From Operations Leaders Who Live It, Daily.

Pre-season is more than just drills and conditioning, it’s a test of operational excellence. From onboarding new players to managing complex schedules, club operations staff are the invisible engine that powers success. 

We connected with leading operations professionals from elite organisations across the globe to uncover their most effective pre-season strategies, practical insights designed to help you stay ahead, cover every detail, and hit the ground running. 

One clear theme emerged: Teamworks Hub is at the heart of it all.

1. Streamline New Player Onboarding
🗣 Kevin Abrams, VP of Operations & Strategy, New York Giants

Whether it’s a last-minute trade or a draft pick flying in tomorrow, onboarding must be immediate and seamless. With Teamworks Hub, operations staff can:

• Instantly share schedules, travel plans, and team policies.
• Grant access to key resources like nutrition plans and facility entry codes.
• Automate welcome content and check-in appointments across departments.

“You want that player to feel welcomed and informed the moment they walk through the door,” Abrams explains. “That’s where Teamworks Hub shines.”

2. Get Your Data House in Order
🗣 Jeronimo Amalfi, Team Manager, Stade Français Paris

Your pre-season starts with clean data. Jeronimo’s guide to prepping before a single whistle blows is a masterclass in readiness:

• Remove old users, add new ones with complete profiles.
• Rebuild your team structure: Update or create personalised groups.
• Access & Permissions: Make sure all players and staff have the right access and permissions.
• Profile Review: Using the Calendar feature in Hub, open up 15-minute time slots after each training session. Purpose: one-on-one profile review to ensure data is correct and ready!
  

3. Plan Tours and Assign Travel Groups
🗣 Jonathan Williams, Head of Football Operations, Everton FC

Itineraries for traveling and non-traveling players differ. Teamworks Hub makes it easy to assign players to the right group, ensuring each athlete only receives the information relevant to them.

“Why is this important? Those that travel and those that stay home will have different itineraries, so assigning the player to the specific group is key as we want the player to receive only the information that is relevant to them.”

4. Make Key Data Easily Accessible for Everyone
🗣Bree Beckley, Football Operations Manager, Geelong Cats

It’s essential to make key information easily accessible so that staff and athletes don’t waste time searching through long message threads or email chains. We use the file storage system in Teamworks Hub to upload essential documents—like GPS data, nutrition guidelines, and performance reports—so players and staff can access what they need, when they need it. No more digging through endless messages or emails—just clear, organised information at their fingertips.

5. Start Pre-Season Planning Before the Season Ends
🗣 Hannah Mitchell, Ops Lead – Women’s Academy, Manchester United Football Club

Start early, organise the pre-season at the back end of the season before, so you can catch relevant people before they start to go off on holidays/breaks and switching off. This also helps you to get a break, too, during off season.

• Finalise pre-season schedules while staff are still around.
• Deactivate old users and add new ones before summer break.
• Use Teamworks video guides to reduce repetitive Q&A.

6. Stay Ahead with Docs & Departmental Tasks
🗣 Juan Passano, Team Manager, Argentina Rugby Union

Stay ahead of potential roadblocks by proactively tracking document expiry dates—passports, visas, medical forms—all within Teamworks Hub. Then, delegate key pre-season responsibilities across departments to ensure a smooth start:

• Medical Team: Verify insurance coverage and secure updated medical clearances for all players.
• Communications Team: Refresh player stats, including caps, milestones, and bios.
• Equipment Staff: Audit inventory, identify gaps, and place orders for essential gear.

7. Schedule Player Commitments
🗣 Len Villani, Head of Football Operations and Special Projects, Carlton Football Club

Assign treatment times, club appearances, and other key activities in advance. For this, we leverage Teamworks Sign-Ups in Hub. All scheduled items sync automatically to each player’s personalised calendar, ensuring they know exactly where they need to be—and when. This not only keeps players accountable, but also gives staff a real-time overview of everyone’s availability, simplifying coordination across departments.

8. Welcome Presentation for New Arrivals
🗣 Giacomo Marconi, Player Care Lead, AC Milan

Set the tone from day one by delivering a comprehensive welcome kit. Include everything a new player and their family need to feel at home, from local living tips, club benefits, key contacts, and essential onboarding resources. It’s not just about information, it’s about helping them settle in smoothly and feel part of the team from the start.

9. Keep Your Team Connected: Goodbye WhatsApp, Hello Teamworks
🗣 Jeronimo Amalfi, Team Manager, Stade Francais Paris

As the new season begins, it’s essential to reset and streamline your communication channels. At Stade Français, we make it a priority to update all group chats in Teamworks Hub, ensuring that every player and staff member is added to the right channels and only receives the information relevant to them.

“Clear communication starts with the right platform.”

10. Be Proactive, Not Reactive

Across all clubs, one theme echoes: Teamworks empowers both players and staff. From scheduling to documentation to chat groups, pre-season prep becomes a proactive process, and not a reactive scramble.

Whether you’re orchestrating a pre-season tour, managing the chaos of an NFL draft pick’s arrival, or onboarding a dozen new athletes across continents, Teamworks Hub is your competitive edge. These tips from global operations experts prove that success isn’t just about what happens on the field, it starts long before the first whistle, with the right tools and preparation.

Get in contact with our team and start optimising your pre-season today.