Linking Plays to Drills

One of the most powerful features in UltiStackr’s practice planning is the ability to link plays from your playbook directly to drills. This bridges the gap between the whiteboard and the field — players can see the exact formation, cuts, and movements they’re about to practice, right from the drill card.

Why Link Plays to Drills?

If you’ve ever explained a drill and watched half the team nod while the other half looks confused, you know the problem. Verbal descriptions and hand-waving only go so far. Linking a play to a drill solves this by giving players an instant visual reference.

Here’s why it matters:

• Faster setup — instead of spending five minutes diagramming on a whiteboard, players pull up the linked play on their phone and see the formation immediately.
• Consistent understanding — everyone sees the same play, with the same movements and positions. No more “I thought I was supposed to cut under.”
• Better retention — players who study the play before practice and then run it in a drill build stronger mental models.
• Connects playbook study to on-field reps — your playbook isn’t just a reference document anymore. It’s directly integrated into how your team practices.

How to Link a Play to a Drill

You can link a play to a drill from either the drill or the play.

From the Drill

1. Open the drill from your drill library.
2. Tap Edit.
3. Scroll to the Linked Plays section.
4. Tap + Link Play.
5. Browse or search your playbooks to find the play you want to link.
6. Select the play and tap Link.
7. Tap Save on the drill.

From the Play

1. Open a play from your playbook.
2. Tap the More menu.
3. Select Link to Drill.
4. Browse or search your drill library to find the drill.
5. Select the drill and tap Link.

A drill can have multiple linked plays (for example, a scrimmage drill might reference both your primary endzone offense and your zone defense). A play can also be linked to multiple drills.

Viewing Linked Plays from a Drill

Once a play is linked to a drill, anyone viewing the drill can see it.

In the Drill Library

Open a drill and scroll to the Linked Plays section. Each linked play shows:

• The play name
• The playbook it belongs to
• A thumbnail preview of the play diagram

Tap on a linked play to open it in the full play viewer, where you can see the animated movements, player positions, and any notes attached to the play.

During Practice

When viewing a practice plan during a session, each drill segment shows its linked plays inline. Players can tap to expand the play and study it before or during the drill.

Unlinking a Play from a Drill

To remove a linked play:

1. Open the drill and tap Edit.
2. In the Linked Plays section, tap the Remove icon next to the play you want to unlink.
3. Tap Save.

Unlinking a play from a drill does not delete the play from your playbook or affect the drill in any other way. It simply removes the visual reference.

Bridging Playbook Study and On-Field Execution

Linking plays to drills isn’t just a convenience feature — it’s a coaching philosophy. Here’s how to get the most out of it:

Progressive Learning Flow

1. Playbook study — players review the play in the playbook, studying cuts, timing, and positioning.
2. Walkthrough drill — a low-intensity drill where the team walks through the play at half speed, referencing the linked play as needed.
3. Live drill — a game-speed drill that practices the play under pressure. The linked play is there if players need a quick refresher.
4. Scrimmage application — the team runs the play in a scrimmage context, reinforcing the connection between study and execution.

Use Linked Plays for Film Review

After a practice or game, reference the linked play alongside any recorded footage. This helps players see where their execution matched (or didn’t match) the intended design.

Build Drill Progressions Around a Single Play

Create multiple drills that practice different aspects of the same play — cutting timing, disc movement, dump-swing options — and link them all to the same play. When you add these drills to a practice plan, the linked play provides a consistent reference point across the entire progression.

Tips for Linking Plays to Drills

• Link early — when you create a drill to practice a specific play, link the play right away. It only takes a few taps.
• Be selective — not every drill needs a linked play. Warm-ups and general fitness drills probably don’t need one. Tactical and team concept drills almost always benefit from it.
• Use it for defense too — link your opponent’s plays (from a scouting playbook) to defensive drills so your team can practice defending specific sets.
• Combine with curriculum — if a play is in your current curriculum, any drills linked to it become natural candidates for your weekly practice plans.