1. What this Program Type is
Subscription Programs are used for ongoing or recurring activities that bill on a monthly cycle. Instead of paying once for a season or a single event, families register a player one time and are then automatically billed each month until the Program ends or the subscription is cancelled.
This Program type is well suited to continuous offerings where there is not a fixed start and end like a traditional season. It supports predictable monthly billing for both the organization and the family.
Subscription Programs do not use team assignments. Players are enrolled in the Program, but they are not placed on traditional teams.
2. When to use this Program Type
Use a Subscription Program when you are running an offering that is meant to continue from month to month, rather than for a set season or single event.
Typical use cases include:
Facility or club memberships that give access to certain programs or equipment
Long term development programs that run year round with a consistent structure
Monthly skills academies where players attend regular sessions without a defined end date
Subscription Programs are a good fit when:
You want predictable, recurring revenue each month
The Program does not need a team based structure
If you are running time bound offerings like camps, clinics, or short training blocks, a Supplemental Program or Training Sessions Program may be a better fit. For season long teams, use a Core Program instead.
3. How registration works with this Program Type
Registration for Subscription Programs follows a simple pattern.
Families register a player once into the Subscription Program.
The registration collects the information you need and sets up the monthly billing arrangement.
The player is then billed automatically each month at the price and date you define, until the Program ends or the subscription is cancelled.
You also have the option to charge a one time initiation fee when the player first registers:
The initiation fee is charged only on the initial registration into the Program.
Monthly subscription billing then continues on its own schedule after that first payment.
This structure works well for memberships that require an onboarding fee or club enrollment fee, while keeping the monthly fee consistent.
Common configuration choices include:
Pricing
Subscription Programs work well when you want predictable monthly billing. Most clubs use one of these approaches:
A standard monthly price for all participants, with an optional one-time initiation fee, or
Multiple registrations with different monthly prices and initiation fees based on age group, level, or access tier
One-time initiation fee (optional)
If you charge an upfront fee at signup (for example, an enrollment fee or “new member” fee), you can set an Initiation Fee. This is a one-time charge collected at checkout, in addition to the first month’s payment.
Eligibility rules
Age and gender, similar to other program types
Optional requirements based on past or current participation in other Programs, if you want to restrict access (for example, “must be registered in Core Program X to enroll”)
Registration timing
Subscription Programs often stay open so new participants can join at various points during the year.
Use the Program Start Date and End Date to define the overall window when subscriptions can be active.
Registrations can remain open within that program window so families can join as needed.
Families experience this as a straightforward sign up with an initial charge, followed by recurring monthly charges, rather than needing to re-register each month.
Monthly billing rules and proration
Subscription Programs include billing settings that control when monthly charges run and whether the first month is prorated.
Monthly Billing Date
This controls how the system determines the billing cycle timing.
Registration Date
Each family’s monthly billing date is based on the date they sign up. This keeps billing aligned to the anniversary of their registration.
X Day of Month
All families are billed on the same day each month (for example, the 1st or the 15th). This is often easier for clubs that want a consistent billing schedule.
Payment Due Day
This sets the day of the month when payment is considered due. Clubs often align this with their billing date, but it can be different depending on how you want to manage timing.
Prorate First Month’s Payment
If enabled, the system adjusts the first payment based on the number of days until the next billing date.
This is most helpful when using X Day of Month billing. Example:
You bill on the 1st of the month
A family registers on the 20th
With proration enabled, their first payment is reduced to cover only the remaining days until the 1st, then the standard monthly amount begins on the next billing date
If proration is disabled, the first month is typically treated as a full monthly charge regardless of when they join, then normal monthly billing continues.
4. How teams and rostering work
Subscription Programs do not use team assignments.
Key points:
There is no team selection step when you create or configure a Subscription Program.
Players are associated with the Program and their subscription, but they are not placed on traditional teams.
Team based features such as team rosters, team chats, and team specific calendars are not the focus for this Program type.
If you need team structures for your ongoing offering, it may be better to use a Program type that supports teams, such as Core or Supplemental, and configure billing differently.
5. How this Program Type connects to other features
Subscription Programs are primarily about recurring billing, but they can also connect to scheduling and reporting in useful ways.
Communication
Since there are no teams, communication is generally sent to all participants in the Program or to filtered groups of subscribers, rather than team specific rosters.
This works well for updates about schedule changes, membership policies, and general Program news.
Relationship to other Programs
Many clubs use Subscription Programs alongside Core or Supplemental Programs.
A player might be on a Core team and also enrolled in a Subscription Program that gives them extra access to training or facilities.
Reporting
Using the Subscription Program type and appropriate Program Category helps you track recurring offerings separately from one time or seasonal Programs.
This makes it easier to understand the impact of memberships and long term development programs over time.
6. Related articles
For more context on how Programs behave and how to manage them, see:
Programs Overview
Program Lifecycle & Visibility
Program Management for Admins
You may also want to review these Program Type articles in the Types of Programs section:
Core Programs
Supplemental Programs
Training Sessions
FAQs
Do Subscription Programs bill families every month automatically?
Yes. Families register once and are then billed automatically each month until the Program ends or the subscription is cancelled.
Can Subscription Programs charge an initiation fee?
Yes. You can charge a one time initiation fee on the initial registration, in addition to the first month’s payment.
Do Subscription Programs use teams?
No. Subscription Programs do not use team assignments and do not place players on traditional teams.
What is proration used for in Subscription Programs?
If enabled, the system adjusts the first payment based on the number of days until the next billing date, which is most helpful when using X Day of Month billing.