Do you run a sports program? Make sure you're taking advantage of the web's free tools so you can run your program better and save yourself time and headaches.

1. How To Use a Sports Website and Social
Media To Improve Your Program
M di T I Y P
Brought to you free by StadiumRoar.com

2. Getting Started
Over the last few years, an increasing number of recreation departments,
sports associations, leagues, clubs and teams have been making their own
websites and social‐media pages. The reason for this is that online
communication is instant and can cost nothing.
If you are not taking advantage of the web’s free tools, then you are
restricting yourself from enjoying fast and easy communication with the
i i lf f j i f d i i ih h
participants in your sports program.
The following tools are MUST HAVES for any program and they are all FREE:
The following tools are MUST HAVES for any program and they are all FREE:
(1) A Website
(2) A Twitter Account
(3) A Facebook Page

3. Sports Website – What It Does
A sports website acts as the central posting area for the bulk of a program’s
information. Program participants can visit a sports website to view, print or
download information. A well‐made sports website is capable of posting the
following information:
• Season Calendar
S C l d
• Forms (ex. sign‐ups, waivers, emergency contacts)
• Announcements (ex. rain‐outs, revised game times)
Announcements (ex rain outs revised game times)
• Coach and Player Bios
• Contact Information

4. Sports Website – The Benefit
Posting information to a sports website has three main
benefits for any sports program:
benefits for any sports program:
(1) It saves people time from having to call or email the
program director for information
( ) p
(2) It prevents miscommunications when an urgent
g
announcement needs to be sent to all program
participants
(3) It saves programs money in paper printouts, mailing
costs and time spent in organizing materials

5. Twitter – What It Does
Twitter is a free‐to‐use social networking tool that allows users to create a
profile, also known as a “handle”, and post short messages in 140 characters or
less. Sports programs have adopted Twitter to reach out to other Twitter users,
less Sports programs have adopted Twitter to reach out to other Twitter users
both within their program and outside of their program, who may be interested
in program updates.
A typical Twitter user for a sports program will post the following information:
• Program achievements and milestones
Program achievements and milestones
• Upcoming events (ex: fundraisers, tournaments)
• Links to relevant articles, videos or any other form of media

6. Twitter – The Benefit
Posting information on Twitter has three main benefits
for any sports program:
(1) It allows sports programs to instantly connect with
other programs all across the country and all across the
other programs all across the country and all across the
world
(2) It lets you spread your program to new participants
(2) It l t d t ti i t
(3) It’s a great way to get exposure or publicity for an
important upcoming event

7. Facebook – What It Does
Facebook is a free‐to‐use social networking tool that allows users to create a
personal profile and a “page” for any type of organization. Facebook pages let
organizations post updates like Twitter; however, there is no 140 character
organizations post updates like Twitter; however there is no 140 character
limit. For this reason, Facebook posts are typically longer than Twitter posts.
Sports programs are using Facebook pages mostly for multi‐media purposes;
this makes Facebook an excellent supplement to a sports website.
A typical Facebook page for a sports program will contain the following
information:
• Pictures
• Videos
• Visitor comments

8. Facebook – The Benefit
Posting information on a Facebook page has three main
benefits for any sports program:
(1) It creates a fun experience “off the field” by giving
program participants a chance to view pictures and
videos and interact with one another
(2) It helps engage more athletes and parents with the
(2) It helps engage more athletes and parents with the
program because nearly 1/3 the population of the U.S.
is currently using Facebook
(3) It lets program participants share their voice with
others in the program via comments

9. Get Started!
Get a Sports Website
http://www.stadiumroar.com
h // di
Get a Twitter Account
Get a Twitter Account
http://support.twitter.com/groups/31‐twitter‐basics
Get a Facebook Page
http://www.facebook.com/#!/help/?page=175
Contact us with any questions:
communications@stadiumroar.com| 908‐591‐5448