Summer training camps and pre-season sessions are here and the player onboarding process is no longer just a logistical handoff. It’s a critical moment that shapes how athletes acclimate, perform, and contribute to team culture. Operations teams are on the front lines of this transition, ensuring every detail is buttoned up so new players can hit the ground running.

Speaking at the Teamworks Operations Summit in London, Kevin Abrams, SVP of Football Operations and Strategy at the New York Giants, shared candid insights into the high-stakes nature of onboarding and how modern tools like Teamworks Hub are transforming the process for operations staff and athletes alike.

Abrams described a scenario that’s all too common: an unexpected trade or a last-minute signing. Without the right systems, the Operations team is left scrambling. “It’s a fire drill if you don’t have a plan,” Abrams noted. But with Teamworks Hub, that plan can be built in.

Teamworks acts as a centralised hub, allowing Ops staff to:

• Instantly share travel plans and schedules.
  
• Distribute forms and team policies digitally.
  
• Ensure the athlete has access to everything—from door entry codes to nutrition protocols—before they even arrive.
  

Speed + Consistency = Smarter Onboarding

In elite sports, every minute counts. Abrams highlighted how speed and consistency are essential to onboarding. “You want that player to feel welcomed and informed the moment they walk through the door,” he said. That’s where Teamworks Hub shines.

Through one app, Operations staff can:

• Automate the delivery of onboarding materials tailored to a player’s role.
  
• Schedule check-ins with coaches, performance staff, and player engagement teams.
  
• Maintain up-to-date, shareable calendars across departments.

This streamlines internal communication while providing the athlete with a cohesive, structured welcome experience—without hundreds of emails, WhatsApp messages and handwritten notes.

No More Gaps Between Departments

One of the hidden challenges Abrams alluded to is departmental alignment. Too often, performance staff, logistics, PR, and coaches work in silos. Teamworks Hub bridges these gaps.

By centralising tasks, documents, and communication, it ensures that:

• Everyone is on the same page regarding what the new player needs.
  
• No detail is forgotten—whether it’s a media session or a fitness test.
  
• The player’s first impression is one of professionalism and care.
  

Operational Peace of Mind

For Operations teams, perhaps the biggest benefit is peace of mind. With Teamworks Hub:

• Nothing slips through the cracks.
  
• Urgent updates can be pushed to mobile in real-time.
  
• A new player’s integration is tracked, measured, and refined over time.
  

Conclusion: From Chaos to Control

Teamworks Hub helps Operations teams turn onboarding from a chaotic rush into a well-oiled, repeatable process. By combining structure with flexibility, and logistics with empathy, it gives both staff and players the tools to succeed—starting from day one.

Whether you’re signing a free agent, drafting a rookie, or onboarding a midseason acquisition, Teamworks Hub ensures you’re ready—not reactive.

To learn more about how Teamworks Hub can help you prepare your athletes for the upcoming season, get in touch below.