What we believe in:
No lines, lectures and laps.
- Games-based approach
- Supporting workforces over a period of time
- Collaborative learning design
- Person-centred experiences
Know these guys? We do!
Meet Jack, our Founder:
I launched The Coaching Lab back in 2018 because the experience players get in sport is a pure lottery, coaches are unsupported and teachers are always short of time and often struggle to engage mixed ability groups.
We were quickly recognised by Richard Branson’s Virgin StartUp as an “inspirational bright idea”, accelerating our reach to impact teachers and coaches across the world play more games.
MatchPlay Cards are now loved and trusted in 75+ countries, used at the games' grassroots and with the world's elite.
See what others say:
We help you to help others
Because great sporting experiences shouldn't be a lottery!
Club coach development
Have The Coaching Lab support in-person, online for one session or multiple.
What sports leaders think they need is pages of session plans but what they really need is an adaptive toolbox of coaching skills.
Teacher workshops
MatchPlay Cards are your new teaching assistant. The assistant that helps you play more games, engage mixed abilities and check for student learning in seconds.
Conference speaking
Energise and upskill your delegates with world-class insights, practical tools and newfound knowledge.
Topics include:
- Games-based learning
- Designing training sessions
- Teaching mixed abilities
- Effectively planning a season
- Coaching through games
Branded MatchPlay Cards
Enquire about branded and bespoke MatchPlay Cards for your organisation. Packages start from 50 units.
Chat with us:
Order on an invoice, chat to us about supporting your workforce or learn more about MatchPlay Cards.
Based in the UK and Australia, serving the world.
The Coaching Lab is based across Australia and the UK travelling the world to support teachers and coaches.
Do you do club and school bundles? Sure thing, we do!
Contact us to access exclusive prices and packages to support your workforce be game changer with MatchPlay Cards.
How it started vs how it's going:
2018
It was A "MAD IDEA"
Jack, sat his University library desk with 15,000 words of final year study on how does coaches integrate psychological skills in practice, MatchPlay Cards were born.
A mission to break down research, develop skilful sports leaders and have less kids standing in a line waiting to have a go.
2019
Backed by Richard Branson's Virgin
Virgin Startup supported The Coaching Lab as a "bright idea" with Richard Branson himself even calling Jack "An inspiration"
The same year we scaled to 15 different countries, launched Reflection MatchPlay Cards and saw Arsenal, Liverpool and West Ham FC become lovers of MatchPlay Cards.
2023
We took it seriously!
Jack reflects on 2023 as the year The Coaching Lab accelerated its growth visiting and supporting more customers in person, scaling to global retail outlets and finally upgrading the website.
By 2023 we had shipped to 75 countries!
2024
The AFL got a new coach
The year we launched our first ever sports specific deck, Footy MatchPlay Cards. Transforming the game of AFL, helping more teachers and coaches play games and work with mixed ability groups easily.
What sport will we change forever, next?
World Class insights:
Stop Managing Behaviour. Start Designing Better Training Environments.
Behaviour problems in coaching aren’t fixed with control. Learn how better session design, games, and constraints create engagement and ownership.
Why Games Beat Drills: How Constraint-Led Coaching Accelerates Player Learning
For decades, coaching sessions and PE lessons around the world have followed a familiar and largely unquestioned structure. Players line up, practise isolated techniques, repeat movements on command, and are rewarded with a short game at the end if time allows.
Score More Than Just Goals - Coaching for purpose
Explore how purposeful coaching helps players develop confidence, understanding and skill through fun games, challenges and engaging session design.
The 2 Things Young Players Really Want and how you can do it with ease
Find out what players really want from training and how game-based activities help create enjoyable, engaging and meaningful sporting experiences.
6 things every junior netball coaches needs to know
Discover six essentials for supporting junior netball players, including games, drills and session design that boost skill, confidence and enjoyment.
How to support your volunteer coaches
Discover practical ways to support volunteer netball coaches, boost confidence and keep them engaged with game-based coaching tools and inclusive session ideas.
By embedding learning objectives directly into the game and not just playing a game because students are asking, teachers shift from telling students what to do to guiding them to figure it out. You are creating students to experiment, adapt, and find solutions independently.
Discover MatchPlay Cards:
Multi sport challenge cards to make you a game changer
