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Registration is the key to a successful youth basketball season.
When you're a volunteer with limited time, you need a sign-up process that collects player information, manages contacts, and processes payments.
Creating a user-friendly online registration form can seem daunting, but our guide will walk you through the essential steps. That way, you can start the season smoothly while making the registration process convenient for parents.
Watch this quick video to build a registration form in just a few minutes.
Basketball registration form template
When creating a player registration form for your youth basketball league, you want to gather all the necessary information. Start with a youth sports registration form template that includes the basic questions to ask.
Here are the fundamental questions every form should have:
- Player’s Full Name
- Parent / Guardian Name
- Parent / Guardian Contact Info (email address and cell phone number)
- Player Date of Birth
- Emergency Contact
Once you have the basic template, you can customize the form to fit your organization's needs. For example, you might want to add questions about player experience, uniform size, or anything else your league needs.
Build a youth basketball sign-up form in 5 steps
1. Get the right registration software
Sports registration software is the key to opening registration efficiently and on time. Your needs may differ if you’re running a recreational league or starting an AAU program.
But regardless, consider a few key criteria:
- Is the system made specifically for sports organizations? Platforms for sports will be easier to set up and have features like player discounts, payment plans, and waivers.
- Is the software easy to use? Make sure you can set up registration forms fast. Check out several platforms before picking one.
- Are there long-term contracts or setup fees? If you're a non-profit, don't enter into contracts or long-term commitments. It can be costly to start a basketball league so be sure you're aware of all upfront costs.
- Does the platform include website building and scheduling functionalities? Try to find an all-in-one solution that includes a website builder, game scheduling, and whatever else your organization needs.
🧠 Learn more: The Best Sports Registration Software Picks
2. Customize your basketball league registration form
The elements below will help you customize the form for your basketball team or league, beyond the standard information mentioned above.
- Uniform or apparel sizing
- Grade level
- School
- Player’s preferred number choices
- Playing experience
- Previous team or coach
- Medical conditions and allergies
- Code of Conduct
- Refund policy
- Fundraising opportunities and donations
- Volunteer options
3. Require online payments but make it parent-friendly
Offer flexible payment options to parents. But make sure that money is collected quickly and efficiently so you can budget for your season.
Require online payments by default. If you need to allow parents to pay in installments, you can use payment plans or give parents discount codes to register at reduced rates.
Most parents prefer to pay with their debit or credit card, and by collecting card payments, you can ensure that your organization receives registration funds quickly.
Online payments also allow you to easily manage your budget online.
4. Make it mobile-friendly
Over half of parents will want to register on their phones. So, mobile accessibility is critical if you want to register as many players as possible. That’s why you need a mobile-friendly basketball website.
Plus, if you're using social media to promote your organization, parents will see your posts about registration on their phones.
Make sure that registration forms work on any device (desktop, tablet, or phone). Most sports registration software will have mobile-friendly features built in, but you can check by registering a test player on your phone and sharing the registration forms with other volunteers.
Mobile-friendly registration is critical to increasing participation.
5. Add in season communication and scheduling
Running a successful sports organization is more than just registering athletes. Collecting accurate contact information during registration will ensure you can communicate with parents during the season.
Share registration updates, like deadlines, early bird promotions, and volunteer opportunities. Once registration is over, you should immediately communicate the next steps, like practice start dates, team assignments, and game schedules.
🧠 Learn More: How to Create a Sports Schedule (+ Templates)
Create your online forms with Jersey Watch
Need to get started with registration quickly? Jersey Watch is a great way to set up youth basketball registration forms, build a website, and create schedules for your organization.
Create a free account to use the form builder today.
