Question 1

Add your first coach

Accepted Answer

Open Coaches → Add coach. Enter their name, email, sport, and role. They'll receive a portal invite once you send them a survey or share a report.

Question 2

Build a survey

Accepted Answer

Surveys → New survey. Pick an audience (athletes, parents, peer coaches, or self-reflection), choose a build method (Goal-based, AI prompt, or Manual), and review the generated questions before saving.

Question 3

Deploy a survey

Accepted Answer

From the Library or template detail page, click Deploy. Pick the coach(es), the audience roster, and a close date. Athletes get a unique link by email — never anonymous, but always private to the AD.

Question 4

Generate a report

Accepted Answer

Once responses come in, open the deployment and click Generate Report. The AI summarizes ratings, themes, strengths, and growth areas — and writes both an AD Conversation Guide and a Coach Feedback Report.

Question 5

Goal-based

Accepted Answer

Pick what you're trying to learn (e.g. team culture, communication, athlete development) and we suggest a proven question set aligned to that goal and audience.

Question 6

AI prompt

Accepted Answer

Describe in plain English what you want to measure. The AI drafts a tailored survey using your school's question bank as a starting point.

Question 7

Manual

Accepted Answer

Pick questions one-by-one from the bank, or add your own. Save custom questions to your bank for reuse, mark safety flags, and reorder by dragging.

Question 8

AD Conversation Guide

Accepted Answer

Written for you, the AD. It frames the strongest signal, the most important growth area, and an opening line for the conversation with the coach. It is never shown to the coach.

Question 9

Coach Feedback Report

Accepted Answer

Written for the coach. Strengths-first, growth-areas second, no raw quotes that would identify any single respondent. You choose when (and whether) to share it.

Question 10

Self vs external gap

Accepted Answer

When the coach completes a self-reflection on the same template, we surface where the coach rates themselves higher or lower than their athletes — that gap is usually the most important conversation.

Question 11

Sharing a report

Accepted Answer

From the report page, click Share with Coach. They'll get a notification and the report appears in their portal. You can revoke access any time.

Question 12

Reflection system

Accepted Answer

Coaches can write private reflections (only they see them) or shared reflections (you see them too) on each report they receive — a built-in growth journal.

Question 13

Are responses anonymous?

Accepted Answer

Responses are private — the AD does not see who said what — but they are not technically anonymous; we know the respondent submitted so we can prevent duplicates and surface safety flags.

Question 14

Can I send a test survey to myself?

Accepted Answer

Yes. On any template, click Send test. A real survey link is sent to your email; test responses are excluded from reports and analytics.

Question 15

Who can see internal notes on a coach?

Accepted Answer

Only the AD. Coaches never see internal notes.

Question 16

Can I edit a system template?

Accepted Answer

Click Duplicate & edit on the template card — system templates stay pristine; your copy is fully editable.

Question 17

What happens to data if a coach leaves?

Accepted Answer

Their reports remain in your archive. Their portal access is revoked. Their personal coach account (career history, reflections) stays with them.

Question 18

Can I rebrand the surveys for my school?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Settings → School lets you set logo, mascot, and colors. Surveys and reports inherit your brand.

Question 19

How do I get more activation codes?

Accepted Answer

Contact us at hello@myadpulse.app.

Question 20

Where do safety flags go?

Accepted Answer

Any answer to a question marked SAFETY is escalated immediately to you via notification, regardless of report generation.

Question 21

Step 1 — Create a Resend account

Accepted Answer

Sign up for a free account at resend.com. Resend is the email delivery service AD Pulse uses behind the scenes.

Question 22

Step 2 — Add your domain

Accepted Answer

In Resend go to Domains and click Add Domain.

Question 23

Step 3 — Enter your school domain

Accepted Answer

Use a subdomain like notify.avenues.org or mail.yourschool.edu.

Question 24

Step 4 — Copy the DNS records

Accepted Answer

Resend will give you DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). Copy them.

Question 25

Step 5 — Add the DNS records at your registrar

Accepted Answer

Log into Namecheap, GoDaddy, Cloudflare, or wherever your domain is registered, and add the records exactly as shown.

Question 26

Step 6 — Verify the domain

Accepted Answer

Back in Resend, click Verify Domain. Wait for the green Verified badge — this can take a few minutes.

Question 27

Step 7 — Create an API key

Accepted Answer

In Resend go to API Keys and create a new API key. Copy it somewhere safe — you'll only see it once.

Question 28

Step 8 — Paste your key into AD Pulse

Accepted Answer

Go to Settings → School → Email automation → Custom Email Domain and paste your Resend API key.

Question 29

Step 9 — Set your From Name and From Email

Accepted Answer

Example From Name: Bulldog Athletics. Example From Email: athletics@bulldogs.org.

Question 30

Step 10 — Save and send a test

Accepted Answer

Click Save Settings, then Send Test Email. You should receive a test email at your AD address from your new custom address.

Question 31

Complete your profile

Accepted Answer

Add a photo, bio, and contact info. Your profile is yours — it follows you from school to school.

Question 32

Build your career history

Accepted Answer

Career → Add positions, championships, and milestones. This is your portable coaching resume.

Question 33

How to read your feedback

Accepted Answer

Read it twice — first for the strengths, then for the growth areas. Look for patterns, not single quotes. Bring one specific habit you want to build into your next reflection.

Question 34

Private vs shared

Accepted Answer

Private reflections are only yours. Shared reflections are visible to your AD and are a great way to show growth between seasons.

Question 35

Building your coaching resume

Accepted Answer

Add every season, role, and championship. Export to PDF any time. Connect with new schools when you're ready.

Question 36

Can my AD see my private reflections?

Accepted Answer

No. Private reflections are only ever visible to you.

Question 37

Who sees my report?

Accepted Answer

Your AD by default. They choose when to share the coach-facing version with you.

Question 38

Can I leave a school and keep my data?

Accepted Answer

Yes — your coach account is yours. Career history, reflections, and credentials travel with you.

Question 39

How do I share my career portfolio?

Accepted Answer

From Career, click Share — a public link with whichever sections you choose.

Question 40

Are surveys anonymous?

Accepted Answer

Responses are private from you (the coach) and your AD; we just track that respondents completed to prevent duplicates.

Question 41

Who do I contact for help?

Accepted Answer

hello@myadpulse.app — we usually reply within one business day.

Help & docs

For Athletic Directors and Coach Leaders

For Coaches

Help & docs

For Athletic Directors and Coach Leaders

Getting Started (Athletic Directors & Coach Leaders)

Survey Builder

Understanding Your Report

Coach Portal

FAQ

Custom Email SetupPro & Enterprise

For Coaches

Getting Started (Coaches)

Understanding Your Report

Writing Reflections

Career Portfolio

FAQ