What's New

See what we've been building for you

Sep 14

Connecting Without the Social Drama

This week: creating a simple connection system using links and QR codes - because skating is social enough.

Built connection system - link coaches, parents, and skaters
Implemented QR code sharing - scan to connect at the rink
Created shareable links - text or email your connection link
Added approve/decline flow - you control who connects with you
Kept it simple - no social feed, no friend suggestions, just connections

Sep 7

Your Team, Your Way

This week: creating team management so you can start using Rinkly even if your skaters aren't on the app yet.

Built the team page - see all your coaches and skaters in one place
Created local profiles - add skaters without them needing accounts
Enabled solo usage - use Rinkly for scheduling even if others don't have it yet
Added profile claiming - skaters can claim their profiles when they join
Made it flexible - works for individuals or entire skating clubs

Aug 31

Building the Rink Catalog

This week: creating a comprehensive catalog of local rinks so coaches never have to type addresses again.

Built the rinks catalog - all local rinks in one place
Added rink selection - choose which rinks you work at
Implemented favorite rink - your favorite rink is always selected by default on session creation
Made rinks searchable - find by name, nickname, or location

Aug 24

First Iteration: The Calendar Takes Shape

Spend time coding the first version of the calendar - rough around the edges but functional.

Built the weekly view - 7 days across, hours down, just like coaches expect
Added a 3-day view - when you need to see more detail
Implemented the date picker - jump to any date without endless clicking
Created forward/back navigation - smooth week-to-week browsing
Made time slots clickable - the foundation for quick booking

Aug 3

From Paper to Plan

A week of turning our ideas into actual designs on paper.

Sketched the calendar view - making it visual and color-coded for different rinks
Designed the booking flow - had to be faster than sending a text
Drew the coach dashboard - everything a coach needs at a glance
Mapped out the parent view - read-only access to their skater's schedule
Created the notification system - keeping everyone informed without the spam

Jul 23

Why We're Building Rinkly

Watching our coach juggle texts, notes, messages, and emails about schedule changes while trying to teach a lesson - we knew there had to be a better way.

Had the idea during a regular week at the rink
Bought rinklyapp.com on July 24, 2024 from the rink parking lot
Discovered coaches spend 2+ hours every Sunday on scheduling alone
Learned that group texts + spreadsheets = coaching nightmare
Started building the solution coaches actually need