Start, Stop, Continue
Classic retrospective format to identify new initiatives, things to stop, and successful practices to maintain.
Columns
StartStopContinue
Sprint Retrospective Templates
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All 12 Templates
From beginner-friendly classics to nuanced five-column formats — there's a template for every team and every situation.
4Ls
Reflect on what you Liked, Learned, Lacked, and Longed for during the sprint.
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LikedLearnedLackedLonged For
Mad, Sad, Glad
Express emotions about the sprint through three lenses: frustration, disappointment, and joy.
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MadSadGlad
KALM
Keep, Add, Less, More - focus on actionable adjustments for improvement.
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KeepAddLessMore
Sailboat
Visualize the team as a sailboat with wind (helpers), anchors (blockers), rocks (risks), and island (goals).
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WindAnchorRocksIsland
Rose, Thorn, Bud
Identify what went well (rose), what was challenging (thorn), and what potential opportunities exist (bud).
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RoseThornBud
DAKI
Drop, Add, Keep, Improve — a focused format for identifying what to eliminate, introduce, preserve, and refine.
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DropAddKeepImprove
Starfish
Five-point reflection: stop, less of, keep, more of, and start — for nuanced team feedback.
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StopLess OfKeepMore OfStart
What? So What? Now What?
A structured reflection cycle: observe what happened, interpret its impact, then decide on next steps.
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What?So What?Now What?
Hot Air Balloon
Picture the team in a balloon: identify what lifts you up, weighs you down, where you're headed, and storms ahead.
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Hot AirSandbagsDestinationStorm
Hopes & Concerns
Surface what the team is excited about and what they are worried about — ideal for project kick-offs or new teams.
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HopesConcernsActions
Speed Car
Visualize the team as a race car: identify what accelerates you, slows you down, risks ahead, and the finish line.
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EngineParachuteCliffDestination
Which Template Should You Pick?
A quick guide to match the right format to your team's situation.
Start, Stop, Continue
First retro with a new team or when you want a simple, universally understood format.
4Ls
Teams who want to reflect on learning and growth, not just process.
Mad, Sad, Glad
When emotions ran high during the sprint and you want to surface feelings safely.
KALM
Mature teams who want actionable, granular adjustments rather than binary good/bad.
Sailboat
Visually-oriented teams; great for roadmap or quarter-end retrospectives.
Rose, Thorn, Bud
Quick retros where you also want to surface future opportunities.
DAKI
When the team has habits to drop entirely, not just reduce.
Starfish
Experienced teams who want the most nuanced, five-axis feedback.
What? So What? Now What?
Teams new to retros, or when debriefing a specific incident or project.
Hot Air Balloon
Mid-project check-ins where risks and goals need equal attention.
Hopes & Concerns
Project kick-offs, new team formation, or before a big sprint.
Speed Car
High-energy teams who enjoy gamified metaphors and sprint-racing culture.
Run a Retro in 3 Steps
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- Step 1
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Choose from 12 built-in formats or customise columns to fit your team.
- Step 2
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- Step 3
Review, vote & act
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a sprint retrospective template?
- A retrospective template defines the columns (categories) your team uses to collect feedback. Templates like Start/Stop/Continue or 4Ls give structure so the meeting runs efficiently and covers the right angles.
- Which retrospective template should I use?
- For first-time teams, Start/Stop/Continue or Mad/Sad/Glad are the easiest to grasp. For deeper insight, try 4Ls or KALM. For visual metaphors, Sailboat or Hot Air Balloon work well. For nuanced feedback, Starfish (5 columns) is the most thorough.
- Can I create a custom retrospective template?
- Yes. ScrumJam lets you start with any built-in template and then add, remove, or rename columns to fit your team. Custom templates are available to teams with a Lifetime License.
- Are these retrospective templates free?
- Yes. All 12 templates are free to use. You get 10 free retro sessions with no signup required. Additional sessions and team features are available with a one-time Lifetime License.
- How long should a sprint retrospective take?
- A typical retro for a 2-week sprint runs 60–90 minutes. ScrumJam's built-in timer helps timebox each phase — 20 min for input, 20 min for grouping & voting, and the remainder for discussing top-voted items.
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