A useful training log should help you answer a simple question: what changed, and what will I work on next? A list of faster times is not enough if the cones moved, the route changed or some attempts missed a turn.
Copy the template below into a notebook, phone note or spreadsheet. No account or email address is needed. It works for individual practice and can be adapted by a coach for a squad.
Copy this session record
SESSION
Date:
Player name or private reference:
Drill and purpose:
Surface and conditions:
Cone layout and measured distances:
Ball, foot and direction used:
Start and finish rule:
Timing method, if used:
Rest between attempts:ATTEMPT
Attempt number:
Completed the agreed route? Yes / No
Cone contacts or missed gates:
Losses of ball control:
Time, if relevant:
Video filename and useful timestamp:
What I noticed:REVIEW
One thing that went well:
One thing to work on:
What I will change next time:
What must stay the same for comparison:
Coach feedback, if available:
Next review date:
Repeat the ATTEMPT section for each run. If you use a spreadsheet, make those fields the column headings and use one row per attempt. Keep the SESSION details alongside the sheet so the results do not lose their context.
Define a clean attempt before starting
For a cone weave, your rule might be: follow the whole route, go around every cone, keep the ball within the marked area and finish under control. Write down what counts as a missed gate or loss of control. Keep that rule the same when you repeat the drill.
Record incomplete attempts too. A run with a missed cone should not quietly become your new personal best. You can keep its time and note the error, then compare clean attempts separately.
An example, with invented numbers
Illustration only, not Marcr athlete data: a player completes three runs of the same four-cone weave. The first takes 14.2 seconds with one missed cone. The second takes 14.8 seconds with no errors. The third takes 14.5 seconds with no errors.
The fastest recorded time is 14.2 seconds. The fastest clean attempt is 14.5 seconds. Those are different statements. A useful next-session focus could be maintaining the route at the second cone, rather than trying to beat 14.2 at any cost.
These example times are not targets or age-group benchmarks. Your baseline is your own repeatable starting point.
Compare sessions fairly
Use the same drill, cone spacing, start and finish rule, foot and direction.
Record changes in surface, footwear, weather or equipment that could affect the result.
Use the same timing method. Do not combine a hand stopwatch result with a video estimate without labelling the difference.
Compare a set of attempts, including errors, rather than selecting only the best clip.
Record rest and session context. A drill after a full team session is a different situation from one at the start.
You can change a drill to practise a new skill. Just name that variation separately. Use the cone-spacing guide to document the layout.
A short weekly review
Choose two comparable sessions. Read your notes before looking at the best time. Were more attempts completed cleanly? Did the same mistake keep appearing? Can you point to a clip that shows the change?
Pick one focus for the next session. For example: keep the ball closer on the return turn, use the weaker foot through the whole route, or finish under control. A drill record describes performance in that drill. It does not measure every part of football ability or predict selection.
Using the log with a squad
Use a player reference rather than putting personal information on a public sheet. Agree who can view the record and when feedback will be given. Keep individual notes private unless sharing is agreed through the club’s usual process. Ask each player what they noticed before adding the coach’s observation.
For evidence you can revisit, follow the phone filming checklist. Coaches planning a wider test can use the club trial planning checklist.
Follow the Marcr AI build
Marcr AI is in development, with recording, training feedback and progress tracking being worked on. This manual log is available to use now, independently of the app. Explore Marcr AI and register your interest.