We Take the 6 Best Apps for Track & Field for a Spin! How Many have you used?
When I was growing up I was obsessed with Track & Field, so much so that the very first time I created a website was to build a Wikipedia style resource that listed the best athletes and their respective times & distances. Although the website was laughable, it combined two of my favourite things: Technology & Track & Field.
With this in mind, I wanted to combine these passions again and share the 6 best apps for track and field. The options move from simple to more complex and are regularly recommended by myself to others.
sprintStart (iOS)
Improve your start technique and start speed with sprintStart The app contains three tools, two to measure your reaction time and one to record a slow-motion video synchronised with the start signal. The start sequence is fully customizable and you can edit words, times and language. StartMeter is a fun and easy to use tool for athletes and coaches in sports like sprinting, swimming and short track where a first-class start is advantageous
QR Stopwatch (iOS)
Using nothing more than QR Codes, you can now start & stop a timer. Yep, you heard that right – essentially all you have to do is hold the QR code in front of the scanner (device )camera. The app will then automatically generate your name and a new individual stopwatch will be started for the QR Code you scanned. If you scan the code again, the timer stops. All of this is possible via the QR Stopwatch mobile app
As shown in the video, you can generate the QR Code ID cards using the QR Code generator tool which you can then print and save. Each QR code is embedded in a student ID card in a credit card size & becomes that students timer trigger in the app.
sprintTimer (iOS)
Without a doubt, one of the most game-changing ways to time your students is through the app know as ‘sprintTimer‘. Essentially the app turns your iPhone or iPad into sprint timing app complete with photo finish employing the same techniques as the professional equipment used at the Olympics.
Because of this the app features as part of our annual track & field school meet replacing the hand timing that used to be conducted by 8+ volunteers. Not only did sprintTimer result in much more accurate results, but it also freed up the volunteers to assist in other events.
So with this in mind, here is a video tutorial outlining how to use this amazing tool to ensure you have nothing but success using the tool.
[arve url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGxNywxfRuA” /]
Onform (iOS & Android)
Onform empowers you to capture your performance using your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, or Android device. Record your technique during practice, races, or games and receive instant, actionable feedback. Analyze your movements in super slow motion, compare your performance side-by-side with a pro’s, or scrutinize every detail frame by frame. Explore our video tutorials for comprehensive guidance.
- Use the app to capture measure angles and acceleration during a sprint start
- Compare and contrast a beginner vs elite athlete
- Showcase technique flaws and highlights using the slow-motion and overlay videos
Video Delay Instant Replay (iOS & Android)
Available completely for FREE – With this app, you can simultaneously record and display delayed video. This means that a PE Teacher can have the app pointed towards any sort of discrete skill and after the skill has been completed the performer has adequate time to return to the screen to see their skill in action. See exactly how I use the app here.
Sports Tracker (All Devices)
Sports Tracker was born out of necessity during my first role as a Physical Education teacher at Boort District School. I was responsible for organizing and managing our annual swimming, track & field, and cross country meets—massive undertakings for a small country school with limited resources.
One standout challenge was transforming the school’s largest grassed area into a flawless 300m athletics track complete with lanes and relay exchange stations. This task, often performed under brutal heat, even required me to dust off some old Pythagoras equations to ensure perfection.
However, nothing compared to the headache of using our outdated carnival management software, which demanded endless, repetitive work—often having to start over after a software glitch. Frustrated by this inefficiency, I built Sports Tracker to streamline the process.
In 2024, we sold Sports Tracker to a new owner who has taken it to a whole new level. Despite the transition, it remains a highly recommended solution for managing sports programs.
So We Built Sports Tracker
Sports Tracker is a modern tool for today’s mobile-connected world, that enables you to easily set up and organize sports events for your school or district. Sports Tracker has revolutionized how teachers set up & coordinate Track & Field, Swimming or Cross Country Events. Since our launch in November of 2015, we’ve become the go-to tool for 350 schools around the globe.
You can learn more about Sports Tracker and take it for a spin here
So what track and field apps have you used? Have you tried any of these?