Overview
The Season Starter Kit: College Edition (Small Staff) Guide by Dan Barto offers a practical framework for basketball coaches with limited resources to systematically track player feedback throughout the season. After practice, coaches record three minutes of spoken observations using their phone's voice recorder. An AI assistant processes the transcript against saved project files to identify which players went unmentioned and provide concise one line summaries for those who were. Crucially, the AI only maintains the count coaches must write and send every text message themselves.
What You Will Create
To implement this workflow, coaches construct a structured AI project containing six core file types: roster.txt, how-i-coach.txt, schedule.txt, individual player profiles, and dated practice notes. The setup includes:
Written Administrative Approval: A formal policy securing athletic director sign-off on approved AI accounts, record retention, and data ownership boundaries.
Strict "Never List" Rules: Boundaries ensuring sensitive topics such as injuries, grades, mental health, eating habits, or the transfer portal are never entered into AI chats.
Automated Count System: System prompts that read practice notes, list unmentioned players alongside consecutive missed practices, and generate labeled, sub 25 word summaries without suggesting or drafting player messages.
Why It Matters
In the grind of late season play, coaches naturally default to texting the same few players while quiet, steady contributors go unnoticed for weeks. This kit fixes that blind spot while protecting the authentic player - coach dynamic. Todays’ student athletes recognize AI generated language instantly, which damages trust; keeping message creation strictly in the coach's hands preserves genuine human connection. Spending three minutes a day creates an 18 week routine that keeps every player seen, maintains program compliance, and ensures no player falls through the cracks.
Download the Free Guide (PDF) below.