Most soccer league organizers and volunteers want to spend their time working with players, designing practice plans and winning games. While that’s a part of the role, so is all of the behind-the-scenes work that often goes unnoticed.
The key to balancing the fun while running a well-oiled machine is to find a soccer league management software that you can depend on. The right platform can simplify registration, scheduling, communication and so much more.
Key features to look for in soccer league management software
Sports league management software isn’t necessarily a one-size-fits-all model, but there are key features that every soccer league should look for when evaluating different platforms.
Online registration and secure payment collection
One of the most challenging aspects of running a soccer league is registering players, keeping track of who has paid and knowing when and how to issue refunds. A powerful soccer league management system will streamline these moving parts so you can manage everything in one place.
Look for a software platform that allows parents to register and pay online with a debit or credit card. Long gone are the days where parents go to the local high school with a check in their hand to fill out paper forms - they want to register on-the-go, on their own time.
Other key player registration features include the ability to track payments, offer discounts and provide payment plans.
Waivers and background checks
Keeping players safe is one of the key responsibilities of a sports organization volunteer. One way to maintain league safety and compliance standards is to utilize waivers.
Waivers are a great way to set expectations before the season starts and they’re designed to protect both you and the player. Make it easy for parents to review and acknowledge waivers by integrating them into online registration.
Another safety measure to implement is annual background check screenings for all coaches, volunteers, and any other adult who has contact with players.
A software platform built for sports will have an integrated background check screenings tool. Choose a platform that has various screening packages, allows you to see each candidate’s status and gives you the option to choose who pays.
Easy-to-use website builder
Building a website can be fun but time consuming if you don’t have the right software in place. The best sports website builders provide a high-level of customization while making the process simple and intuitive.
When evaluating software options, look for a website builder that can be maintained without any technical expertise. Volunteers shouldn’t be expected to have coding knowledge, just the willingness to learn something new.
Top soccer league website builders should allow you to post important announcements, promote programs, encourage sponsorships and share upcoming events. Take it a step further by looking for ones that generate website content so you don’t have to do the heavy lifting.
👉 Check out Jersey Watch’s website builder to generate a soccer website in just one click!
A youth soccer website created using Jersey Watch's website builder
Game, practice, and event scheduling
League scheduling can be a headache when you have so many facilities and time conflicts to consider. Instead of manually creating schedules, look to an all-in-one sports management platform to automate the process.
Automated scheduling tools, such as a sports schedule generator, do all of the work for you by creating conflict-free schedules in minutes.
Outside of generating game or tournament schedules, find tools that make manually creating schedules easier. You should be able to add repeating events, view an events calendar and manage team standings.
Team and roster management
For competitive soccer organizations, displaying team pages is an important tool to promote rosters. Many sports website builders make it easy to include photos, position and number on individual player pages.
Outside of displaying team information, soccer league systems can even help assign players to teams using information provided during online registration.
Communication capabilities
Strong communication with parents is key to managing a successful soccer league. You need to reach the right people at the right time on the right platform.
Choose a sports league management software that includes built-in messaging tools such as the ability to send text messages and emails. Instead of relying on social media for your notifications, you can directly contact parents in just a few clicks.
Mobile accessibility
Volunteers are always on the go and need software that can keep up with them. It’s crucial to find a user-friendly platform that you can access from any device.
Likewise, make sure that all parent-facing features, such as the team website, are accessible from a mobile app or device. Parents should be able to view updates, access an event calendar and register their child while on-the-go.
The 5 best soccer league management software
Now that we’ve covered the essentials of league management software, let’s explore the top five designed for organizers and volunteers at soccer leagues.
1. Jersey Watch
Jersey Watch is an all-in-one management software made for sports volunteers. Hundreds of soccer leagues use Jersey Watch to build their website, register players, collect payments, manage schedules and communicate with key contacts.
The platform is rated highly by volunteers and coaches (over 1,000 reviews) for ease of use and its outstanding customer support team. It’s built for sports volunteers so no technical knowledge is required and you can get fully up and running in 15 minutes or less.
Key features
- Responsive, Easy-to-Use Website Builder: Generate your own mobile-friendly soccer club website with no technical skills.
- Built-in Online Registration: Register players and manage payments faster, customizing forms to collect information like uniform size, age group, and volunteer availability.
- Centralized Payment Processing: Process registration fees, sponsor donations, and other payments in one place. Enable payment plans and sell items during registration quickly and easily.
- Effortless Team Scheduling: Organize team schedules and events online, changing and editing events in a few clicks. Create schedules for your soccer league, manage games, and track standings.
- Multi-Channel Communication Tools: Keep team members, coaches, parents, and volunteers informed via email and text. Send bulk announcements to your entire organization, share photos, or contact individual teams or age divisions.
- Fast Background Checks: Run background checks within one business day after signing up for Jersey Watch to keep your players safe.
- Streamlined Fundraising Management: Access tools to manage and track the progress of your fundraising campaigns.
Pricing starts at $29 per month, when paid annually. Sign-up for a free account here: Create an Account
2. TeamSnap
TeamSnap for Business is a team management tool with millions of users, thanks to its advanced features and flexible solutions that support all different sports and levels. Coaches can invoice parents, create rosters, and manage tournaments from one dedicated place.
Key features
- Online registration and payment collection
- Website builder with 100+ templates
- Tournament scheduling and management tools
- Built-in messaging tools
3. SportsEngine
SportsEngine HQ is a modern sports management software solution supporting more than 1.2 million teams and 45,000 organizations. Backed by NBC Sports Next, the platform supports auto-scheduling, online registration, and payments.
Key features
- Online registration and payment collection
- Team mobile app for coaches, athletes and families
- Team stats and scores
- Fundraising tools to create sponsorship proposals
4. LeagueApps
LeagueApps is an all-in-one tool for youth sports registration, communication, website design, and scheduling. The platform works with an array of third-party tools, like Facebook and Excel, to streamline admin duties.
Key features
- Collect payments and send invoices
- Custom website builder
- Facility management and field booking tools
- Open API and a dedicated integration center
5. TeamSideline
TeamSideline is an all-in-one league management solution for youth sports leagues looking to streamline their processes. Create your league website, register players online, automate game schedules, and make communication easy.
Key features
- Customizable online registration builder
- Field and location status updates
- Automatic coach scoring system
- Team app
Save time managing your soccer league with Jersey Watch
Managing a soccer league doesn’t have to be tough. With an all-in-one league management tool like Jersey Watch, you can spend more time on the field than in front of a computer.
You can quickly generate a website, register players, collect payments, manage schedules and communicate directly with key contacts. Have a few minutes? Create a free account to see how you can grow your soccer league with Jersey Watch!
