigate to "Sessions" from the main navigation to manage all bookings.

  • Upcoming Confirmed Sessions: Sessions you've confirmed with date, time, and athlete info
  • Pending Bookings: Session requests awaiting your confirmation
  • Past Sessions: Completed sessions for your records

Joining a Session

When a scheduled session's time arrives, both you and the athlete see a "Join Call" button.

  1. Click Join Call to enter the pre-join lobby
  2. Preview your camera and select your audio/video devices
  3. Click Join to enter the live session
  4. Once both parties join, you're in a live video call

Sessions are ideal for real-time form coaching, drill walkthroughs, or technique discussions.

Tip: Have athletes set up their camera to show their throwing motion so you can analyze form in real time.

Managing Bookings

Confirming a Booking

  1. Navigate to Sessions from the main navigation
  2. View the pending booking details (athlete, session type, requested date/time)
  3. Verify the date and time work with your schedule
  4. Click "Confirm" to accept the booking
  5. The athlete receives a confirmation notification
  6. The session moves to your Upcoming Confirmed Sessions list

Declining a Booking

If you can't accommodate a session request:

  1. View the pending booking
  2. Click "Decline" or "Cancel"
  3. Optionally provide a reason (scheduling conflict, etc.)
  4. The athlete receives a notification and can request a different time

Session Limits and Tracking

If you include session limits in your subscription tiers, FormLab automatically tracks usage:

  • When an athlete books a session, it counts against their tier's session limit
  • Athletes can only book sessions if they have remaining sessions in their allowance
  • Session limits reset at the start of each billing period
  • You can see each athlete's remaining session count in the booking details

This ensures fair access and prevents over-booking based on your tier definitions.

Best Practices

Respond Promptly

Quick responses to messages and booking requests create a professional impression and improve athlete satisfaction. Aim to respond within 24 hours.

Set Clear Expectations

In your session type descriptions and profile bio, be clear about what athletes can expect from sessions. Include information like session structure and typical outcomes.

Use Messaging Proactively

Don't wait for athletes to reach out. Send check-ins after video reviews, ask how practice is going, or share relevant tips. Proactive communication builds loyalty.

Confirm Session Details

After confirming a booking, send a message to double-check details and what the athlete wants to work on. This reduces confusion and makes sessions more effective.

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