Be a Smart Coach- Use CoachSmart App to Make Athletes Safer
I have accessed CoachSmart while on the sidelines, and no longer have to guess or try to remember suggested adjustments for practice and games in hot or humid weather. The information is concisely presented in the palm of my hand.
The iPhone app CoachSmart was developed by colleagues at Vanderbilt Sports Medicine and the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and is billed as the ultimate resource for coaches, offering real-time information on heat index and lightning strikes, frequently asked sports medicine and safety questions, and a group contact feature.
The The app is free to download in iTunes with an annual in-app subscription to live lightning data for $1.99.
- If lightning strikes nearby, the app sends an alert to the phone and the resource section provides information on what to do.
- The Home Screen gives current temperature, humidity, heat index and lightning strike information.
- The Map Screen is based on the user’s GPS location. One map shows lightning strikes within 25 miles, while another uses information from nearby weather stations to post current conditions, including heat index and wind chill.
- The Contacts function allows the user to compile team members’ contact info and send a message to the entire team with the touch of a button.
- The Resources section includes information that athletic trainers commonly dispense, such as hydration tips, injury prevention, concussion guidelines, and when to go to the emergency room. The resources will be updated as more information is needed or guidelines change.
- The app includes the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) heat index guidelines.
Developed by Sports Medicine Physicians and Athletic Trainers with close guidance from coaches, the CoachSmart app brings many important topics into one easy location.
Recommending CoachSmart is now part of my pre-season safety talks to coaches, parents, and administrators, and will also be part of an upcoming lecture on Heat Illness.
The CoachSmart App was recently upgraded and returned to active status. I do not have any financial relationship with the CoachSmart App.