In today's world dominated by AI, social media, and smartphones, creating a youth sports website is fundamental for any organization’s online presence. However, for many volunteers, selecting the right sports website host and builder can be a complicated task.
We live in a time where a simple Google search yields millions of results so we understand that it can be tricky to narrow down the website builders for your youth sports league or team.
But not to worry! This comprehensive blog post aims to simplify the process by spotlighting six website platforms that can take your sports team website to the next level.
We'll delve into their features, advantages, drawbacks, and pricing, providing valuable insights to help you make the best decision for your organization.
1. Jersey Watch
Jersey Watch is a youth sports management platform whose mission is to empower volunteers to build stronger communities through sports. We work with over 2,000 organizations within the US and Canada and focus primarily on youth sports programs with 50-500 athletes.
Compared to other website hosts on this list, Jersey Watch is the only one built specifically for youth sports organizations.
Features
Jersey Watch has five main features which include a fast sports website builder with a custom domain name, the ability to register players and collect payments, communication tools, an event manager and the ability to run background checks.
A youth sports website built on Jersey Watch with custom domain name.
When it comes to website hosting, you can buy a custom domain new through Jersey Watch when you create an account and choose a subscription plan. This makes your website more accessible to parents, athletes, and fans.
Jersey Watch helps you find and secure a domain for your league website
If you already have a domain name, Jersey Watch can assist in transferring it so you can use it with your new website. You retain ownership of your domain name, while Jersey Watch manages it for the duration of your subscription.
Pros
- The ability to go live with a custom domain as soon as your subscription starts
- Made for volunteers so no coding or website knowledge required
- Award-winning Customer Care team
- All-in one platform that includes hosting, website builder, registration, online payments, and more
- Handmade website design based on your branding
Cons
- No ad-supported website hosting plan
Pricing
Jersey Watch has three plans - Starter, Plus and Pro. None of the pricing plans contain setup fees or contracts. All features are available with any plan, the difference is in the messaging limits. The Starter Plan begins at $29 per month.
You can select from a monthly plan or opt into an annual plan for more discounted pricing. Learn more about pricing tiers here.
🧠 LEARN MORE: The Best Sports League Management Software for Admins
2. Hostinger
Hostinger’s mission is to make online success possible for anyone – from developers to aspiring bloggers and business owners. They began in 2004 and currently have over 1,000 employees as of 2021.
Features
Hostinger mainly focuses on website creation, hosting and domain registration. Their website builder uses AI to help you create your website and they also will migrate your existing website. You can use their platform to register your own domain and create custom email addresses.
Pros
- Serves 150+ countries in 10+ languages
- 24/7 customer service
- Affordable pricing
- E-commerce capabilities
Cons
- Not built for youth sports, many features may not apply
- Limited storage on entry-level plans
- Pricing plans may just include hosting, and not necessarily include a website.
Pricing
Hostinger has three pricing tiers and four different payment terms. The lowest plan starts at $2.49 per month when you sign up for four years. Monthly terms for the same tier start at $11.99 per month. The setup and domain fee is waived if you select a 12 month or more plan.
3. SITE123
SITE123 is a website builder platform that offers an easy and straightforward way to create a professional website. They work with a variety of industries and have customers across the globe.
Features
The main differentiator that SITE123 promotes is that their website builder consists of pre-designed layouts and structures as opposed to drag and drop modules. They also offer built-in SEO tools, an online store and personal emails.
Pros
- Free website plan available
- E-commerce integration
- 24/7 live chat
- Website design and logo tools
Cons
- Limited customization options
- No access to source code
- Pricing plans will just include hosting but not website building capabilities.
Pricing
SITE123 offers both free and paid plans. Their paid plans consist of Basic, Advanced, Professional and Gold. Basic starts at $12.80 per month for 12 months. To see the full list of their pricing, you need to create an account but two plans are visible on their website here.
4. Hostgator
Hostgator’s goal is to make a successful web presence possible for anyone through scalable solutions & expert support. They began in 2002 and host websites worldwide.
Features
HostGator offers tools such for website building, website hosting, domain registration and management, and services. These services include CodeGuard, Web Design, PPC and SEO.
Pros
- Hosted on powerful servers
- 24/7 support
- Third party integrations in just a few clicks
- Unlimited bandwidth
Cons
- No free plan
- Many basic website features such as SiteLock and SSL Certificates are paid add-ons
- Hosting plans don't necessarily include a website builder or domain name
Pricing
HostGator offers four plans - Hatchling, Baby, Business and Pro. Each plan has different term pricing which starts at three months and goes up to a 36 month contract. The lowest plan starts at $12.95 per month for one month. All plans have additional paid services such as site backup, ssl certificate, sitelock and more.
5. Wordpress
Wordpress’ mission is to democratize publishing and e-commerce one website at a time. They believe that anyone can have an idea so they want you to have the power and support to get it online. They have over 409 million unique visitors to their websites each month.
Features
Wordpress offers a website builder, hosting, domains, blogs and design services. They also have an extensive amount of WordPress themes and plugins that can be used while building your website. Some plugins come with your website while others are a paid subscription.
Pros
- Free website plan option
- Highly customizable
- Extensive Plugin and Theme Library
- Community support through forums
Cons
- Requires more technical knowledge
- Self-hosting can be complex
Pricing
WordPress has six plans ranging from $0 to Enterprise which starts at $25,000 yearly. They offer both monthly and annual plans for all tiers. Most organizations fall into the Explorer or Creator plan which starts at $8 per month when you pay annually.
6. Squarespace
Squarespace’s vision is a future where everyone can be an entrepreneur. They believe that design is the ultimate competitive edge. They were founded in 2003 and have had over 3 million websites created. Squarespace used to work with Google Domains to host your website, but have since split and now manage everything on their own.
Features
Squarespace is known for their stunning design templates and fonts but they also offer e-commerce, marketing tools, scheduling and domain registration. Their e-commerce includes scheduling appointments, selling products and services as well as client invoicing.
Pros
- Professional look
- All-in-one platform
- 24/7 customer support
- Acquired platforms such as Acuity Scheduling and Tock
Cons
- No free plan
- Limited third-party extensions
Pricing
SquareSpace has four different pricing plans - Personal, Business, Commerce Basic and Commerce Advanced. Each plan offers a 14 day free trial and you can pay monthly or annually. Plans start at $16 per month.
Choosing the best sports hosting for your organization
Every youth sports organization is unique and your must-haves in a website platform will be too. You should determine what factors are the most important to your sports league and use that as your guide to selecting the right platform. For some, cost is more important while others care about a user-friendly interface.
You should also consider what type of sports program you offer. An organization who focuses on volleyball tournaments versus a recreational softball league may have different wants, needs and price points.
And no matter what - Jersey Watch is here to help. Whether you need a custom mobile-friendly website, online registration, fundraising and sponsorship help, or other sports management assistance, look to Jersey Watch.
