Project Playbook

Social Media App Built for Real Connections

Posted by Matthew Holzer on Dec. 29, 2024, 2:01 p.m.

A New Way to Meet, Play, and Compete

For those just tuning in, Playbook is a sports-focused social media app designed to connect players through real-world competition. Unlike traditional social platforms that keep users glued to their screens, Playbook encourages face-to-face interactions by requiring users to play together before they can officially add each other as friends.

The app is starting with tennis in Portland, helping players of all skill levels find opponents, set up matches, and track their progress. Whether you’re looking for a casual hitting partner or a serious match, Playbook simplifies the process, making it easy to meet new players while improving your game.

Beta Launch Coming This Spring/Summer

After months of development, Playbook is gearing up for its beta launch as the weather starts to warm up in Portland. With tennis season just around the corner, the timing couldn’t be better. The goal of the beta is to refine the user experience, test features in real-world conditions, and gather feedback from early adopters before expanding further.

Tennis clubs, local communities, and individual players will get the first look at how Playbook transforms the way people connect through sports. If you’re in Portland and interested in trying it out, now is the perfect time to get involved.

The Development Process: Building Playbook From the Ground Up

The journey to building Playbook has been a mix of challenges, breakthroughs, and countless late nights of coding. The app is being developed using Firebase for the backend and Expo for the frontend, making it highly scalable and efficient for mobile users. The UI is inspired by the sleekness of modern sports apps, ensuring that navigation is intuitive and user-friendly.

The biggest challenge? Creating an experience that feels natural while still being innovative. Instead of another generic sports listing app, Playbook rethinks how athletes connect, making every interaction meaningful. The ability to document matches, track personal performance, and grow a real-world network is what makes Playbook stand out.

What Makes Playbook Special?

A Focus on Real Connections – You can’t just “follow” someone on Playbook. You need to actually meet and play together before becoming friends. This ensures that connections are genuine and not just another online friend request.

A Social Feed With Purpose – Unlike traditional social media that rewards endless scrolling, Playbook’s feed highlights real matchups, player recaps, and community updates that actually matter to its users.

A Unique Blend of Casual & Competitive Play – Playbook caters to all types of players, whether you're just looking to meet new hitting partners or push yourself in ranked matches. The challenge board system and ranking system encourage friendly competition without the toxicity of traditional leaderboards.

Designed for Expansion – While Playbook is starting with tennis, the vision is much bigger. The platform is being built to eventually support multiple sports, from pickleball to basketball, making it a long-term hub for athletes everywhere.

The Road Ahead

With the beta launch approaching, the next steps include refining the matchmaking experience, working with local clubs, and making final UI/UX improvements based on early user feedback. The goal is to make Playbook the best platform for real sports connections, ensuring that every match played leads to a new opportunity.

If you’re in Portland and want to be part of the beta, stay tuned for updates. This spring and summer, Playbook is hitting the courts—are you ready to join the game?

Demo

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