Overview

Team Nation turns a coach’s playbook, film, and teaching points into mobile learning games that help athletes absorb plays faster and retain them longer. Built at the crossroads of education × sports × technology, it complements platforms like Hudl by transforming static instruction into challenge-based learning that players actually enjoy.

My Role

As the UI/UX Designer, I handled every design phase — from stakeholder interviews and user flows to wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mock-ups.
My responsibilities included:

• Translating coaching workflows into clear, game-like interactions

• Designing the player and coach dashboards for mobile and web

• Prototyping micro-interactions that motivate learning without distraction

• Partnering closely with developers and product owners for implementation consistency

The Problem

Coaches know their playbooks inside-out, but players often struggle to turn theory into instinct. Traditional meetings, film sessions, and printed play sheets weren’t keeping younger athletes engaged or improving retention.
Team Nation set out to answer one question:

“How do you get your football IQ from your head to your players’ feet?”

The Solution

Games.
Team Nation converts play cards, images, and videos into bite-sized mobile games and quizzes. Coaches can:

• Upload scouting reports, installs, and team trivia

• Build or import lessons from a shared content library

• Push learning directly to players’ phones

• Track comprehension through analytics

The result is a system that turns every concept into an interactive learning moment — helping players master assignments through play rather than lecture.

Team Nation’s core philosophy was grounded in research showing that challenge-based gamification can boost learning performance by 90%. Every interaction, quiz, and progress mechanic was designed to harness that effect.

Design Approach

1. Game-Inspired UI – Sports-style typography, bold contrasts, and intuitive icons balance professional polish with playfulness.

2. Cognitive Clarity – Visual hierarchy, chunked content, and contextual cues simplify complex play diagrams.

3. Motivational Loops – Progress bars, badges, and quick feedback keep athletes engaged and returning to train their minds like their bodies.

Impact

• 12 000 + users across 50 states & 5 countries

• 5 million + playbook questions answered

• Coaches report sharper mental reps and more confident on-field execution

“Even in the NFL most guys don’t know the whole playbook… Team Nation fixes that.” — Will Tukuafu, 49ers & Seahawks

“Team Nation’s gamification lets us measure comprehension and ensure players are game-ready.” — Kalani Sitake, BYU Head Coach

Reflection

Designing Team Nation was about turning information into intuition. My challenge was to build an interface that felt as exciting as a game yet disciplined enough for serious coaching.
The experience reaffirmed how thoughtful UX and gamification can elevate performance, confidence, and team culture — helping athletes learn smarter, not just harder.