Upper Hand vs. Sports Connect
Sports scheduling software is a critical tool for growing sports facilities and training academies. But, how do you decide which software is best for your business? Below, you can compare Upper Hand with Sports Connect.
How much functionality is too much?
Sports Connect, a Stack Sports sub-brand, is a sports management platform that is tailored towards youth sports organizations, clubs, and leagues.
Part of the Stack Sports ecosystem, the Sports Connect platform has a few main facets.
- Online Registration: facilitate online player registration that allows participants to register for teams or programs online.
- Scheduling & Team Management: schedule games, practices, and events, as well as manage rosters, player information, and coaching details.
- Communication: Announcements and a messaging system keep parents and athletes informed of any updates.
- Payment Processing: features to handle payments, fees, and other financial transactions associated with sports programs. This can help organizations track finances and improve transparency.
Upper Hand offers many of these same functionalities, but in a more simple and user-friendly way.
With the larger Stack Sports brand, you are well equipped to manage large-scale leagues, tournaments, and complexes. But for many sports coaches and facility owners, this is overkill, and the added complexity compared to Upper Hand only makes it harder to use.
Most businesses are better served with a simple tool that’s designed to be smooth, intuitive, and easy to use for your staff and clients alike.
The Paradox of Choice
With so much you can do with Stack Sports, most users find themselves overwhelmed when they get started, and needing a number of tools to manage their business their way.
This is the paradox of choice. The more options you have, the harder it is to make a decision, and the less satisfied you are with any decision you make.
You’re better off with a tool that’s customizable enough to fit your brand, but doesn’t require hours to figure out how to set up, or multiple tools to manage your business.
Value & pricing
✅ Get the full power of Upper Hand for a more affordable price.
❌ The same features and usage limits on Sports Connect could cost you significantly more.
With more affordable and transparent pricing, Upper Hand is the smarter choice for managing your sports facility. Get started for just $10/month.
User experience & Usability
✅ It takes minutes to set up Upper Hand and get started – there’s no learning curve whatsoever.
❌ With Sports Connect, you may need hours just to figure out how to get started.
Upper Hand is built to be straightforward – it works out of the box. Set up client management, facility scheduling, online registration, and more in minutes.
Customer & client support
✅ Upper Hand prioritizes customer support for both you and your clients.
❌ Sports Connect’s customer support can be less accessible and responsive, leaving users without timely help.
Upper Hand understands the importance of reliable support – ensuring that any challenges are swiftly addressed.
Here's what our ideal customer looks like
Upper Hand is ideal for sports facilities of any size looking for a clean, intuitive tool for managing their business. It’s easy enough to use for any non-technical person to handle it quickly and it’s affordable enough that anyone can fit it into their monthly budget.
- You’re looking for a clean, intuitive tool to manage your sports facility.
- You're looking for an easier way to manage your private and group lessons, camps, clinics, and rentals.
- You are looking to create an easier client booking experience that keeps you away from the front desk and fielding phone calls.
- You’re looking for a tool that’s easy to learn, regardless of how tech-savvy you are.
- You want to spend more time coaching athletes and less time on tedious admin tasks like scheduling.
How to Switch to Upper Hand from Sports Connect
1. Create an Upper Hand account
Talk to a member of our team to get set up with an Upper Hand account.
2. Build out your events and programs
Build out your registration and schedule for your upcoming programs, teams, memberships, or other programs.
3. Communicate the change to your clients
Import your existing contacts or send an invite link for your clients to communicate the change and set up their Upper Hand profile.
Thinking about switching to Upper Hand? Here are some common questions.
Where do I learn more about Upper Hand?
If you’re interested in learning more about Upper Hand’s sports facility management software, there are several options available to you. Here, you’ll find information about the features and benefits of our software for sports facilities. Check out our 90 second walk-through to get a look under the hood. If you’d like to see our software in action, you can request a demo and a member of our team will be in touch.
How does pricing work?
Upper Hand is a great Sports Connect alternative because of the transparent pricing and feature set. With Upper Hand comes full access to all features – from scheduling & registration, to memberships, to resource management, a mobile app, and more. You can explore Upper Hand’s sports facility features here.
When should you use Sports Connect?
The choice between Sports Connect and Upper Hand depends on specific needs and preferences, as both platforms offer sports management solutions with distinct features. Sports Connect, being part of the Stack Sports ecosystem, may be advantageous for organizations looking for a comprehensive suite of tools seamlessly integrated across various aspects of sports management. The platform’s integration with other Stack Sports products and services may also be appealing for those who manage large, complex sports leagues, tournaments, or complexes. On the other hand, Upper Hand is known for its flexibility and scalability, making it suitable for a range of sports businesses, including training facilities, academies, and teams.
What kind of support does Upper Hand provide?
Upper Hand provides support not only to you and your team of staff, but to your clients as well. We have a library of help articles, videos, and guided walkthroughs. Email and chat support is also available to answer specific concerns. Additionally, you will gain access to our Education Team, who can help you apply the software features to your business. At Upper Hand, we want to see you succeed, and we are committed to helping you achieve your goals.
700+ of the top sports facilities and training academies use Upper Hand.
