OnePlaybook

Website: OnePlaybook

Interview With: Brian Manning

Is their more then one founder? If so, who are they?

Yes, while Brian Manning is the principal employee and primary founder, Chris Klaiber is another founder of OnePlaybook.

What is your background and qualifications?

As a former college football player, I saw how coaches could benefit from some emerging technologies.  After leaving college, I worked as an Internet Consultant for small insurance companies prior to working on my own on OnePlaybook and doing freelance and contract web design and development.

What does your website do?

OnePlaybook is a coach’s team management application.  That sounds pretty broad, and that’s because OnePlaybook has a broad range of features.  Coaches can draw plays for their players, post announcements, share videos, upload documents, to name a few things.  It’s a central repository for any information that a coach would want to give his players.  The idea was to make sure that a coach never has to physically hand a player anything besides his equipment.

How do you generate revenue? If through ads, what ad network do you use?

Right now, all of the revenue is through paid subscriptions.  There is a free version among the variety of packages available for teams, and currently there are no ads on any of those versions.

How have your marketed your site?

At this point, it has been mostly been through referrals and direct selling, though with an updated release of OnePlaybook in August, there are packages designed to fit any budget and many sports are supported, so our marketing efforts are beginning to broaden.

Funding: Self funded, Angel Investment, or Venture Capital?

Self-Funded, though things could change.

Are You currently looking for funding?

We are not pursuing funding at this time, though offers would be entertained.

What type(s) of technology do you use?

OnePlaybook is built on a foundation of ASP.Net and Microsoft SQL.  There is also an exensive use of Javascript and Flash in addition to Flash video.  Finally, there is also a Desktop Video Conversion program that takes video and converts it to flash video to make uploading and viewing the video faster and easier.

What is your favorite feature on your website?

Personally, I like the ability to attach video to plays that are drawn online.  This gives players yet another avenue to learn the gameplan and play schemes.  Though, the coaches I talk to often enjoy the ease and simplicity of having everything in one place, as well as knowing that that one place is secure – no one can leave their playbook lying out in the lockerroom anymore.

Any Bold Predictions for Sports and Technology in the future?

Sports are a pretty old school arena, especially in the area of coaching.  While in the professional levels, coaches can keep up with current trends and the most recent technology, many colleges and high schools do not have the resources or support to do that.  People in business may talk about the paperless office, but never in sports.  OnePlaybook aims to change that and allow coaches to go digital.