Trading plan
Futures Trading Plan: A Practical Structure
Futures move fast and leverage magnifies every mistake. A plan is what keeps speed and size from turning a normal loss into an account-defining one.
Start free — no cardWhy it matters
Why leverage makes the plan non-negotiable
Futures leverage means a small adverse move can produce a large loss, and the contracts trade nearly around the clock across distinct sessions. Without a plan, it is easy to oversize, trade the wrong session, or hold through news you did not account for.
A futures plan fixes contract sizing, the sessions you trade, and your risk per trade in advance, so leverage works for your position size instead of against your discipline.
Components
What a futures trading plan includes
Contracts and sessions
Which products you trade and which sessions — the contracts and hours, not "whenever."
Contract sizing
How many contracts per trade, derived from a fixed dollar risk, not gut feel.
Stop in ticks/points
A defined stop distance, set before entry, sized to your risk.
Daily loss limit
A hard cap that ends the session, essential when leverage can compound a bad run fast.
News and rollover rules
How you handle high-impact releases and contract rollover.
Example
An illustrative futures plan
For example: trade one product during the regular session only; risk a fixed dollar amount per trade and derive contracts from the stop distance; stop for the day after a set loss; flatten before major releases.
Each piece is checkable after the fact — right product, right session, right size, honored daily limit — which is exactly what a review needs to keep leverage from quietly eroding your discipline.
In Mettle
How to use this plan in Mettle
- 1
Write each setup as a play
Turn the plan into named plays with their rules, so every trade has something to be measured against.
- 2
Log trades against the play
Tag each trade to its play and record what actually happened, including deviations.
- 3
Review adherence weekly
Let the weekly review reflect how often you followed the plan and how those trades scored, so the plan stays enforced by feedback rather than willpower.
FAQ
Does Mettle build the plan or trade it for me?
No. Mettle does not generate plans, signal entries, or place trades — it is a journal and review tool. You write the plan; Mettle helps you turn it into plays, log trades against it, and review whether you actually followed it.
Are the scores objective or self-reported?
Self-reported, by design. No software can see whether you hesitated, chased, or broke your own rule — only you can. Mettle structures that self-report so it is fast, honest, and comparable week to week, and keeps its analysis grounded in what you actually logged.
Is Mettle free to start?
Yes. You get full access free for 14 days with no card. We only ask for a card once you have reviewed three sessions, after the product has earned a place in your routine.
Respect the leverage
Write your futures plan as plays with fixed risk, then log and review whether you traded inside it. Free to start, no card.
Start free — no cardMore on trading plans