Master the advanced configuration settings that protect your time, prevent over-booking, manage cancellations, and ensure fair athlete access to your sessions. These settings transform a basic scheduler into a business-optimized booking system.
Success criteria: Your scheduler has capacity limits that prevent overbooking, booking rules that ensure fair access, cancellation policies that protect your revenue, and buffer times that prevent burnout.
Required: You must have at least one scheduler already created. This article covers settings you configure AFTER scheduler creation. If you haven’t created a scheduler yet, see Creating Your First Scheduler.
Recommended preparation:
Think about your ideal booking policies
Consider past booking problems you’ve experienced
Have examples of athlete behavior you want to encourage/prevent
These aren’t just technical configurations—they’re business protection mechanisms:
Revenue Protection
Without proper settings: Athletes book then cancel last-minute, leaving empty slots you can’t fillWith proper settings: 24-hour cancellation policy gives you time to rebook, protecting revenue
Burnout Prevention
Without proper settings: Back-to-back sessions all day with no breaksWith proper settings: 10-minute buffer time between sessions for prep and recovery
Business Control
Without proper settings: Athletes book 3 months out then forget, you can’t planWith proper settings: 30-day booking window keeps schedule manageable
Bottom line: These settings are the difference between a chaotic schedule that drains you and an organized system that protects your business.
Session capacity sets the maximum number of athletes who can book a single time slot from this scheduler. This is a scheduler-level setting that applies to ALL sessions generated from this scheduler.Critical limitation: You CANNOT set different capacities for individual time slots. If you need different capacities, you must create separate schedulers.
Pro tip: Even if you occasionally train 2 athletes together, keep this at 1 athlete for private schedulers. Manually book the second athlete when needed rather than allowing double-booking.
Setting: Max 2-6 athletes per slotWhen to use:
Semi-private training
Small group classes
Partner sessions
Limited accountability groups
Example:
“Small Group Strength Class” scheduler
Capacity: 6 athletes
Result: Up to 6 athletes can book the same 5:00 PM class
Decision framework:
2 athletes = Truly semi-private, high attention
4 athletes = Small group, moderate attention
6 athletes = Larger group, less individual focus
Quality consideration: More athletes = less individual attention. Choose capacity based on service quality you can maintain, not just space available.
Setting: Max 10-20+ athletes per slotWhen to use:
Group fitness classes
Team training sessions
Workshops and clinics
Community events
Example:
“Sunday Bootcamp Class” scheduler
Capacity: 20 athletes
Result: Up to 20 athletes can book the same Sunday 9:00 AM slot
Facility owner considerations:
Set capacity based on SAFE numbers, not just space
Consider equipment availability
Account for coach-to-athlete ratio
Leave buffer for walk-ins if applicable
Safety first: Never exceed capacity your insurance covers or facility regulations allow. Set scheduler capacity BELOW your true maximum to account for unexpected attendance.
Total bookings for this session across all athletes
1
Max total bookings per day
Maximum times this scheduler can be booked in a single day, counting every athlete and every time slot.Use it when you only want to run a limited number of a session type each day, for example accepting one private session a day regardless of who books it. It is not a per-athlete cap; two different athletes count as two bookings.
2
Max total bookings per week
Maximum times this scheduler can be booked within a 7-day rolling period, counting every athlete and every time slot.
Maximum athletes that can book one available time slot. This is the setting that makes a session private (1), small group (4–6), or large group. It is the same control described in Setting 1: Session capacity.
Maximum bookings each athlete can make for this session
1
Max bookings per athlete per day
How many times one athlete can book this scheduler on a single day. Leave blank for no per-athlete cap.
2
Max bookings per athlete per week
How many times one athlete can book this scheduler in a 7-day rolling period.
Per-athlete limits exist for unlimited memberships, open gym, and rentals, where one athlete could otherwise grab every open slot. A typical setup for an unlimited membership: Max bookings per athlete per day 1, Max bookings per athlete per week 5, with no session-wide cap so the facility itself stays fully bookable.How the two scopes combine: a booking has to pass both. With Max total bookings per day 10 and Max bookings per athlete per day 2, the tenth booking of the day closes the scheduler for everyone, and an athlete who already has two bookings today is turned away even when only three of the ten are taken.
Per-athlete limits are different from Allow athletes to book a timeslot more than once (Setting 7). That toggle decides whether the same account can hold two spots in the same time slot (a parent booking two children). Per-athlete limits count an athlete’s bookings across time slots over a day or week.
Coaches and admins booking from the calendar are not stopped by these limits, so you can always add a make-up session by hand. See Manually booking athletes.
Setting: Athletes can cancel up until session start timePros:
Maximum athlete flexibility
Reduces no-shows (better to cancel than not show up)
Lower friction for new athletes hesitant to commit
Cons:
Last-minute cancellations hard to fill
Revenue loss if you can’t rebook
May enable flaky behavior
When to use:
Free sessions or trials
New athlete onboarding
Low-demand schedulers with easy rebooking
Community events
Example: “Free Assessment Session” - allow anytime cancellation to reduce barriers to trying you out
Setting: Athletes must cancel 24+ hours before sessionPros:
Gives you time to rebook the slot
Balances athlete flexibility with business protection
Industry standard for personal training
Reduces frivolous bookings
Cons:
Some athletes forget about 24-hour window
Emergency situations still happen
When to use:
Private training (most common)
Small group sessions
Standard paid services
When you have waitlists or high demand
Example: “60-Min Private Training” - 24-hour notice allows you to contact waitlist or offer slot to another athlete
Best practice: 24-hour notice is the sweet spot for most coaching businesses. It protects your revenue while being fair to athletes with legitimate schedule changes.
Setting: Athletes must cancel 48+ hours (2 days) before sessionPros:
More time to rebook
Stronger commitment from athletes
Better for weekend sessions (requires Wednesday cancellation)
Cons:
Less flexible for athletes
May discourage bookings
Can feel strict for new athletes
When to use:
High-demand sessions with long waitlists
Weekend or evening prime slots
Specialty services requiring prep
VIP/premium tier services
Example: “Saturday Morning Elite Class” - 48-hour notice required because weekend slots are hardest to fill last-minute
Setting: Once booked, athlete cannot cancel (booking is final)Pros:
Guarantees revenue
Maximum schedule protection
Reduces no-shows (athlete knows credit/payment is lost)
Cons:
Very inflexible
May prevent bookings
Poor athlete experience
Emergency situations still require you to make exceptions
When to use:
Special events or workshops
Limited capacity specialty sessions
Sessions requiring significant prep/materials
One-time intensive programs
Example: “Competition Prep Workshop” - No cancellations due to catering order, materials prep, and venue commitment
Use sparingly: No-cancellation policies should be rare and clearly communicated. Most athletes will find this too restrictive for regular training.
Mistake: Back-to-back sessions with zero bufferProblems:
Constant rushing between athletes
No time for notes or documentation
Burnout and exhaustion
Can’t handle sessions that run over
No time for emergencies or bio breaks
Fix: Minimum 5-10 minute buffer after every sessionLong-term impact: Preventing burnout is worth the slight reduction in daily capacity
Buffer time too short for reality
Mistake: 5-minute buffer for mobile training requiring 15-minute driveProblem: Constantly running late, stressed, unprofessionalFix: Time yourself for one week, add 5-minute cushion to that averageExample:
Average drive: 12 minutes
Buffer needed: 12 min + 5 min cushion = 17 minutes
Set before-session buffer to 20 minutes
Inconsistent buffer across schedulers
Mistake:
“Morning Sessions” = 10-min buffer
“Evening Sessions” = 5-min buffer
Causes scheduling chaos and confusion
Fix: Standardize buffer time across all schedulers of same type
All private sessions = 10-min after buffer
All group classes = 15-min after buffer (more cleanup)
All assessments = 20-min after buffer (detailed notes)
Why: Consistency = predictable schedule = less stress
Purpose: Prevent last-minute bookings that disrupt your schedule
No minimum notice
Same-day booking (6-12 hours)
24-hour minimum notice
48-72 hour minimum notice
Setting: Athletes can book up until session startsWhen to use:
Drop-in classes or open gym
Flexible schedule with real-time availability
Low-demand times you want to fill
When you WANT last-minute bookings
Pros: Maximizes bookings, fills last-minute cancellations Cons: Difficult to plan your day, may not see booking in timeExample: “Open Gym Access” - Athletes can book a time slot 10 minutes from now
Setting: Athletes must book at least 6-12 hours before sessionWhen to use:
You check schedule morning and evening
Want some advance notice but allow same-day
Balancing flexibility with planning
Example:
12-hour notice = If athlete wants 6pm session, must book by 6am that day
Gives you time to see booking and prepare
Sweet spot: 6-hour minimum for flexible same-day bookings
Setting: Athletes must book at least 24 hours before sessionWhen to use:
Standard personal training
You want day-ahead planning
Need time to review athlete info and prepare
Most common setting
Example: Athlete wants Tuesday 5pm session, must book by Monday 5pmPros:
Clear day-ahead schedule visibility
Time to prepare and review athlete goals
Professional standard
Cons:
Can’t accommodate true last-minute requests
May lose some spontaneous bookings
Recommended: 24-hour minimum is the industry standard for personal training and most coaching services.
Setting: Athletes must book 2-3 days in advanceWhen to use:
High-demand services with waitlists
Sessions requiring special prep or materials
When you need planning time
Specialty assessment or evaluation sessions
Example: “Competition Readiness Assessment” - 72-hour minimum notice allows you to review athlete history and prepare custom evaluationPros: Maximum planning time, serious athlete commitment Cons: Very restrictive, may limit bookings
Athletes book closer to session = higher commitment
Business insight: Bookings made 30 days out have 2x cancellation rate vs bookings made 7 days out
30-day booking window (Recommended)
Setting: Athletes can book up to 30 days in advanceWhen to use: Most coaching businesses (default setting)Pros:
Enough advance booking for planners
Not so far that athletes forget
Allows monthly planning
Balance of flexibility and commitment
Example:
Today: September 30
Athletes can book any session through October 30
October 31 sessions won’t appear until October 1
Recommended for: Private training, group classes, standard coaching services
60-90 day booking window
Setting: Athletes can book 2-3 months in advanceWhen to use:
Seasonal programming (summer camps)
Long-term committed athletes
Subscription-based programs
When you have stable long-term schedule
Pros: Long-term planning for dedicated athletes Cons: Higher cancellation rates, less schedule flexibilityExample: “12-Week Transformation Program” - Allow 90-day booking for athletes to secure entire program schedule
Rolling weekly window
Setting: Athletes can only book the current week + next weekWhen to use:
High-variability schedule
Short-term commitments
Testing new services
Prefer last-minute booking optimization
Pros: Maximum flexibility for you, recent bookings = lower cancellations Cons: Frustrates planners, may lose organized athletesExample: On Monday, athletes can book through next Sunday (up to 13 days out)
Unlimited future booking
Setting: Athletes can book as far out as you have availabilityWhen to use:
Rare scenarios only
Specialty one-time events
When you have 100% stable schedule
VIP athletes with priority access
Pros: Ultimate athlete flexibility Cons: Reduces your flexibility, high forget-rate
Not recommended: Unlimited booking creates more problems than it solves for most coaching businesses.
Multiple bookings per timeslot permission controls whether clients can book the same time slot more than once.Allows parent accounts to book multiple children for the same timeslot if needed.Example scenario:Family uses one account to book the same Advanced Skills Training timeslot for their 8th and 9th grade children.
When on, athletes can cancel their own bookings from the Athlete Portal or app. When off, only coaches and admins can cancel — athletes must contact you directly.
Disable this for camps, workshops, or any non-refundable sessions where bookings should be final.
When on, credits are automatically returned to the athlete’s balance when they cancel within the allowed window. When off, credits are forfeited on all cancellations regardless of timing.Pair this with your cancellation notice window (Setting 3) for the most common setup: credits refunded for cancellations with proper notice, forfeited for late cancellations.
When on, athletes can move their booking to a different available time slot from the Athlete Portal or app. When off, only coaches and admins can reschedule — athletes must contact you to make changes.
When on, athletes cannot reschedule once they’re inside the cancellation notice window. This closes the loophole where an athlete avoids a late-cancellation credit forfeit by rescheduling instead of canceling.Example: If your cancellation policy requires 24-hour notice and this toggle is on, an athlete cannot reschedule a session that starts in 6 hours — they’d need to cancel (and forfeit the credit) or keep the booking.
When on, the same athlete or parent account can book the same time slot more than once. Useful for families booking multiple children into the same session.
When on, athletes who book a group session can see the names of other participants. Useful for group classes or team sessions where social visibility is a benefit.
Revenue protection: For any paid scheduler, enable Block rescheduling within cancellation window. This ensures athletes who need to change a session do so before the window closes — giving you time to fill the original slot.
Booking without an account. A scheduler can also be opened to guest checkout, so a prospect can reserve an intro call or trial session with just their contact and payment details and no login. Where the toggle lives, what a guest provides, and how the booking shows up: Guest checkout.
Setting 8: Duration, start times, and overlapping sessions
Control how long a session runs, how often a new one can start, and whether two bookings may share a window.
Where to find this: Schedule → Schedulers → [Select Scheduler] → Advanced settings
These are three independent controls at the top of Advanced settings:
Control
What it does
Duration
How long one booked session runs (15 / 30 / 45 / 60 mins or Custom)
New sessions can start
How often a start time is offered. Usually the same as duration; make it shorter to offer more start times (a 60-minute lesson with 30-minute starts offers 9:00–10:00 or 9:30–10:30)
Allow overlapping sessions
Checkbox. Off: a booking removes every later start time that would collide with it, so once 9:00 is booked, 9:30 drops out. On: two bookings of this session may occupy the same window
Setting a short start cadence does not turn overlap on. Leave Allow overlapping sessions unchecked and athletes simply get more start times to choose from, with collisions removed as bookings come in.Example: A 60-minute “Youth Skills” session with New sessions can start at 15 minutes and Allow overlapping sessions checked offers start times at 10:00, 10:15, 10:30, and so on — each a full 60-minute session that overlaps the next, each with its own capacity.Full walkthrough with example setups: Duration, start times, and overlapping sessions.
Overlapping sessions is different from session capacity (Setting 1). Capacity controls how many athletes share the same start time; overlap controls whether a new start time can be booked while another session from this scheduler is running.
Implement minimum standards:- 24-hour cancellation policy (refund credits within window)- 24-hour minimum booking notice- 2-3 sessions per week limitExpected result:- Cancellation rate drops to 15-20%- More rebook opportunities- Improved revenue stability
Lesson: Protecting your business isn’t mean, it’s professional
Too strict = athlete frustration
Problem:
No cancellations allowed
72-hour booking notice
Single booking only
Result:
Athletes afraid to book (too restrictive)
Bookings drop 50%
Negative reviews about inflexibility
Fix:
Find middle ground:- 24-48 hour cancellation with credit refund- 24-hour booking notice- Allow multiple bookings with weekly limitsExpected result:- Booking volume recovers- Athlete satisfaction improves- Still have business protection
Lesson: Balance protection with athlete-friendly policies
No buffer time strategy
Problem:
Zero buffer between sessions
Constantly running late
Exhausted and burned out
Impact:
Poor athlete experience (you’re always rushed)
Documentation suffers (no time for notes)
Health declines from no breaks
Fix:
Implement staged approach:Week 1: Add 5-min buffer after sessionsWeek 2: Increase to 10-min bufferWeek 3: Add 5-min before buffer if neededMonitor: How do you feel? Less rushed?Adjust: Find YOUR optimal buffer time
Lesson: Your well-being enables athlete results - protect it
One-size-fits-all configuration
Problem: Same settings for private training, group classes, and eventsWhy it fails:
Private training needs 1 capacity, group classes need 12
Events need 72-hour notice, regular training needs 24-hour