> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.coachiq.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Announcements - Broadcasting to Your Team

> Send professional team-wide announcements that appear as emails, push notifications, and in the athlete portal. Perfect for schedules, updates, and important news.

<Info>
  **Where to find this**: Dashboard → Inbox → Create New → Announcement
</Info>

## What are announcements?

Announcements are your broadcast system for team-wide communication. Think of them as your digital bulletin board - one message that reaches everyone through multiple channels simultaneously.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/coachiq/R1gKmDQHsOmJUjal/images/announemnetexample.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=R1gKmDQHsOmJUjal&q=85&s=a1bdf74c6f69923f192fba53da9eaf17" alt="CoachIQ announcement example showing a team-wide broadcast message" width="2208" height="1321" data-path="images/announemnetexample.png" />
</Frame>

### How athletes receive announcements

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Email" icon="envelope">
    Professionally formatted email sent to their inbox
  </Card>

  <Card title="Push Notification" icon="bell">
    Instant alert on their mobile device
  </Card>

  <Card title="Channels" icon="hashtag" iconType="regular">
    Permanent record in the app's Announcements channel
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Why use announcements?

Perfect for information that:

* Affects the entire team or large groups
* Doesn't require individual responses
* Should be documented and easily referenced
* Needs professional email formatting

Common uses:

* Weekly training schedules
* Tournament information
* Registration deadlines
* Team achievements
* Policy updates
* Seasonal information

## Creating an announcement

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open announcement composer">
    Navigate to **Inbox** → **Create New** → Select **Announcement**

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/coachiq/6WrDKRTEZfXDTJ7H/images/createannouncement.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=6WrDKRTEZfXDTJ7H&q=85&s=7f7379f1b31338a7455b02e5d1d1e774" alt="CoachIQ Inbox with Create New menu open showing the Announcement option" width="2364" height="1538" data-path="images/createannouncement.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select your recipients">
    In the "Send to" field, you can:

    * Type "Everyone" to broadcast to all athletes
    * Use tags to target specific groups (e.g., "Varsity Team", "New Athletes")
    * Select specific individuals if needed

    <Note>
      **Recipient limit**: 400 contacts per announcement by default. Contact support if you need to increase this limit.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add announcement heading">
    Enter a clear, descriptive heading. This becomes:

    * The email subject line
    * The push notification title
    * The announcement title in the app

    Good examples:

    * "Week of March 15 - Training Schedule"
    * "Spring Tournament Registration Now Open"
    * "Important: Facility Closure March 20"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Compose your message">
    Write your announcement content. This appears as the email body and full announcement text.

    Format tips:

    * Use line breaks for readability
    * Include all essential information
    * Add dates, times, and locations clearly
    * Keep paragraphs short for mobile reading

    Example:\
    Team,\
    This week's schedule has been updated to accommodate the tournament prep:\
    Monday & Wednesday: Regular practice 4-6pm\
    Tuesday: Film review 5-6pm (classroom)\
    Thursday: Extended practice 4-7pm\
    Friday: Rest day before tournament\
    Tournament bus departs Saturday at 7am SHARP from the main lot.\
    Please bring:

    Both uniforms\
    Water bottles\
    Snacks for the bus\
    Signed permission slips

    See you at practice! Coach Johnson
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add attachments (optional)">
    Click **+ Attach** to include:

    * **Forms**: Tournament signups, permission slips
    * **Media**: Schedule graphics, facility maps
    * **Products**: Camp registrations, merchandise
    * **Scheduler**: Special training sessions

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/coachiq/message-attachment.png" alt="CoachIQ message composer showing attachment options for forms, media, products, and sessions" />
    </Frame>

    These appear as actionable buttons in the email and app.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure reply settings">
    By default, email replies go to your configured reply-to address (Settings → Organization → Reply-to Email).

    <Tip>
      Set your reply-to email to one you check regularly - replies don't appear in CoachIQ's Inbox.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send announcement">
    Click **Send** to broadcast immediately to all selected recipients.

    <Check>
      **Delivered!** Your announcement is sent via email and push notification.
    </Check>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## How announcements appear to athletes

### Email version

* Professional HTML-formatted email
* Clear heading and formatted text
* Attachment buttons for easy action
* Reply option (goes to your reply-to email)

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/coachiq/6WrDKRTEZfXDTJ7H/images/emailannouncement.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=6WrDKRTEZfXDTJ7H&q=85&s=1965371081b99a8cf3331706eb71788a" alt="CoachIQ announcement as it appears in an athlete's email inbox" width="3290" height="1672" data-path="images/emailannouncement.png" />
</Frame>

### Push notification

* Instant alert on their phone
* Shows announcement heading
* Tap to open full announcement in app

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/coachiq/6WrDKRTEZfXDTJ7H/images/push-notification.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=6WrDKRTEZfXDTJ7H&q=85&s=f9436807e528a39f9b297d2d2c99fd4c" alt="CoachIQ announcement push notification on a mobile device" width="1499" height="597" data-path="images/push-notification.png" />
</Frame>

### Channels section

* Permanent record in Announcements channel
* Chronological list of all announcements
* Athletes can reference anytime
* Never expires or disappears

## Managing announcements

### Viewing sent announcements

* All sent announcements appear in your Inbox
* Filter by "Announcements" tab to see only broadcasts
* Click any announcement to see details and recipients

### Deleting announcements

Unlike messages, announcements CAN be deleted:

* Removes from your Inbox view
* Does NOT remove from athletes' Channels or emails already sent

### Tracking engagement

* No read receipts available
* Consider adding "Reply to confirm" for important updates

## Best practices

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Writing effective announcements">
    **Structure for scanning:**

    * Lead with most important information
    * Use clear headings for sections
    * Bullet points for lists
    * Bold for dates and times

    **Be complete:**

    * Who, what, when, where, why
    * Include all necessary details
    * Add backup contact info
    * Specify response requirements
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Timing your announcements">
    **Best send times:**

    * Weekday evenings (6-8pm) for next-day info
    * Sunday evenings for weekly schedules
    * 48-72 hours notice for schedule changes

    **Avoid:**

    * Late night sends (unless emergency)
    * During school/work hours
    * Multiple announcements in one day
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Using attachments effectively">
    * **Forms**: "Complete this form by Friday"
    * **Schedulers**: "Book your player evaluation"
    * **Products**: "Register for summer camp"
    * **Media**: Visual schedules, facility maps, instruction videos

    Always explain what the attachment is and what action to take.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Announcement vs other message types

| Feature            | Announcements   | In-App Messages          | SMS                |
| ------------------ | --------------- | ------------------------ | ------------------ |
| Best for           | Team updates    | Individual communication | Urgent alerts      |
| Cost               | Free            | Free                     | \$0.0079/message   |
| Replies in CoachIQ | No (email only) | Yes                      | Yes                |
| Permanent record   | Yes (Channels)  | Yes (conversation)       | Yes (conversation) |
| Email sent         | Yes (formatted) | Yes (notification only)  | No                 |
| Character limit    | None            | None                     | 155/1400           |

## Common questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Can athletes reply to announcements?">
    Athletes can reply via email, which goes to your configured reply-to address. These replies do NOT appear in your CoachIQ Inbox.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I increase the 400 recipient limit?">
    Contact CoachIQ support to increase your announcement recipient limit for larger organizations.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I schedule announcements for later?">
    Currently, announcements send immediately. For scheduled sends, prepare your content and send manually at the desired time.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do announcements work if athletes don't have the app?">
    Yes! Announcements always send as email, so athletes without the app still receive them in their email inbox.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I edit an announcement after sending?">
    No, sent announcements cannot be edited. You can send a follow-up announcement with corrections if needed.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Pro tips

<Tip>
  **Weekly rhythm**: Send a consistent weekly announcement every Sunday night with the upcoming week's schedule. Athletes and parents will learn to expect and check for it.
</Tip>

<Tip>
  **Template strategy**: Create announcement templates for recurring communications like weekly schedules, tournament info, and weather cancellations.
</Tip>

<Tip>
  **Attachment combo**: Pair announcements with forms - "Spring season starts March 1. Complete the attached medical form by February 20."
</Tip>

<Tip>
  **Emergency protocol**: For urgent cancellations, send an announcement first (for documentation), then follow with SMS to ensure immediate awareness.
</Tip>

## Related articles

* [In-App Messages - Direct Athlete Communication](/inbox/in-app-messages)
* [SMS Messages - Setup and Best Practices](/inbox/sms-messages)
* [Using Tags for Group Messages](/inbox/using-tags-for-group-messages)
* [Attaching Forms, Sessions, and Products](/inbox/attaching-forms-schedulers-and-products)