Evaluating technology for your youth soccer club can be a challenge. If you're using multiple tools to manage your club, you may not even know where to start. The good news is that modern club management technology allows you to do everything in one place. From member registration to financial tracking, it is possible to get more control over all of your club management processes than you ever thought possible. But with all the choices in youth soccer club management technology these days, finding the best platform for your needs requires a well-informed evaluation and buying process.
Knowing When To Shop for New Club Management Technology
You have the people and passion to run a great youth soccer club. But you also need great technology to run more efficient processes and deliver the best possible experience for your players and families. If your club uses multiple club management tools and hacks them together to try and make things work, you're not alone. (If you're not sure of all the software and systems your club is using, then it might be a good idea to start with an
audit of the technology used across your club.)
A few signs you're ready to shop for new club management software include:
- Club staff use different tools to perform similar tasks.
- There is no single location or source of key data accessible by club administrators.
- Important forms and paperwork are sent and collected as email attachments.
- Coaches prepare for practices on their own using different tools and training materials.
- Field planning is done on a whiteboard.
- Player information is kept in physical file folders.
- Teams use different methods to communicate with players and families.
Becoming a Savvy Technology Buyer
When ready to start looking at club management software, this buying guide is an excellent reference to help walk your club through a smarter evaluation and shopping process. It takes you through 13 key areas of club management, what to look for in technology to power them, and even how to question potential vendors to make the best decision for your club. For example:
- What communication channels are included (e.g., email, text/SMS, push notifications, alerts, group chat, live game chat)?
- Are player profiles updated when changes occur, such as a new team assignment, or does that have to be done manually?
- Can I include a financial aid application option in the registration process?
- Are automated alerts included for failed payments (e.g., alerts sent to parents and admins)?
- Can I create my own form templates?
- Does the system alert me if I have fields double booked or if I have one team on two different fields at the same time?
- Does your curriculum builder allow directors to segment a season into weeks with corresponding objectives?
- What level of customer support should I expect from your organization? Do you offer support to our member families?
Put Technology Vendors in the "Hot Seat"
The decision your youth soccer, or any youth sports club, makes into club management software and technology is a serious one, and any vendor should expect to be put to the test. By preparing yourself to challenge vendors with key questions and must-have components, you're putting your club into the best possible position to getting everything you want - and deserve - from club management technology.
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