Once Sport Kicking off 2026 in the USA
January 27, 2026
The Once Sport started 2026 with an exciting trip across the USA, visiting two big coaching events. The American Football Coaches Convention 2026 in Charlotte and the United Soccer Coaches Convention 2026 in Philadelphia . Both events attracted thousands of coaches, analysts, and sports professionals, giving us the perfect opportunity to show our tools and connect with experts from the American football and football (soccer) worlds.
For Once Sport, it was a chance to present all of our products: Once Sport Analyser ,Once Sport Telestrator ,Once Sport Coach Board ,and Once Sport Autocam . And see how coaches and analysts are usingvideo analysis to prepare, analyse, and improve their teams.
Starting Strong in Charlotte
Our first stop was Charlotte, hosting the AFCA Convention 2026 , one of the USA’s most important events for American football coaches. The convention was full of energy, presentations, workshops, and networking sessions focused on leadership, team culture, and tactical innovation in coaching.
A moment that stood out was the AFCA/AFCF Power of Influence Award , presented to Lou Marinelli, head coach at New Canaan High School in Connecticut. He has spent decades working with young athletes. He is the example that shows that coaching is as much about building character as it is about championships. This reminded everyone why coaching is a calling, not just a career.
At our stand, coaches explored Once Sport Analyser’s tracking and tagging , tried Once Sport Telestrator drawing elements , and discovered how Once Sport Coach Board and Once Sport Autocam could help match preparation and recording. It was exciting to see so many imagining how these sports coaching tools could transform their daily routines.
One of the people who came to our stand was Dub Maddox, the creator of the R4 Football System. Currently working as the offensive coordinator at Jenks High School, he is a six-time State Championship coach. Dub is considered one of America’s top experts in offensive scheme tactics and quarterback training.
He has been using our tools recently and has given amazing feedback about them. He also connected us with people from Glazier Clinicsand recommended our products to them. And we’re now in talks with them about maybe being part of one of their next Clinics.
We brought our playful roll-the-dice game. Coaches could win free months of Once Sport – unless they rolled a six. That little twist caused plenty of smiles and laughs. In the end, many coaches left with multiple months of access to our top Once Sport Analyser version.
Philadelphia: United Soccer Coaches Convention 2026
From Charlotte, we traveled to Philadelphia for the United Soccer Coaches Convention 2026 , one of the largest football coaching events in the world. Coaches from youth clubs, academies, colleges, and professional teams attended to explore new tools , learn, and share ideas.
The speaker lineup was impressive. Roberto Martínez, former Belgium and current Portugal national team manager. He talked about modern tactics and how to build a high-performing team. Nicky Butt, Manchester United legend, spoke about player development and the transition from playing to coaching. Many professionals from the USA also spoke at the Convention. Bradley Carnell, head coach of the Philadelphia Union, and Heather Mitts Feeley, former USWNT star, shared insights from professional coaching and playing experience.
Just like in Charlotte, coaches were drawn to our products because they are affordable , easy to use , yet of elite quality . One of the people who visited our stand was Ray Monzer, our partner and Personal Analyst for Clubs and Players. We caught up shortly and talked for a bit about his experience in using our products and how it helps him with his work.
Other people who approached us said that these tools could transform the way they prepare, train, and review training sessions. A very encouraging response for anyone looking for video analysis software.
A Special NAESCA coaching clinic
While in Philadelphia, we also joined a smaller event organised by the North American English Soccer Coach Association ( NAESCA ) . There, we met Tom Cosgrave, NAESCA’s president, and presented Once Sport to a group of coaches. The keynote speaker, Tony Whelan, a former Manchester United Academy coach, shared his views on youth development and coaching philosophy. The session sparked discussion and connections among attendees, showing how important video analysis tools are to modern coaching.
Reflections on Once Sport’s USA Trip
From Charlotte to Philadelphia, this trip reminded us why we love what we do. Across all levels of different sports, coaches share the same passion for learning ,improving , and giving their teams an advantage. Every conversation, question, and shared laugh shows how important such tools are to improve coaching across all levels.
We are grateful to the organisers, speakers, and everyone who stopped by to try our products, share feedback, and exchange ideas. Your enthusiasm helps us continue creating tools that make sports analysis and performance tracking more accessible for coaches everywhere.
What’s Next for Once Sport
2026 is just beginning, and we already have more trips planned to bring Once Sport to coaches and teams worldwide. We might even come back to the USA sooner than you expect – you never know!
Stay tuned – we can’t wait to share what’s coming next!
If reading this inspires you to take your analysis further, try Once Sport Analyser E litewith our 14-day free trial . Discover how tagging, animated drawings, and automated tracking can transform the way you prepare, train, and analyse your team.
