Google Sheets for Coaching: A Trainer's Secret Weapon (or Trap?)
Let's be real: fancy coaching apps are sexy. But Google Sheets? That's where trainers roll up their sleeves. Customize whatever you want, track everything, and stay lean on cost. But spoiler: it's not always client-friendly.
Google Sheets for Coaching: A Trainer's Secret Weapon (or Trap?)
Let's be real: fancy coaching apps are sexy. But Google Sheets? That's where trainers roll up their sleeves. Customize whatever you want, track everything, and stay lean on cost. But spoiler: it's not always client-friendly.
Why Google Sheets Can Work for Coaches
- Zero software cost. As one Redditor put it:
"The price you can spend upwards of $800 every year on a coaching app, whereas Sheets is absolutely free."
- Custom workflows to match your programming style. You control formulas, tracking, progression templates, everything.
- Templates evolve over time. Like this:
"A functional fitness exercise database in Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets updated each month—filter by body region, push/pull, etc."
Client UX: Where It Breaks Down
- Sheets on a phone is brutal. Comment:
"A spreadsheet is a great way to enter info but a terrible way to navigate it on a tiny screen."
- Clients click cell-by-cell, scroll endlessly—experience feels amateur.
- Trainers on Reddit said:
"App is significantly more professional. Unless you've got incredibly well designed sheets, you'll come off like some dollar store trainer."
Pro Tips If You Use Sheets
- Use workout templates with embedded coaching cues/videos.
- Build exercise databases that link to video demos and filters.
- Optimize mobile layout: large buttons/cells, progress trackers, clearly separated weeks.
- Offer alongside an app for client-heavy workflows: e.g., use Sheets for personal plans and switch to apps for larger groups.
Conclusion
For solo or niche athletes, Google Sheets is flexible, free, and powerful. But if you're scaling or want polish, pair it with an app—or hand your spreadsheet workflow off to someone who can style it like a pro.