I'm 59 and Started Using Ai to Help Me Coach.

I’m a lot of things.

I’m a husband, a father, a grandfather, an IT Director—and a coach.

Coaching has given me joy, stress, laughter, and frustration.

Getting a group of individuals to work together and grow in a competitive setting is complex. You’re dealing with different personalities, outside pressures, and the unpredictable nature of sport. And yet, the lessons learned—on a court, a field, or a track—are often the ones that stick with us for life.

More recently, I started using AI for coaching—not to replace experience, but to make better use of it.

The Truth About Coaching

Sometimes, life’s not fair.

You lose when you're supposed to win.

You work hard and it still doesn’t pay off—this time.

The real question is:

Can you grow together in the hard times as well as the good ones?

That’s the trick.

Why I Turned to AI

Lately, I’ve learned to ask better questions. I’ve found value in having an assistant—one that never sleeps. That’s what AI for coaching has become for me: a tireless support system.

One that can research new ideas, suggest drills, offer strategic adjustments, and even help refine my coaching philosophy.

AI doesn’t always get it right.

It once gave me a press that was perfect for my team—but explained it incorrectly. I caught it, corrected it, and it learned.

It’s offered me drills that were great in concept but clunky in setup.

So I asked better follow-up questions. And it improved.

It’s Just a Tool

AI is a tool. And like all tools, it works best when used with purpose.

I’m constantly training it to work with me.

I even took a few online courses through Vanderbilt to improve my prompting skills—because I believe in learning, no matter your age or experience level.

What One Prompt Did for

One prompt I created helped me map out an entire season.

It took into account my players' strengths and weaknesses, and helped me create individualized summer plans for every athlete.

It took me about 15 minutes.

Yes, I had to do some work—copying over their stats from Excel and inputting details for each player—but the insights it gave me were worth every second.

I’m still learning how to make the most of AI for coaching, but so far, it’s helped me plan smarter and stay focused on my team.

Why I’m Sharing This

In the end, isn’t that part of my job?

To give as much as they give me at practice?

To show them I’m willing to grow, too?

I don’t want to let them down.

So I’ll use every tool I can to make myself a better coach.

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🧭 Next Steps for Coaches Ready to Use AI

Looking to take action after reading this? Here are three powerful ways to get started:

🔹 Try a Free AI Coaching Demo – Whether you're planning practices or analyzing swings, you can test out our tools instantly.👉 Explore the Free Demos

🔹 Start with the Toolkit That Fits You – Our AI Coaching Toolkits are built for every level: new coaches, experienced leaders, and full-season strategists.👉 Compare Coaching Toolkits

🔹 See How AI Can Plan Your Practices – Our latest blog walks through how to turn team needs into customized, AI-generated practice plans.👉 Read: How AI Can Transform Practice Planning for Any Sport 

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📬 Still have questions? Just reply or reach out — I'm always here to help.

– Coach Vachon