Good coaching shouldn't be a lottery
World-class coach developers helping community and high-performance sports leaders to deliver great experiences by design and not luck.
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.
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Email
info@thecoachinglab.org
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Follow us
These guys love us!
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 with both struggling to engage mixed ability groups.
We are 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 in 75+ countries, used at the games grassroots and with the world's elite.
What we believe in
No lines, lectures and laps.
- Games-based approach
- Supporting workforces over a period of time
- Collaborative learning design
- Person-centred coaching
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.
Take their word for it
Must have!
5/ 5
Improved communication
We use them with our U18s to develop their communicaiton and adaptability We use them with our U18s to develop their communicaiton and adaptability We use them with our U18s to develop their communicaiton and adaptability
Liverpool Football Club
LOVE THEM!
The girls love them, they are a great stimulation for conversation between players and coaches. The girls love them, they are a great stimulation for conversation between players and coaches. The girls love them, they are a great stimulation for conversation between players and coaches.
Rugby Australia
Different problems to solve
I will try to select MatchPlay Cards© that fit the theme we are working to. We can't predict what will happen next in the game so we want to give them different problems to solve and make things chaotic with underloads and overloads I will try to select MatchPlay Cards© that fit the theme we are working to. We can't predict what will happen next in the game so we want to give them different problems to solve and make things chaotic with underloads and overloads I will try to select MatchPlay Cards© that fit the theme we are working to. We can't predict what will happen next in the game so we want to give them different problems to solve and make things chaotic with underloads and overloads
John Lawson, Rangers FC
Really effective
I'm a big advocate of MatchPlay Cards they a really effective and visual aid to support players to interact, it gives them variety I'm a big advocate of MatchPlay Cards they a really effective and visual aid to support players to interact, it gives them variety I'm a big advocate of MatchPlay Cards they a really effective and visual aid to support players to interact, it gives them variety
Paul Barry, Crystal Palace FC, Assistant Head of Coaching
Play, play, play!
MatchPlay Cards constantly create opportunities for players to learn through play MatchPlay Cards constantly create opportunities for players to learn through play MatchPlay Cards constantly create opportunities for players to learn through play
Darren, Park Sports Project
Facilitate the problem solving
Huge part of my journey of understanding that I can just facilitate the problem solving, rather than doing it for me with MatchPlay Cards Huge part of my journey of understanding that I can just facilitate the problem solving, rather than doing it for me with MatchPlay Cards Huge part of my journey of understanding that I can just facilitate the problem solving, rather than doing it for me with MatchPlay Cards
Alan Good, Liberty Field Hockey, USA
Improved communication
We use them with our U18s to develop their communicaiton and adaptability We use them with our U18s to develop their communicaiton and adaptability We use them with our U18s to develop their communicaiton and adaptability
Liverpool Football Club
LOVE THEM!
The girls love them, they are a great stimulation for conversation between players and coaches. The girls love them, they are a great stimulation for conversation between players and coaches. The girls love them, they are a great stimulation for conversation between players and coaches.
Rugby Australia
Different problems to solve
I will try to select MatchPlay Cards© that fit the theme we are working to. We can't predict what will happen next in the game so we want to give them different problems to solve and make things chaotic with underloads and overloads I will try to select MatchPlay Cards© that fit the theme we are working to. We can't predict what will happen next in the game so we want to give them different problems to solve and make things chaotic with underloads and overloads I will try to select MatchPlay Cards© that fit the theme we are working to. We can't predict what will happen next in the game so we want to give them different problems to solve and make things chaotic with underloads and overloads
John Lawson, Rangers FC
Really effective
I'm a big advocate of MatchPlay Cards they a really effective and visual aid to support players to interact, it gives them variety I'm a big advocate of MatchPlay Cards they a really effective and visual aid to support players to interact, it gives them variety I'm a big advocate of MatchPlay Cards they a really effective and visual aid to support players to interact, it gives them variety
Paul Barry, Crystal Palace FC, Assistant Head of Coaching
Play, play, play!
MatchPlay Cards constantly create opportunities for players to learn through play MatchPlay Cards constantly create opportunities for players to learn through play MatchPlay Cards constantly create opportunities for players to learn through play
Darren, Park Sports Project
Facilitate the problem solving
Huge part of my journey of understanding that I can just facilitate the problem solving, rather than doing it for me with MatchPlay Cards Huge part of my journey of understanding that I can just facilitate the problem solving, rather than doing it for me with MatchPlay Cards Huge part of my journey of understanding that I can just facilitate the problem solving, rather than doing it for me with MatchPlay Cards
Alan Good, Liberty Field Hockey, USA
Improved communication
We use them with our U18s to develop their communicaiton and adaptability We use them with our U18s to develop their communicaiton and adaptability We use them with our U18s to develop their communicaiton and adaptability
Liverpool Football Club
LOVE THEM!
The girls love them, they are a great stimulation for conversation between players and coaches. The girls love them, they are a great stimulation for conversation between players and coaches. The girls love them, they are a great stimulation for conversation between players and coaches.
Rugby Australia
Different problems to solve
I will try to select MatchPlay Cards© that fit the theme we are working to. We can't predict what will happen next in the game so we want to give them different problems to solve and make things chaotic with underloads and overloads I will try to select MatchPlay Cards© that fit the theme we are working to. We can't predict what will happen next in the game so we want to give them different problems to solve and make things chaotic with underloads and overloads I will try to select MatchPlay Cards© that fit the theme we are working to. We can't predict what will happen next in the game so we want to give them different problems to solve and make things chaotic with underloads and overloads
John Lawson, Rangers FC
Really effective
I'm a big advocate of MatchPlay Cards they a really effective and visual aid to support players to interact, it gives them variety I'm a big advocate of MatchPlay Cards they a really effective and visual aid to support players to interact, it gives them variety I'm a big advocate of MatchPlay Cards they a really effective and visual aid to support players to interact, it gives them variety
Paul Barry, Crystal Palace FC, Assistant Head of Coaching
Play, play, play!
MatchPlay Cards constantly create opportunities for players to learn through play MatchPlay Cards constantly create opportunities for players to learn through play MatchPlay Cards constantly create opportunities for players to learn through play
Darren, Park Sports Project
Facilitate the problem solving
Huge part of my journey of understanding that I can just facilitate the problem solving, rather than doing it for me with MatchPlay Cards Huge part of my journey of understanding that I can just facilitate the problem solving, rather than doing it for me with MatchPlay Cards Huge part of my journey of understanding that I can just facilitate the problem solving, rather than doing it for me with MatchPlay Cards
Alan Good, Liberty Field Hockey, USA
Improved communication
We use them with our U18s to develop their communicaiton and adaptability We use them with our U18s to develop their communicaiton and adaptability We use them with our U18s to develop their communicaiton and adaptability
Liverpool Football Club
LOVE THEM!
The girls love them, they are a great stimulation for conversation between players and coaches. The girls love them, they are a great stimulation for conversation between players and coaches. The girls love them, they are a great stimulation for conversation between players and coaches.
Rugby Australia
Different problems to solve
I will try to select MatchPlay Cards© that fit the theme we are working to. We can't predict what will happen next in the game so we want to give them different problems to solve and make things chaotic with underloads and overloads I will try to select MatchPlay Cards© that fit the theme we are working to. We can't predict what will happen next in the game so we want to give them different problems to solve and make things chaotic with underloads and overloads I will try to select MatchPlay Cards© that fit the theme we are working to. We can't predict what will happen next in the game so we want to give them different problems to solve and make things chaotic with underloads and overloads
John Lawson, Rangers FC
Really effective
I'm a big advocate of MatchPlay Cards they a really effective and visual aid to support players to interact, it gives them variety I'm a big advocate of MatchPlay Cards they a really effective and visual aid to support players to interact, it gives them variety I'm a big advocate of MatchPlay Cards they a really effective and visual aid to support players to interact, it gives them variety
Paul Barry, Crystal Palace FC, Assistant Head of Coaching
Play, play, play!
MatchPlay Cards constantly create opportunities for players to learn through play MatchPlay Cards constantly create opportunities for players to learn through play MatchPlay Cards constantly create opportunities for players to learn through play
Darren, Park Sports Project
Facilitate the problem solving
Huge part of my journey of understanding that I can just facilitate the problem solving, rather than doing it for me with MatchPlay Cards Huge part of my journey of understanding that I can just facilitate the problem solving, rather than doing it for me with MatchPlay Cards Huge part of my journey of understanding that I can just facilitate the problem solving, rather than doing it for me with MatchPlay Cards
Alan Good, Liberty Field Hockey, USA
Improved communication
We use them with our U18s to develop their communicaiton and adaptability We use them with our U18s to develop their communicaiton and adaptability We use them with our U18s to develop their communicaiton and adaptability
Liverpool Football Club
LOVE THEM!
The girls love them, they are a great stimulation for conversation between players and coaches. The girls love them, they are a great stimulation for conversation between players and coaches. The girls love them, they are a great stimulation for conversation between players and coaches.
Rugby Australia
Different problems to solve
I will try to select MatchPlay Cards© that fit the theme we are working to. We can't predict what will happen next in the game so we want to give them different problems to solve and make things chaotic with underloads and overloads I will try to select MatchPlay Cards© that fit the theme we are working to. We can't predict what will happen next in the game so we want to give them different problems to solve and make things chaotic with underloads and overloads I will try to select MatchPlay Cards© that fit the theme we are working to. We can't predict what will happen next in the game so we want to give them different problems to solve and make things chaotic with underloads and overloads
John Lawson, Rangers FC
Really effective
I'm a big advocate of MatchPlay Cards they a really effective and visual aid to support players to interact, it gives them variety I'm a big advocate of MatchPlay Cards they a really effective and visual aid to support players to interact, it gives them variety I'm a big advocate of MatchPlay Cards they a really effective and visual aid to support players to interact, it gives them variety
Paul Barry, Crystal Palace FC, Assistant Head of Coaching
Play, play, play!
MatchPlay Cards constantly create opportunities for players to learn through play MatchPlay Cards constantly create opportunities for players to learn through play MatchPlay Cards constantly create opportunities for players to learn through play
Darren, Park Sports Project
Facilitate the problem solving
Huge part of my journey of understanding that I can just facilitate the problem solving, rather than doing it for me with MatchPlay Cards Huge part of my journey of understanding that I can just facilitate the problem solving, rather than doing it for me with MatchPlay Cards Huge part of my journey of understanding that I can just facilitate the problem solving, rather than doing it for me with MatchPlay Cards
Alan Good, Liberty Field Hockey, USA
Improved communication
We use them with our U18s to develop their communicaiton and adaptability We use them with our U18s to develop their communicaiton and adaptability We use them with our U18s to develop their communicaiton and adaptability
Liverpool Football Club
LOVE THEM!
The girls love them, they are a great stimulation for conversation between players and coaches. The girls love them, they are a great stimulation for conversation between players and coaches. The girls love them, they are a great stimulation for conversation between players and coaches.
Rugby Australia
Different problems to solve
I will try to select MatchPlay Cards© that fit the theme we are working to. We can't predict what will happen next in the game so we want to give them different problems to solve and make things chaotic with underloads and overloads I will try to select MatchPlay Cards© that fit the theme we are working to. We can't predict what will happen next in the game so we want to give them different problems to solve and make things chaotic with underloads and overloads I will try to select MatchPlay Cards© that fit the theme we are working to. We can't predict what will happen next in the game so we want to give them different problems to solve and make things chaotic with underloads and overloads
John Lawson, Rangers FC
Really effective
I'm a big advocate of MatchPlay Cards they a really effective and visual aid to support players to interact, it gives them variety I'm a big advocate of MatchPlay Cards they a really effective and visual aid to support players to interact, it gives them variety I'm a big advocate of MatchPlay Cards they a really effective and visual aid to support players to interact, it gives them variety
Paul Barry, Crystal Palace FC, Assistant Head of Coaching
Play, play, play!
MatchPlay Cards constantly create opportunities for players to learn through play MatchPlay Cards constantly create opportunities for players to learn through play MatchPlay Cards constantly create opportunities for players to learn through play
Darren, Park Sports Project
Facilitate the problem solving
Huge part of my journey of understanding that I can just facilitate the problem solving, rather than doing it for me with MatchPlay Cards Huge part of my journey of understanding that I can just facilitate the problem solving, rather than doing it for me with MatchPlay Cards Huge part of my journey of understanding that I can just facilitate the problem solving, rather than doing it for me with MatchPlay Cards
Alan Good, Liberty Field Hockey, USA
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?
Coaches Corner:
Score More Than Just Goals - Coaching for purpose
The 2 Things Young Players Really Want and how you can do it with ease
6 things every junior netball coaches needs to know
How to support your volunteer coaches
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.
How to be great junior sports coach
Adding team challenges with IFK Stocksund