Help & Documentation

Getting Started

Welcome to NYO Sports Teams Manager! This application helps recreational sports leagues manage their teams, run player drafts, and track rosters across seasons. Whether you're a league administrator setting up teams or a coach participating in drafts and managing your roster, this guide will help you get started.

The typical workflow follows these steps:

  1. League admin creates a league and season
  2. Players are imported via CSV file with evaluation scores
  3. Teams are created and coaches are invited
  4. Draft settings are configured (snake vs. round robin, timer, etc.)
  5. The draft goes live and coaches make their picks
  6. Coaches can view their team rosters and results are exported

For League Administrators

Setting Up a League

  1. Sign in with your Google account or access code
  2. Go to Leagues from the navigation
  3. Click Create League
  4. Enter your league name and select the sport
  5. Your new league will appear in your leagues list

Creating a Season

  1. Click on a league to view its details
  2. Click Create Season
  3. Enter the season name (e.g., "Spring") and year
  4. The season will be created in "setup" status

Importing Players

Players are imported via CSV file. Your CSV must include:

  • Required: PlayerID - a unique identifier for each player
  • Required: Player Name - the player's full name
  • Optional: Any additional columns (grade, position, etc.) will be stored

To import:

  1. Go to your season's setup page
  2. In the Import Players section, click to select your CSV file
  3. Click Import Players
  4. The system will show you how many players were imported

Tip: If you import the same players again (same PlayerID), they won't be duplicated. This lets you safely re-import if needed.

Configuring Teams

  1. After importing players, use the planning helper to calculate how many teams you need
  2. Enter the number of teams and roster size
  3. Click Create Teams
  4. Rename teams as desired by editing the team names
  5. Click Invite Coach for each team to send invite emails

Importing Player Evaluations

In addition to basic player data, you can import evaluation data to provide coaches with more information during the draft. Evaluation CSV files can include:

  • EvalAvg: Average evaluation score
  • Grade: Player's grade level
  • DOB: Date of birth
  • School: Player's school
  • Coach ratings: Any columns containing "Coach" will be displayed
  • Any additional data columns will be stored and shown in player details

To import evaluations:

  1. Go to your season's setup page
  2. In the Import Evaluations section, select your CSV file
  3. Click Import Evaluations
  4. The system will match players by PlayerID and update their evaluation data

Running a Draft

Draft Types

  • Snake Draft: Pick order reverses each round. If the first round order is 1-2-3-4, the second round will be 4-3-2-1. This is the most common format as it balances the advantage of picking early.
  • Round Robin: The same pick order is used every round (1-2-3-4, then 1-2-3-4 again). Often used when draft position is determined by previous season standings.

Admin Mode vs Live Mode

  • Strict Mode: Coaches can only pick when it's their turn. Use this for live, real-time drafts where coaches are present.
  • Free Entry Mode: Admins can make picks for any team at any time. Use this if you're running the draft yourself or entering picks from a paper draft.

Preview Mode

Before starting your draft, you can preview the draft room to see how it will look:

  1. From the season setup page, click Preview Draft Room
  2. You'll see the draft board with all teams and available players
  3. A yellow banner indicates you're in preview mode
  4. Click player cards to test the expansion feature and review player details
  5. No picks can be made in preview mode - it's read-only

Tip: Use preview mode to verify your player imports and team setup look correct before inviting coaches to the live draft.

Starting the Draft

  1. Configure your draft settings (type, timer, admin mode)
  2. Click Create Draft
  3. When ready, click Start Draft
  4. Share the draft room link with coaches

Draft Room Controls (Admin)

As an admin in the draft room, you have access to these controls:

  • Start/Pause/Resume: Control the draft flow
  • Skip Pick: Skip the current team's pick if needed
  • Undo Last Pick: Reverse the most recent pick
  • End Draft: Complete the draft (can be reopened later)
  • Reset Draft: Clear all picks and start over (use with caution)

Correcting Mistakes on the Board

If a player was drafted incorrectly, admins can remove any pick directly from the board:

  1. Hover over the drafted player's cell on the board
  2. Click the red X button that appears
  3. Confirm the removal in the popup
  4. The player returns to the available players pool

Note: This is different from "Undo Last Pick" which only removes the most recent pick. The remove button lets you correct any pick on the board.

Managing Players During the Draft

Admins can manage the player pool directly from the draft room:

  • Add Player: Click the + button next to "Available Players" to quickly add a new player to the draft pool. Enter their name and optionally their grade.
  • View Player Details: Click any player card to expand it and see full details including DOB, grade, school, evaluation scores, and coach ratings.
  • Remove From Draft: When viewing expanded player details, click Remove From Draft to remove a player from the available pool (they remain in the database for future seasons).

Reopening a Completed Draft

If a draft was ended prematurely or you need to make additional picks, admins can reopen a completed draft:

  1. Go to the season setup page
  2. Find the completed draft and click Reopen Draft
  3. All existing picks are preserved
  4. The draft returns to "paused" status - click Resume to continue

Note: If you need to clear all picks and start completely over, use the Reset Draft button instead.

For Coaches

Logging In

There are two ways to access your team:

  • Google Sign-In: If your league admin set up your account with Google, click "Sign In" and use your Google account.
  • Access Code: Your league admin may provide you with an access code. Enter this code on the login page to access your team.

Understanding the Draft Board

The draft board shows all picks in real-time:

  • Available Players (Left Panel): All players available to draft, searchable and sortable
  • Draft Grid (Center): Shows all picks organized by round and team
  • Draft Info (Right Panel): Current round, pick number, and which team is on the clock

Player Cards

Each player card in the available players list shows:

  • Player name
  • Grade badge (if available)
  • Evaluation score (colored dot indicator)
  • Must-draft indicator (red star) if applicable

Click any player card to expand it and see full details including:

  • Date of birth and age
  • School
  • Season and team information
  • Evaluation scores and coach ratings

Click the expanded card again to collapse it.

Color Coding

  • Highlighted row: Current pick - this team is on the clock
  • Green badge: Draft is live
  • Yellow badge: Draft is paused
  • Gray badge: Draft is complete

Sorting Players

Use the sort dropdown to organize the available players list:

  • Name: Alphabetical order
  • Grade: By grade level
  • Eval Score: By evaluation average (highest first)

Click the arrow button next to the dropdown to reverse the sort order.

Making Picks

When it's your turn:

  1. Find the player you want in the available players list
  2. You can search by typing the player's name in the search box
  3. Click a player card to expand it and review their details
  4. Click the Draft Player button in the expanded view, OR drag the player card to your team's current pick slot
  5. Confirm your pick when prompted

Note: If a timer is enabled, you must make your pick before time runs out. Watch the countdown timer in the draft info panel.

Screen Size Requirements

The draft room works best on a desktop or laptop computer with a screen width of at least 900 pixels. On smaller screens, a notice will appear recommending you use a larger display.

The drag-and-drop interface is optimized for mouse or trackpad use. If you're on a mobile device, consider joining from a computer for the best experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

For Coaches

How do I join a live draft?

Go to My Teams from the navigation. If a draft is live, you'll see a "DRAFT IS LIVE" banner on your team card with a Join Draft button. Click it to enter the draft room.

How do I make a pick during the draft?

When it's your turn, find the player you want in the Available Players list. Click their card to expand it and review their details, then click the Draft Player button. You can also drag and drop the player card to your team's current pick slot.

What is a snake draft?

A snake draft reverses the pick order each round. For example, with 4 teams, Round 1 would be picks 1-2-3-4, and Round 2 would be 4-3-2-1. This format helps balance the advantage of picking first by giving the last picker in one round the first pick in the next round.

What if I miss my pick?

If a timer is enabled and you miss your pick, the system may auto-pick or the pick may be skipped depending on league settings. Contact your league administrator if you need help with a missed pick.

Can I undo a pick I made?

Only league administrators can undo picks. If you made a mistake, contact your league admin immediately and they can remove the pick from the board.

How do I see more information about a player?

Click on any player card in the Available Players list to expand it. The expanded view shows all available details including date of birth, grade, school, evaluation scores, and coach ratings. Click again to collapse.

What do the colored dots on player cards mean?

The colored dot indicates the player's evaluation score. Green dots indicate higher scores, yellow indicates average scores, and red indicates lower scores. This helps coaches quickly identify player skill levels at a glance.

What does the red star on a player mean?

A red star indicates a "must draft" player. These are players that the league requires to be drafted (e.g., returning players from the previous season). The draft room shows how many must-draft players remain so you can plan accordingly.

How do I view my team roster after the draft?

Go to My Teams from the navigation. After a draft is completed, click View Roster to see your team's players. You can also use the dropdown to view other teams in the same season.

Can I use the draft on my phone?

While the draft room is viewable on mobile devices, the drag-and-drop functionality works best with a mouse or trackpad. For the best experience, we recommend using a desktop or laptop computer with a screen width of at least 900 pixels.

For League Administrators

How do I set up a new draft?

Create a league, then create a season within it. Import players via CSV, create teams, and invite coaches. Configure your draft settings (snake vs round robin, timer, admin mode) and click Create Draft. Use Preview Draft Room to verify everything looks correct before going live.

How do I fix a pick that was made incorrectly?

Hover over the drafted player's cell on the board and click the red X button. Confirm the removal, and the player will be returned to the available pool. This works for any pick on the board, not just the most recent one.

Can I add a player during the draft?

Yes! Click the + button next to "Available Players" in the draft room. Enter the player's name and optional grade, then click Add. The player will immediately appear in the available players list.

What if I ended the draft too early?

Go to the season setup page and click Reopen Draft. All existing picks will be preserved, and the draft will return to "paused" status. Click Resume to continue making picks.

How do I export draft results?

After the draft is complete, go to the draft room and look for the Export Results button. You can export to CSV format for use in spreadsheets or your league management system.

What's the difference between Strict Mode and Free Entry Mode?

Strict Mode: Coaches can only pick when it's their turn. Use for live drafts where coaches are actively participating. Free Entry Mode: Admins can make picks for any team at any time. Use when entering picks from a paper draft or running the draft yourself.

How do I view team rosters after the draft?

From the league page, click View Teams on a completed season. You'll see the roster for each team. Use the dropdown to switch between teams in the same season.

General Questions

Why can't I see my league?

You can only see leagues that you've been granted access to. Contact your league administrator to ensure you've been added to the correct league.

How do I change my team name?

Team names can only be changed by league administrators. Contact your admin if you'd like to change your team name.

What browsers are supported?

The NYO Draft App works best on modern browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. For the best experience, please use the latest version of your preferred browser.

Need More Help?

If you can't find the answer to your question here, please contact your league administrator. They can help with:

  • Access issues and login problems
  • Draft corrections and undo requests
  • Team assignments and roster questions
  • Technical issues with the draft

League administrators can reach out to NYO Sports support for technical issues that require additional assistance.