Which Program Type Should I Use?
A decision guide to help you choose the right Program Type in Sprocket based on your club’s structure, billing model, team setup, scheduling needs, and flexibility requirements.
Overview
Sprocket includes multiple Program Types, each designed for a specific operational need. Choosing the correct type at the start ensures your registrations, teams, billing, scheduling, capacity controls, and reporting behave the way you expect.
This guide helps you determine which Program Type fits your situation.
Start Here: What Are You Running?
1. Are you running full season or year-long teams?
Use: Core Program
Choose this when:
Players are placed on specific teams
You have a defined season structure
You need team rosters, communication, and scheduling
Billing is typically seasonal or structured payment plans
Common examples:
Travel teams
Premier teams
Recreational seasonal teams
2. Are you evaluating players before placing them on teams?
Use: Tryout Program
Choose this when:
Players register to be evaluated
You collect tryout fees
Players are later moved into a Core Program
No teams are assigned during the tryout phase
Important: A Core Program must exist before creating a Tryout Program.
3. Are you running camps, clinics, or flexible session-based programming?
Use: Camps & Clinics Program
Choose this when:
You need session-based scheduling
Families may register for a full session or individual dates
Capacity needs to be controlled per event date
You want to reduce duplication using group-level setup
Drop-ins are part of your offering
Common examples:
Summer camps
Holiday camps
Weekly skills academies
Open gyms
Youth academy sessions
Camps & Clinics introduces a structured hierarchy:
Program → Group → Registration → Event Dates
It allows:
Session Only registrations
Session + Drop-In registrations
Drop-In Only registrations
Auto-generated drop-ins from event schedules
Per-date capacity enforcement
If families need flexibility by date, this is the correct choice.
4. Are you running short-term add-ons without drop-in flexibility?
Use: Supplemental Program
Choose this when:
The activity is short-term
It sits alongside your main season teams
Players register for a defined block
You do not need drop-ins or per-date capacity controls
Common examples:
Specialty training blocks
Add-on clinics tied to teams
Seasonal add-on programs
If your program is structured but does not require flexible scheduling or drop-ins, Supplemental is often sufficient.
5. Are you offering private training or flexible session packages booked individually?
Use: Training Sessions Program
Choose this when:
Players purchase individual sessions or bundles
Sessions are booked through Sign Ups
There are no traditional teams
Scheduling flexibility is important
Sessions are scheduled individually, not as a pre-built calendar
Common examples:
One-on-one training
Small group coaching
Private lesson packages
6. Are you billing monthly on a recurring basis?
Use: Subscription Program
Choose this when:
Families pay monthly
Billing continues automatically
There is no fixed seasonal end
You do not need teams
Common examples:
Memberships
Year-round academies
Facility access programs
7. Are you running an in-house league with standings?
Use: League Program
Choose this when:
Your club runs the entire league
You manage divisions, schedules, and standings
Teams compete against each other inside your organization
Traditional Teams are required
8. Are you organizing a specific tournament event?
Use: Tournament Program
Choose this when:
You need tournament-specific rosters
Fees are separate from season fees
Teams may differ from regular season teams
You want to track tournament participation separately
9. Does your activity not clearly fit any of the above?
Use: Other Program
Choose this when:
You are collecting payments for an event, fundraiser, or special activity
You want to use registration tools but it is not sports competition or structured training
You still want team tools available
Examples:
Fundraisers
Social events
Raffles
Quick Comparison
If your focus is:
Team season → Core
Evaluation → Tryout
Flexible sessions or drop-ins → Camps & Clinics
Short-term structured add-on → Supplemental
Private sessions → Training Sessions
Monthly billing → Subscription
League standings → League
Tournament event → Tournament
Special event or fundraiser → Other
FAQs
What happens if I choose the wrong Program Type?
Some structural behaviors — such as team type, billing model, and scheduling structure — cannot be changed after registration begins. It is best to confirm the correct Program Type before opening registration.
Can I switch Program Types after creating one?
Program Type itself cannot be changed. You would need to create a new Program with the correct type.
What is the difference between Camps & Clinics and Supplemental?
Camps & Clinics is designed for session-based programs with optional drop-ins and per-date capacity control.
Supplemental is best for short-term add-ons that do not require drop-in flexibility or per-event scheduling.
If families need to register for individual dates, use Camps & Clinics.
Do all Program Types support teams?
No. Some Program Types require Traditional Teams (such as League and Tournament), while others do not use teams (such as Subscription, Tryout, and Training Sessions).
Which Program Type is used most often?
Core Programs are typically used for primary season teams.
Camps & Clinics is commonly used for camps and flexible academies.
Supplemental and Training Sessions are often used for additional or specialized offerings.