Do students need an account?
No. Students enter through the link provided by their coach. The coach has an account and manages invitations. Keep student links private.
How many students can join a live class?
Solo supports up to 6 students in a live class and one live room at a time. Private tournaments have a separate limit of 30 seated players.
What can I use for free?
The free tools include your roster, lesson preparation and homework without video. You can also run 1 tournament a month for up to 8 students, without video. Live classes and simuls require Solo.
Does everyone need a camera?
Camera is optional for classes. Solo tournaments use video for the coach only. A camera is not required for students to play.
Can I teach without Zoom?
Solo includes live classroom tools and video, so a class can run inside CoachMate. You can still use a separate call if that suits your group. Test audio, your browser permissions and the connection before the lesson.
What should I prepare before inviting students?
Create your coach account, add your students and prepare a lesson. For a one-to-one lesson, send the student's personal invitation. Solo group classes also support a session walk-in link. Check that every student reaches the intended room before starting.
Can students practise the position I am teaching?
Yes. Solo lets you pair a class from the teaching position. Explain the objective first, check the starting position and then let students play. Return to a selected position for the review instead of trying to discuss every move.
Which tournament formats are available?
Private tournaments support Swiss, round-robin and knockout formats. The coach controls entrants, pairings and results. Tournament capacity and video depend on the plan; the six-student limit applies to live classes, not to every tournament.
Can I play several students at once?
Yes. Live simuls are part of Solo. You play across several boards while each student has their own game. Start with a small group and a generous clock so that waiting for your move remains part of the exercise.
Can I prepare lessons without paying?
Yes. Lesson preparation, the master-game library and homework without video are available with the free tools. Starting a live class or simul requires Solo. Free tournament access is limited to one tournament per month with up to eight students and no video.
Where can I see current prices and trial conditions?
The pricing page shows the Solo plans available to you. Check the billing screen and checkout for the current offer, currency, tax treatment and any trial conditions before subscribing. A free coach account does not mean all live features are free.
What device should students use?
CoachMate runs in a web browser. For a first lesson, test the actual device, board controls, microphone and connection your student will use. A larger screen is helpful for reading a position and following an explanation at the same time.
Which languages are available?
The app and home are available in English, Spanish, French and Russian. The teaching guides currently have English and Spanish editions; each language menu lists the translations available for that page.
Does entering without an account mean no student data is stored?
No. The coach still manages student records and activity. An invitation link is an access credential, so share it only with the intended student or family. Read the privacy policy for the data handled by the service.
Can I review games later?
You can review games and export PGN from the available game tools. Save the positions that matter for the next lesson and make sure any shared game material does not reveal information you did not intend to publish.
Is CoachMate for a solo coach or a large academy?
Solo is built around one coach running one live room at a time. If you need several simultaneous classrooms, check that requirement before choosing a plan. CoachMate focuses on teaching and private chess activities; do not assume it replaces an academy's administration or payments system.