Technology

I've used Turbo Stats before and it was good and terrible. What you did on the palm pilot was awesome. It was very simple to operate the actual game information.

The part that I felt was terrible was taking the info from the palm pilot to the computer and vice versa. Maybe it's because I'm dumb but I got a girl at the school to keep the palm pilot during games and she couldn't figure out how to make the syncing work. Instructions don't come with the CDs but you can print one off their website. It's like reading Latin. The customer support was non-existant. I sent several emails and called a couple of times and never got a response.

Others may come on here and talk about this being the greatest thing since sliced bread but my experience was not very good with it. When I become a head coach again I will use some sort of technology but it won't be Turbo Stats.

I am with you i thought the idea of the palm was great, but it wasn't worth the hassle. we use Own the Zone for play call wristbands for offense and pitching, kids haven't missed many signs in the last couple of years. We use video for hitters and pitchers that we break them down and they break down and it helps them mechanically. Another technology that we use is laser dots, we flash laser dots on the wall and the players reacte and read it, it is used for hand eye coordination and quick thinking and we do various other things with laser dots.

All these things are cool and gain interest in the program, but nothing beats the same things we have been doing since the 70's and before. Sometimes the old way is the best way.

I've used turbo-stats and turbo-scout for years also and I'm with Coach2709...support is non-existent (which I think has been discussed here in the past).
That being said, technology is DEFINITELY the way to go. My assistant, who is tech savvy, in a matter of seconds has the game in the computer from the palm and prints me game summaries/stats for the papers. Done and faxed to papers in minutes.

During the games I just love the paper and the pencil. To me it is just part of the great enduring aspects of the game. Many love using the devices and that works great for them. I use paper forms for my scouting reports and for or scoring. I would not have it any other way. For practice, I love to use video and video analysis software to examine what the kids are doing. I like the laser pointer idea and will be trying it out soon.

If you have an I-pod touch, get the stats program for that. I used it last year and I couldnt believe how easy it was to keep up with everything. You type what is going on in the game and it keeps up with everything, from Batting averages to spray charts for the other team. Doesnt cost but like 10 dollars if you have the I-pod

Have not tried this product, but it seems pretty interesting. It also uses ipod, itouch or ipad. Per their website, it can also stream live scores as well.

http://www.gamechanger.io/features/managers

The gamechanger app looks great on their website. Anyone else using it? I bought the ESPN Scoring App this year and found it extremely difficult to get up and running on the fly at a game, plus I had to pay for it! This looks like a great alternative.