How Allen Hamilton Built Teamplayr: A Marketplace for Soccer Recruitment

Teamplayr is a platform designed to streamline the recruitment process in the soccer world. Founded by Allen Hamilton, a seasoned soccer coach, Teamplayr bridges the gap between soccer clubs and players. Allen saw firsthand how difficult it was for clubs to find players that fit their needs and for players to discover the right opportunities. Determined to make a change, Allen set out to build a platform where soccer clubs could easily connect with top players, and players could find clubs that matched their skills and aspirations.

With a deep understanding of the sport but limited technical expertise, Allen joined the MVMP program to turn his vision into reality without needing a full development team.

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The Challenges

Allen faced several challenges before joining the MVMP program:

• Lack of Technical Skills: Allen had a clear vision of the platform he wanted to build but lacked the coding skills to create it.
• Complex Recruitment Needs: The recruitment process for soccer clubs involved more than just matching skills; it required a way to assess players' fit for specific teams and roles.
• Resource Constraints: As a solo founder, Allen needed a cost-effective way to develop and maintain the platform while focusing on his coaching duties.

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The MVMP Approach

The MVMP program gave Allen the support he needed to build Teamplayr using no-code tools. Key aspects that made a difference included:

• Step-by-Step Playbooks: Allen followed detailed playbooks that guided him through building a recruitment platform using Webflow for design, Airtable for managing player profiles and club listings, and Make.com for automations.
• Community Feedback: The MVMP community provided valuable feedback, helping Allen fine-tune the user experience for both clubs and players.
• Customized Roadmap: The program’s roadmap broke down the project into manageable steps, making it easier for Allen to build and launch the MVP while balancing his coaching responsibilities.

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Building the MVP

With the guidance of the MVMP program, Allen built Teamplayr’s MVP in just ten weeks. Here’s how he did it:

• Designing the Platform with Webflow: Using Webflow, Allen created a visually appealing and responsive website where clubs could post recruitment needs and players could create profiles showcasing their skills and achievements.
• Managing Data with Airtable: Airtable served as the backend for managing player and club data, allowing Allen to create a searchable database for clubs to find the right talent and for players to discover opportunities.
• Automating Processes with Make.com: Automation was key to keeping Teamplayr efficient. Make.com allowed Allen to automate notifications for new club postings, send updates to players about matching opportunities, and manage application workflows.

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Results & Impact

Teamplayr quickly became a go-to platform for soccer recruitment in its region:

• User Growth: Within three months of launching, Teamplayr attracted over 200 soccer clubs and 500 players, all through word-of-mouth and community engagement.
• Improved Recruitment Efficiency: Clubs reported a 30% reduction in time spent on finding and reaching out to potential players, thanks to the platform’s targeted search and matching features.
• Cost Savings: By using no-code tools, Allen saved over $10,000 in development costs, allowing him to invest more in marketing and building partnerships with local soccer associations.

One club manager shared, “Teamplayr made it so much easier for us to find players who fit our team’s needs. It’s streamlined the whole process and saved us a ton of time.”

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What’s Next for Teamplayr?

With the MVP successfully launched, Allen is focused on growing Teamplayr’s reach and capabilities:

• Expanding to New Regions: Allen is working on expanding Teamplayr’s reach to other regions, allowing more clubs and players to benefit from the platform.
• Enhanced Matching Algorithms: Allen is using Airtable’s API to improve the matching process between players and clubs, making it even easier for users to find the perfect fit.
• Community Engagement: With ongoing support from the MVMP program, Allen continues to gather feedback and enhance the platform, ensuring it remains user-centric and responsive to the needs of both clubs and players.

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