---
{"title": "Build viewing queues for practice for coaches in 2026", "description": "A practical guide for sports coaches to line up practice clips in a queue, with steps, the tools to try and the mistakes to avoid.", "url": "https://xpdaily.com/how-to-build-viewing-queues-for-practice-for-sports-coaches/", "date": "2026-10-18"}
---
A practical guide for sports coaches to line up practice clips in a queue, with steps, the tools to try and the mistakes to avoid.

Pick the practice clips, put them in the order they should be watched, and keep that order in one place you can review and apply.

| Option | How it builds the queue |
|---|---|
| Paper list or sticky note | You rank the chosen clips by hand |
| Spreadsheet | You sort by a column you fill in |
| YTSort | Reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first [^1] |

## What you need before you start

Building a viewing queue for practice takes only a few things.

- **The practice clips.** The queue is built from videos the players can watch, such as recorded drills or game footage. Choose the clips that matter for the session you are planning.
- **A queue order you have in mind.** A viewing queue is just the clips in the order they should be watched, for example a short warm-up drill before the main pattern. Know that order before you build it.
- **A reason for the order.** It might be to start with a short drill or to place a full-game clip at the end. Know which, because it decides what you do with the longer clips.
- **A way to check who owns the playlist.** Check who owns it before you start, since some tools only reorder a playlist that you own. For someone else's playlist, copy the videos into your own first or work from a written list.
- **A place to keep the order.** The playlist itself, a paper list or a spreadsheet all work. What matters is that the order lives in one place.
- **A web browser.** Only needed if you want a tool to build the queue. Add the tool to your browser once, before you start, following its own instructions.

Set the queue up ahead of practice, not while players are already watching. Sorting through clips mid-session tends to break your flow.

## Step by step

These steps work with any tool, including a pen and a sheet of paper.

1. **Choose the clips for the session.** Pick the drills and footage that the practice will work through, and make sure you can access them all before you begin.
2. **Decide the order players will watch them.** Decide whether you start with a quick drill, build to the main pattern, and finish with a recap or full-game clip.
3. **List each clip with what it teaches.** Write the title and the lesson it covers. Do not order the list yet.
4. **Mark clips that build on each other.** If a later drill assumes an earlier one, keep those two clips together so players keep the context.
5. **Arrange the rest in the order you want.** Put the first clip at the top and work down to the last.
6. **Check the total length against practice time.** Add up the clips and make sure the queue fits the session you have booked.
7. **Read the order once from top to bottom.** Look for clips that now sit in a confusing place and move them before you commit.
8. **Apply the order.** Reorder the playlist by hand, or use a tool that does it for you.
9. **Run the practice with the queue.** Let the players follow the order you set, and keep the session moving between clips.
10. **Review the queue after practice.** If the order did not help the session, change it before the next one.

## Tools that can do it

You do not need software for this. Here are options to consider.

**Paper list or sticky note.** You write each clip title and the order you want, and rank them by hand. Nothing is published here about price or limits because it depends on what you already own.

**A spreadsheet.** A column for the clip, a column for length and a sort on the length column gives you an ordered list. Check how it behaves on your phone if you plan to use it on the sideline. Facts about specific spreadsheet apps are not provided here, so check their own pages for limits and cost.

**YTSort.** YTSort is made by the team that publishes this site. YTSort is one option. It reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. [^1] It works without dragging or scrolling, by sending requests to YouTube's own system using your existing session. [^1] After sorting, it reads the playlist back from YouTube and re-applies any moves that did not stick. [^1] It sorts the full playlist, not just the clips loaded on screen. [^1] It shows the before and after order so you can check it before applying. [^1] It can sort only videos within a length range and move the rest to the end. [^1] It shows total, average, shortest and longest video duration for the playlist. [^1] It exports position, title, duration and URL of every video to a CSV file. [^1] Its panel follows YouTube's light or dark theme automatically. [^1] If its usual fast method is ever unavailable, it automatically switches to drag-and-drop. [^1]

You can get YTSort through a bookmark, a browser script, or a Chrome Web Store extension. [^1] The extension needs Chrome or Edge, and the script version works in any browser, including Firefox, with Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed. [^1] YTSort is free; all install options include the same features. [^1] YTSort is free, open-source software under the GPL-2.0-only licence. [^1]

## Common mistakes to avoid

**Putting dependent drills out of order.** If a later drill assumes an earlier one, a queue that ignores that can leave players lost. Keep dependent clips together.

**Building a queue that runs long.** Check the clip lengths against the practice time you have. An overlong queue means players never reach the last clips.

**Trusting the order without a look.** Read the new order once before practice. A quick check catches clips that ended up in an odd spot.

**Trying to reorder a playlist that is not yours.** Check who owns it first. If it is not yours, copy the clips into your own playlist or keep a written list.

**Never reviewing the queue.** If the order did not help the session, change the approach instead of sticking with it.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can YTSort order a practice playlist by video length?

Yes. YTSort reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. [^1] It sorts the full playlist, not just the clips loaded on screen. [^1] For a practice queue, that can put a short warm-up drill before longer game footage. It can also sort only videos within a length range and move the rest to the end. [^1]

### How does a sports coach build a viewing queue for practice?

Choose the clips the session will use, decide the order players should watch them, and keep that order in one place such as a playlist, a paper list or a spreadsheet. Mark clips that build on earlier ones and keep those together. Check the total length against practice time, read the order once, then apply it. If the queue lives in a YouTube playlist, check who owns it. YTSort reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. [^1]

### Can the queue order be checked before it is applied?

With YTSort, yes. It shows the before and after order so you can check it before applying. [^1] With a paper list or spreadsheet, you see the order as you write it, so read it through once before practice. Either way, a quick look before you commit catches clips that sit in a confusing place.

### Which browsers work with YTSort?

The add-on needs Chrome or Edge. The script works in any browser, including Firefox, once you add a script manager such as Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey, a small add-on that runs scripts for you. [^1] It can also be run from a bookmark. [^1] YTSort is free; all install options include the same features. [^1]

### Should a coach always put the shortest clip first in a queue?

Not always. If a later drill assumes an earlier one, keep dependent clips in order so players keep the context. Shortest first can suit a single free slot before training, where a quick warm-up drill works well first. For a longer practice, check the total length against the session time and review the order after practice, changing it if needed.

YTSort is free; all install options include the same features. [^1] - [Visit YTSort](/go/start-ytsort)

## Sources

[^1]: YTSort's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher) (/go/start-ytsort)