Choosing a sports training marketplace means more than just picking a coach—it’s about features that make your life easier, help your child improve, and give you confidence in what you’re investing in. Below, I compare what Athletes Untapped and major competitors offer, so parents know what features matter most.
What Features Parents & Young Athletes Care About
Before comparing platforms, it helps to know what features actually make a difference. Based on user feedback, these are the ones that matter:
- Coach vetting & background checks — Safety and credibility are foundational.
- Booking & scheduling tools — How easy is it to find a session that fits your times and location?
- Progress tracking & feedback — Ability to see how your child is improving.
- Communication tools — Messaging, video, feedback, etc.
- Support & trust — Accountability, refunds or guarantees, safety standards.
- Flexibility in locations & lesson types — Group vs individual, indoor/outdoor, etc.
Feature Comparison: Athletes Untapped vs. Other Platforms
Here’s how Athletes Untapped stacks up against what you’ll find on other leading sports training marketplaces (like CoachUp):
| Feature | Athletes Untapped | Common Competitors (ex: CoachUp, etc.) |
| Coach Vetting & Background Checks | Every coach is vetted and passes a background check before joining. Parents see verified profiles with reviews. | Basic background checks are required, but details are often less transparent to parents. |
| Booking & Scheduling | Fast, intuitive booking with flexible options for location, coach, and time. Mobile-first design makes it seamless. | Online booking available, but often clunky; cancellations and changes can be rigid. |
| Progress Tracking & Feedback | Built-in progress tracking + video feedback so athletes can review sessions and parents see real improvement. | Limited or no integrated tracking. Feedback depends on individual coaches, not the platform. |
| Communication Tools | In-app messaging, video/photo sharing, and lesson reminders keep parents and athletes connected. | Basic messaging only. No consistent way to share videos or detailed feedback. |
| Support, Trust, & Guarantees | Refund/credit guarantee if the first session isn’t a good fit. Strong parent-first policies. | Support available, but refund policies vary and can be less parent-friendly. |
| Flexibility in Locations & Lesson Types | Parents can choose from multiple training locations, individual or small-group lessons. Coaches list where they train upfront. | Often limited flexibility. Parents may need to travel or adapt to coach availability. |
What Makes Athletes Untapped Different & Why That Matters
From the comparison, here are the standout features Athletes Untapped offers (or is building) that often make it the preferred choice:
- Transparent, flexible location options: Parents can find coaches in nearby locations and see exactly where training happens. Coaches can list multiple training locations.
- Dashboard for tracking: Seeing booked sessions, progress and feedback makes it easier to stay engaged and aware of development.
- Strong parent/athlete communication tools: Messaging, sharing video/photos, receiving notifications — all help reduce friction and improve satisfaction.
Things Parents Should Watch Out For When Choosing a Platform
Here are some common trade-offs or pitfalls that show up in reviews, based on what platforms do well versus where they lag:
- Hidden or extra fees (placement, cancellation, service fees) that make a lesson cost more than expected.
- Platforms with limited availability in certain areas — fewer coaches locally can mean longer travel or less flexibility.
- Lack of good feedback or progress tracking — when a system doesn’t help you see growth, it’s harder to believe improvement.
- Poor communication tools or delayed support — this can result in missed sessions or frustration.
Final Thoughts
Different marketplaces offer different feature sets. From what I gathered:
- Athletes Untapped tends to offer a well-rounded set of tools that matter most to parents: strong vetting, transparency, progress tracking, flexible scheduling, and a good communication experience.
- While competitors like CoachUp have large networks and some advanced features, they sometimes fall short in feedback tools or introducing transparent, video-integrated progress tracking.
If you’re trying to pick a platform, focus on features that match what your child needs (e.g. video feedback, in-person vs virtual, location flexibility), and prioritize platforms that make everything clear and easy — not just claim to have features.
👉 Explore Athletes Untapped’s features for parents and athletes.
