I originally purchased an iPad just to aide my volleyball coaching. Granted, there are so many other things I use it for too, but that’s another article. There are a ton of iPad applications in the iTunes App Store. There are many of those applications that can be used for coaching a sport. The problem is, you have to know the name of many of them in order to find them. In some cases, the problem is that developers just don’t add correct tags to the apps when they submit them. But some apps of use to volleyball coaches don’t have the term volleyball anywhere in the descriptions or title. In this article, I’ll point you in the right direction to those apps I use all the time and some I’m looking at getting in the near future.
Giant Scoreboard 
Cost: Free
Category: Strategy/Planning
Usage: Practice/Warm-ups
TVT Rating: 
Review: This is a great app to use in scrimmages and it definitely beats lugging around a scoreboard to gyms. The timer can be set so you have an idea how much time you have during those match warm-ups too. You simply touch each number as each number can be 0 to 9. The team names are also customizable and the score can be changed by touching either side of the number. For instance, touching to the left of any number decreases the score, while touching to the right increases the number. The only downside and the reason I gave it 4 out of 5 volleyballs is because the timer noise is a doorbell. That seems a little anticlimactic to me, but a small gripe. Allowing a user to change the noise would give it 5 stars.
Get it Here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id366681437
Volleyball Whiteboard 
Cost: $ 1.99
Category: Strategy/Planning
Usage: Practice/Matches
TVT Rating:
Review: This is the best Whiteboard app for coaching. Coaches with an iPad can choose whether to view a full or half court. iPhone versions do not have the ability to switch as of this writing.
All items on the whiteboard can be moved and names can be added to the player icons. Users can also draw in 8 different colors to diagram the thoughts they want to convey. The best part about this app is that a video can be made to show players, in steps, how to perform a drill or game plan. I have yet to see another clipboard on the app store even promise this feature. For the sheer fact that everything is customizable, this app gets a 5 volleyball rating from me and is worth each of the 199 pennies you pay to download it.
Get it Here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/volleyball-coachs-clipboard/id319458958?mt=8
Clock Pro HD Free
Cost: Free
Category: Utilities
Usage: Practice/Matches
TVT Rating:
Review: This app has many uses, but the one I like for coaching is the stopwatch. It’s as accurate as it can be and the iPad’s screen is pretty sensitive so the lag from the start of an activity to a user hitting “Start” is the same as a traditional push button stopwatch. There are many other clocks available in this app, including a metronome, chess clock and countdown timer. There is also a paid version of this app for $3.99, but I’m really unsure what that gets you above the free version. One thing you do get is more clocks in the World Clock section. The reason this app gets 4 out of 5 volleyballs is because the alarms will only work if the apps is open. Meaning that you can’t set a timer for a drill and move on to another app that has your practice plan. It’s just a nice app to have and since it’s free, there is no harm in downloading it and you might get more use out of it than just coaching.
Get it Here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/volleyball-coachs-clipboard/id319458958?mt=8
Numbers
Cost: $9.99
Category: Spreadsheets
Usage: Practice/Easy Match Stats
TVT Rating:
Review: Numbers is Apple’s answer to MS Excel. Numbers can be completely customized on the iPad so that using your desktop for the same task is unnecessary. I’ve done simple club volleyball stats on the iPad from the bench and created a tab for each match. I’ve also done something similar to the screen shot to the right and created a neat summary. All within the first few minutes of using the app. If you are familiar with Excel, then Numbers will come easy for you. Numbers also acts as the default viewer for Microsoft’s .xls and .xlsx files so when you browse the Internet and download a spreadsheet, it will open in Numbers easily. This app is necessary if you plan on using your iPad for more than just games and is a great productivity app. The $9.99 price tag is not cheap by App Store standards, but the value is worth much more.
Get it Here: http://www.apple.com/ipad/from-the-app-store/numbers.html
Pages
Cost: $9.99
Category: Word Processor
Usage: Practice/Viewing Tournament Schedules/etc.
TVT Rating:
Review: If Numbers is a replacement for Excel. then Pages is a replacement for Microsoft Word. Pages is another Apple product and is meant to be a creation application. You could create anything in Pages that you can create in Word, including Practice Plans. Pages will also view any document meant for Word including .txt, .doc, docx, and others. As a productivity app, Pages really gets it done enabling you to take formatted notes and create just about anything. Numbers and Pages can work together as well, just like Word and Excel do. I highly recommend both.
Get it Here: http://www.apple.com/ipad/from-the-app-store/pages.html
Dropbox
Cost: Free
Category: Document Storage
Usage: Organization
TVT Rating:
Review: Dropbox is free to download and only works when you create a web account for your PC or Mac, which is free as well. The object of this app is to create a storage area in “the cloud” for your files. When you download the web version (dropbox.com) onto your PC/Mac it creates a folder on your computer under /Users/<Your account>/Dropbox. If you want to send a file to your iPad, you just save the file to that directory, which sends the file to “the cloud”, then open the app on your iPad to download (quickly) and view the file. Of course, the same works in reverse if you create a file in Pages or Numbers on your iPad and want to send it to your computer. I prefer using Dropbox compared to sending myself email attachments, because it’s more immediate and your library of files is always accessible from your iPad more easily than searching through emails. Think of Dropbox as an external drive shared by your iPad and PC/Mac, without the wires.
Get it Here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dropbox/id327630330?mt=8
Roambi
Cost: Free
Category: Analytics
Usage: Statistical Analysis
TVT Rating:
Review: Roambi creates interactive mobile dashboards that allow users to analyze and share their company’s latest information on any iPhone or iPad – keeping them connected to their business, anytime and anywhere. Sounds great, right? Wondering how this is supposed to help you coach volleyball?
Well, with a little bit of tweaking, this app can turn your spreadsheets of statistics into visual dashboards that allow you to view game and match stats by player or breakdown each players stats against specific opponents. Basically, if you want to analyze statistics in a specific format, you can do it with Roambi. To learn more about how Roambi works with the iPad, visit http://www.roambi.com/roambi_on_ipad.html. For sheer “Wow” factor, this app gets 5 out of 5 volleyballs, plus it’s entirely free.
Get it Here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/roambi-visualizer/id315020789?mt=8
Volleyball Ace
Cost: $89.99
Category: Statistics
Usage: Match Statistic Entry
TVT Rating:
Review: I have used Volleyball Ace with an old Palm device and I liked it alot. I have yet to try the iPhone version. I say iPhone version because there is no iPad version. So iPad users must hit the “2x” button to make the app full screen. Dimension Software, the company that makes Volleyball Ace, says that they aren’t making an iPad version because they like that all the buttons are huge and easy to read. iPad users know that this is not a feature and does not use the full capabilities of the iPad’s screen. I am holding out hope that they do decide to release an iPad version by the end of the 2011 summer. I will not purchase this iPhone app for my iPad unless I absolutely must, due to the start of the fall season.
As for now, I give this app 3 out of 5 volleyballs due to the companies reluctance to make a better app for iPad users. They are missing a big market segment, as I see tablets appearing more and more on sidelines. Anyone with an iPad knows that running iPhone apps are not a “feature” of an app, it just means that companies are lazy and have an “it’s good enough” mindset.
With all that said, Volleyball ACE is the best volleyball statistics software app out there for portable devices and I recommend it to all iPhone users. Users with an iPad might find the $89.99 price tag for a magnified iPhone (blurry) app a little too high though.
Get it Here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/volleyball-ace/id369490775?mt=8
FitnessHD
Cost: $3.99
Category: Fitness, duh…
Usage: Agility/Endurance Training/Conditioning
TVT Rating:
Review: This is a great app to have when you get trainer block. This app has a huge database of exercises; each with it’s own photo, video, and muscle group diagram. You can tailor your conditioning program for your entire volleyball program very easily.
This app is actually meant for individuals who want to follow a workout program. Even after recent knee surgery, I was able to notify the app and it tailored an exercise program that was tailored to my weak knee. Users can also monitor their BMI, measurements and even add photos of themselves.
This app is very beautiful too. Nothing is worse for an app than if it’s ugly to look at. Fitness HD really uses the iPad’s capabilities well. Due to beauty of the app, the care the developers put into it, and the usability of the app for volleyball and other sport coaches, I give this app a 5 out of 5 volleyball rating.
Get it Here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fitness-for-ipad/id365496638?mt=8
Conclusion
You could call me an iPad addict. In fact, most people that know me often comment how they never see me without it. Do you have a favorite volleyball related app not mentioned here? Let me know in the comments. If you are a Developer and would like me to review your product, drop me a line.
As a PE teacher, I love to teach using my iPad. The app that I use is the Ghostwriter Notes app I bought at http://majorspot.com
I observe that my students become very active in participation. So cool!
Ivolleystats is another great iPad application for tracking stats… In fact, they are using it to stat the high school all-American match for espn Friday night….
Digital Scout has an iPad version of their Statware program, now. It is a subscription model, where all your stats are stored on their servers. A bit pricey, $124 – $164 (-ish) for the subscription, but the input of stats is the best I've used (better than Ace). I've been using the Palm-based version of DS for at least ten years (versions 2 through 6), but finding a Palm device (I've worn out two!) these days is getting tough! The web model will allow your players to access the stats at their convenience.
I've just ordered my iPad, and will likely give Digtial Scout a go. I'll let you know how it works out.
This is the software that Oliver from Berlin is referring to, I believe.
Thanks Al, please do let us know.
Everyone else who asked about it: I will be getting a copy of iStatVball ver 2 for the iPad from the company for review purposes this week and after a few matches, I\’ll write a thorough review of it.
I've been using istatvball 2 for the iPad for the last month of my high school season and I have 2 stat boys running the program. One records the stats while the other spots for him. It was very easy to use and the creators of the app are constantly trying to make the app better. They had a Facebook page that you can check out. Just google it. This would be my top recommendation for taking stats for the time being. I know ESPN has some other sport apps and from what they told me it sounds like they are goingto make a volleyball one next but probably won't be out until next year sometime in the summer
Has anyone tried the istat volleyball 2 iPad edition? I am very curious about it. I see that volleyball ace seems to be more intuitive of the game but isn't right for an iPad. For $40 less i could go with istat volleyball 2 but there aren't many reviews on the new one… Help the season is starting soon and I'm a 1st time varsity coach.
Okay, I got into the software a bit deeper. And they ask for fee later on… It's not for free!
Don't you hate that? Thanks Oliver
Hi Brian,
I bookmarked this article until I would get my new iPhone. I have got it now. I just found statware on the App Store. It was published yesterday
It should work with the iPhone and the iPad. From the first view it is a complex App but should work just fine. And it is for free.
Cheers, from Berlin,
Oliver
I actually have iStatVball installed, but never used it. It looks complicated to set up pre-game and input stats during a match. I've used Volleyball Ace before and it is very intuitive and "knows more" about volleyball. Meaning that it knows that an attack comes after a set. This means less clicks for the stat taker or, at the very least, less thinking while tapping. Thanks for the comment kvball.
You are correct that it takes quite a bit to input stats. I am interested in the easier Volleyball Ace but want one that is set up for the ipad. Any thoughts?
I’m hoping that an iPad version is out for Vball Ace by the fall season. What it’s going to take is enough coaches asking for it or going elsewhere for stat programs. If the company continues to make money with the iPhone version on iPads, we’ll never see an iPad version.
I thought about reviewing iStatvball, but since I never used it during a match due to it’s seemingly difficult stat entry, I decided to go with Volleyball Ace. I really hope someone at the company reads the review.
istat works a bit differently. it takes into account the 5-1 or 6-2 offense and gives the assist to the 5-1 setter or 6-2 backrow setter. you only have to manually stat if a non setter gets the assist. pre-game setup takes my girls less than a minute now. i add new teams ahead of time before the game. I havent used volleyball ace since back when i had a palm so I can't compare. But some features of istat i really like that may appeal to coaches is…1) keeps service order, and all other stat buttons are greyed out except serve buttons for the correct server. 2) all buttons are greyed out except pass ratings when the other team has serve. 3) smart locations always puts the OH on the left, the MH in the middle, and the setter right front, or right back. allows you to say whether your libero plays MB or LB. makes it easier for new and/or less proficient stat keepers to be effective. with a little preparation its really easy. and starts at 19.99 i think.
I agree Dave, I just got into the iStatVball beta group and I'm working with it for a few weeks, then I'm going to review it here. So far, it's very easy for players to take stats while sitting on the bench too.
Have you tried the istatvball for ipad? Last season I used it from an ipod and it was quite useful. It has lots of options but was difficult to use on a small screen.
Just in the last week istatvball has come out with a 2.0 version. It also has an app for the ipad. It looks like they have done a major overhaul of the original version which allows you to do one tap stats during a match and it is cheaper. At first glance it looks as though the app isn't as "smart" as volleyball ace but it looks more practical and manageable if someone has a quick finger than it did before. Maybe worth a closer look. To get all the features it will cost you $50 vs. $155 for volleyball ace.
Thank you Canadian Coach, That's sounds like a cheaper option. I will take a look at it. Let me know what you think of it after using it for a while.