An important part of volunteering for a sports team is continually looking for new ways to help the athletes at your organization grow. As a coach, you need to capitalize on any advantage (as long as it's within the rules) you can find that may help your players succeed.
But it’s not only about instructing players on new drills and strategies. You should also invest in sports team management software to facilitate the administrative aspects of running your organization.
What is sports team management software?
Sports team management software is any cloud-based service that helps organize volunteers and league operators. The features you'll need can differ depending on whether you run a large league with hundreds of teams, a regional or national tournament, a club with a handful of teams, or just a single team.
An effective sports team management solution should include features allowing volunteers to organize players, collect payments, publish schedules, help with fundraising, manage budgets, and communicate with teams and other community members. Overall, the system should help your sports league or team run more smoothly and save time for your volunteers.
Best sports team management apps and software
1. Jersey Watch
Best for: Volunteers who need an all-in-one platform to build sports websites, register players, communicate with teams and more.
G2 Rating ⭐: 4.8 out of 5 (119 reviews)
Jersey Watch is a popular sports team management tool because of the fast setup and easy-to-use features. You can create a website, register players, and send messages all within one system. Plus, you get plenty of powerful tools to help automate repetitive tasks and grow your organization.
First, you can set up a modern website that is responsive and easy to use. The online registration feature is built into the website and allows for easy sign-ups and player payments. Players’ parents can view all the available programs their kids can join at once, fill out online forms, and complete payments online.
During the season, you can send messages via text and email to parents or coaches to keep everyone in the loop with important updates like scheduling changes, volunteer requirements, and anything else important to your organization.
The platform allows youth sports organizations to build and maintain up-to-date practice and game schedules for each team. Before your season, you can run background checks on coaches and volunteers to keep athletes safe during your season.
Create a free account to try features in just a few minutes.
“Besides the software being extremely easy to use Jersey Watch's customer service is top notch! Our organization made the change last year and we continue to get such positive responses from parents/users on how easy the software on our site is to use and not to mention our site looks amazing.”
Features:
- Team Communication Tools: Keep team members, coaches, parents, and volunteers informed through email and text. Send bulk announcements to your entire organization, share photos, or contact individual teams or age divisions.
- Online Registration: Register players and manage payments faster than ever. Customize your player registration forms to collect player information, like uniform size, age group, volunteer opportunities, and more.
- Payment Processing: Process registration fees, sponsor donations, and other payments in one place. Enable payment plans and sell items during registration quickly and easily.
- Scheduling Tools: Organize team schedules and events online. Easily change and edit events with a few clicks. Generate schedules for your sports league, manage games and track standings.
- Sports Team Website Builder: Create your own sports website with no tech skills. In minutes, you can set up a mobile-friendly website for your organization. Check out the best sports website templates on our blog.
- Background Checks: Keep players safe with reliable background checks. You can start running background checks within one-business day after signing up for Jersey Watch.
- Fundraising Management: Get access to tools to manage and track the progress of fundraising campaigns.
Pros:
- Outstanding customer service.
- Excellent value for money.
- User-friendly and customizable.
Price: Get started free. Paid plans start at $29 per month when paid annually.
2. Amilia
Best for: Managing memberships
G2 Rating ⭐: 4.4 out of 5 (11 reviews)
Amilia is an eCommerce and registration platform built for running recreational activities. The platform makes it easy for organizations to register participants and promote events and other activities.
Popular sports include cheerleading, dance, gymnastics, soccer, and skating programs. You can explore hundreds of available activities by searching the Amilia database.
Features:
- Integrated Online Store: Allows clubs and teams to sell their merchandise directly through the platform.
- Interactive Calendar: You can view team events, personal schedules, and important dates in one easy-to-access location.
- Smart Forms: Collect and organize all important player information without extra paperwork.
- Attendance Tracking: Allows coaches to monitor player attendance and track progress over time.
- Parent Portal: Parents can monitor their children’s activities, schedules, and progress.
- Player Assessment: Allows coaches to assess player performance, keep track of progress and share feedback with players and parents.
- Financial Management: Automated invoice creation, secure online payment handling, and robust financial reporting.
Pros:
- Easy to use.
- Covers a wide range of needs.
- Integrations with email, calendars, and payment gateways.
Cons:
- More expensive than other sports club management apps.
- Limited customization.
Price: Starts at $99 per month.
3. Stack Team App
Best for: Improving communication through a customizable app
G2 Rating ⭐: 5 out of 5 (2 reviews)
Team App allows teams and other social groups to set up a mobile app to facilitate communication.
You can design your own app for your team, select colors, and invite other administrators. The app also allows you to track availability for events, post photos, link to scores & standings, and chat with other players on your team.
Features:
- Team Chat: Openly communicate with your team and parents through real-time updates and discussions.
- Event Management: It’s scheduling tool allows you to organize and track upcoming events, matches, and practices.
- Customizable Team Store: You can sell your own merchandise right in the app.
- Member Database: Keeps track of all team members, volunteers, roles, and contact information.
- Live Score Updates: Keeps everyone updated on game progress in real time.
- Document Sharing: Share necessary documents among team members, like game strategies, refund policies, rules, and sports waivers.
Pros:
- Customizable.
- Free app for iOS and Android.
- Ease of communication.
Cons:
- Limited advanced features.
- Bit of a learning curve
Price: Get started for free.
4. TeamLinkt
Best for: Team management using AI-powered tools
G2 Rating ⭐: No reviews
TeamLinkt is a free sports management app for running a league. It offers AI-powered tools to automate tasks like scheduling, rostering, communication, and registration. TeamLinkt also offers a mobile app with unlimited teams and members, so you can manage teams from your phone.
The free plan provides all the essentials to run your league. You can pay for add-ons like background checks, sponsor management, location bookings, and evaluations.
Features:
- Website Manager: Provides tools to build and manage a league website.
- Online Registration: Makes registration easy with customizable forms and secure payment processing.
- AI Schedule Generator: Automatically generates game schedules considering team and venue availability.
- AI Rostering: Creates team rosters based on player skills and positions using AI.
- Tournament Management: Offers tools to organize and manage tournaments, including brackets, schedules, and results
- Score Collection: Automatically collects and updates game scores in real-time.
- Stats & Standings: Tracks and displays player statistics and team standings throughout the season.
- Certification Tracking: Tracks and manages certifications for coaches, officials, and players.
- Reporting: Provides customizable reports on various aspects of league management, such as registration, finances, and player statistics.
- Memberships: Manages memberships for leagues, clubs, and organizations, including renewals and benefits.
Pros:
- Simple admin interface
- Online tutorials
- Good customer service
Cons:
- Reported app glitches
Price: Get started for free
5. Sports Connect
Best for: Community leagues needing multi-sport management
G2 Rating ⭐: No reviews
Sports Connect offers a sports management software built for community leagues. The website features allow players and parents easy access to registration, scheduling, and reporting for the organization. All of the features within the system are made for volunteers and to be easy-to-use.
Sports Connect supports a wide variety of sports, including soccer, football, baseball, softball, and basketball.
Features:
- Multi-Sport Management: Manage teams across different sports on a single platform.
- In-App Communication: Enables easy and direct communication between coaches, parents, and players.
- Financial Tracking: Helps in tracking registration fees, donations, and other financials associated with team management.
- Detailed Reporting: Users can generate and customize detailed reports on team performance, attendance, etc.
- League Management: Supports league creation and management, including team schedules, results, and player data.
- Volunteer Management: Provides functionality to manage volunteers, track their availability, and assign tasks effectively.
Pros:
- Customized reporting.
- Good customer support.
- All-in-one tool.
Cons:
- User based pricing can get expensive.
- No free trial.
Price: .30 per user
6. TeamSnap
Best for: Cross-system scheduling and communication
G2 Rating⭐: 3.9 out of 5 (47 reviews)
TeamSnap is a sports team management software that helps millions of people around the world manage gaming and scheduling information. Coaches rely on the platform for practice and match planning.
TeamSnap’s mobile app also ensures that parents, coaches, and players can always keep up with each other. You can manage player attendance, volunteer duties, and more using the TeamSnap mobile app.
Features:
- TeamSnap Live!: Share real-time updates of game events with those who can't be there physically.
- Availability Tracking: Allows players to indicate their availability for games and practices.
- Statistics Tracking: Record, store, and analyze player performance statistics.
- Payments: Collect and track team dues and other payments.
- Health Check: Track health conditions and symptoms of players for safe play.
- Roster Management: Manage your team's roster, with contact info, player profiles, and family information all in one place.
- Team Store: You can design and sell custom gear right from the app to raise funds or foster team spirit.
Pros:
- Easy to use.
- Scheduling app.
- Integrations with calendar apps.
Cons:
- Best features available on a premium plan.
- Limited customization.
Price: Starts at $11.99 per month.
7. SportsEngine
Best for: Managing rosters and attendance
G2 Rating ⭐: 4.3 out of 5 (14 reviews)
SportsEngine is a team management software for over one million teams around the world. It packs numerous functions, like scheduling, communication, and registration in one place. SportsEngine also has robust tools for keeping youth sports admins, athletes, coaches, and parents all on the same page.
Features:
- Mobile App: Lets users access their team platform from anywhere using their smartphones.
- Roster Management: Enables coaches to easily manage and update team rosters.
- Online Registration: Teams can set up online registration for events, tournaments, and seasons.
- Website Builder: Allows teams to create and customize their public-facing websites.
- Background Checks: SportsEngine provides background check capabilities for coaches and volunteers to ensure athlete safety.
- RSVP: Allows parents and athletes to confirm attendance at games and practices.
Pros:
- User-friendly interface.
- Robust customer support.
- All-in-one platform.
Cons:
- Expensive for small teams.
- Reported lag time during usage.
- Steep learning curve.
Price: $79 per month.
8. MonClubSportif
Best for: Simplifying event organization
G2 Rating ⭐: 5 out of 5 (2 reviews)
MonClubSportif allows volunteers to manage their teams from the platform on desktop or phone.
Tools like results tracking, scheduling, and availability management streamline league operations and allow all users—including schools, players, parents, and sports organizations—to keep up to date. You can also try the app and its features on a 30-day free trial.
Features:
- Attendance Alerts: Automatic alerts to players and parents regarding player availability for matches and practices.
- Financial Management: Offers tools to track team finances, dues, and player payments.
- Health Information Tracking: Allows the coach to record and monitor health-related information for each player.
- Player Evaluation: Built-in feature to evaluate player performances over time.
- Centralized Document Storage: Secure cloud storage of all relevant documents and forms.
- Statistics Tracking: Has detailed statistics tracking on both the team and individual player level.
Pros:
- Flexible management tools.
- Multilingual interface.
Cons:
- No calendar sync.
- No financial budgeting tool.
Price: $6 per month.
9. Teamer
Best for: Tracking player availability
G2 Rating ⭐: N/A
Teamer is a free sports club app to help manage your entire team. You can easily invite players to your platform, create event pages, and collect payments all from the app.
Availability and selection is also made easy. Players can just click on certain days they aren’t available, so coaches know not to schedule events on that day. All email and mobile notifications are free to send.
Features:
- Teamer Payments: Allows for easy handling of all team-related financial transactions.
- Availability Management: Helps manage the availability of each player for events.
- Chat Channels: Allows for streamlined communication within the team through dedicated chat channels.
- Automated Notifications: The app sends out notifications about upcoming events, changes, or announcements.
- Teamer News: Enables the sharing of news and updates related to the team.
- Polls and Voting: Ability to create polls and allow for group decision-making within the team.
Pros:
- Native payment system.
- Free push notifications and email.
- Easy event scheduling tools.
Cons:
- High transaction fees.
- Limited customization.
Price: Get started for free. A fee of 4.4% + $.30 is charged per transaction.
10. EventPipe
Best for: Organizing large-scale sporting events
G2 Rating ⭐: No reviews
EventPipe is a great software for travel teams or leagues needing support with event housing. The cloud-based platform lets you manage housing arrangements for everything from youth sports tournaments to sports conventions.
Build an event in under 10 minutes. Choose from tens of thousands of hotels to house your team using filters like room type, amenities, and distance from the facility. EventPipe also lets you create a customizable booking site that’ll delight parents and make the hotel booking experience easier.
Features:
- Revenue Streams: Earn money through commissions, rebates, ads, and options add-on items.
- Room Block Management: Manage multiple hotel rooms and types so parents have a place to stay during their event.
- Simplified Booking: Let attendees manage and track their reservations on a mobile-friendly website.
Pros:
- Centralized management for event housing
- Customization options
Cons:
- Expensive
Price: Custom pricing.
11. SquadFusion
Best for: Streamlining team operations
G2 Rating ⭐: 5 out of 5 (1 review)
SquadFusion is another sports league management app for administrators and sports facility managers. It offers easy facility and service scheduling, making it easy for members to book and reserve fields, classes, and spaces. SquadFusion also offers communication tools, custom websites, and a support team to help with your questions.
Features:
- User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive navigation and ease of use for volunteers and administrators.
- Comprehensive Functionality: Offers a wide range of features from scheduling to payment processing.
- Customizable Options: Tailorable to fit the specific needs of different sports organizations.
- Communication Tools: Efficient tools for updates and sharing information.
- Mobile Accessibility: Accessible via smartphones for on-the-go management.
- Cost-Effective: Affordable and provides good value for the services offered.
- Data Security and Privacy: Ensures the protection and confidentiality of user data and organizational information.
Pros:
- Easy to set up.
- 24/7 customer support.
- Flexible.
Cons:
- Lacks tutorials.
- Limited site design capabilities.
Price: Starting at $399 per year.
Features to look for in an app for sports teams
An effective sports team management solution should include features that streamline administrative tasks, enhance communication, and improve organization.
Key functionalities to look for include:
- Sports Website Builder: Create and edit your team's website easily, showcasing schedules, results, and team information.
- Online Registration: Streamline the process of player sign-ups and manage payments efficiently.
- Communication Tools: Send email and text notifications to keep team members, parents, and staff informed.
- Scheduling: Organize games, practices, and events with an easy-to-use calendar system.
- Background Checks: Ensure player safety by conducting and managing background checks on coaches and staff.
- Financial Management: Track team budget, expenses, and generate financial reports.
- Photo and Video Sharing: Easily upload, store, and share game highlights and team photos with members.
- Attendance Tracking: Monitor and record attendance for practices, games, and team events.
- Fundraising Tools: Organize and manage fundraising campaigns to support team activities.
How to choose the best app for next season
Volunteering to run a sports organization means doing a lot of administrative work. A sports management platform helps reduce the workload by automating or simplifying many of the administrative tasks and significantly lightening a volunteer’s workload. It’s like a one-stop shop for managing everything from handling payments to building a website and communicating with coaches and parents.
During the offseason, you should find software solutions that fit your organization's needs. There are many options available, so do some research and try a few options before making a final decision. If customer service is important to you, interact with the customer service reps at the company before making a purchase.
Don't lock yourself into long-term contracts or high setup fees. Try to find an easy-to-use system so you don't overwhelm yourself with unnecessary or complex tools.
Sports team management apps FAQ
How do I start my own sports program?
Start by choosing a sport you want to focus on. Soccer, volleyball, lacrosse, basketball—any sport is a good option. Next, develop a plan covering aspects like location, equipment, staffing, funding, and marketing tactics to attract players and volunteers.
How do you manage a youth sports team?
To manage a youth sports team, you need to effectively communicate and build rapport with the players, their parents, and your coaching staff. Key components also include practice planning, skill development, and ensuring a safe, fun environment.
What is the best app for managing a youth sports team?
Jersey Watch is one of the best apps for managing a youth sports team. It offers features like scheduling, messaging, online registration, and background checks, making it easier for coaches and parents to organize and communicate.
