Welsh Sea Rowing – Club Briefing Document

Introducing Sport80: A New Membership & Event Management Platform for WSR Clubs

1. Purpose of This Briefing

Welsh Sea Rowing (WSR) is currently implementing the adoption of Sport80, a widely used sports management platform, to simplify administration for clubs, volunteers, and members. This document outlines what Sport80 does, how it will impact your club, and the benefits it offers across membership, events, payments, and communication.

2. What is Sport80?

Sport80 is a digital platform used by over 80 National Governing Bodies and sports organisations to manage memberships, payments, events, compliance, and communication in one centralised system. It is designed to reduce volunteer workload and create a modern experience for members.

3. What Sport80 Will Deliver for WSR Clubs

3.1 Simplified Membership Management

Sport80 provides a streamlined way for individuals and clubs to join, renew, and manage their membership.

Key features include:

Simple registration and renewal with support for card payments, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Direct Debit.
Automated renewal reminders and optional auto‑renew to boost retention.
Digital membership cards that can be stored on phones.
Multi‑tier membership support (club + WSR + national body) handled in one system.
Configurable forms and waivers for safety, safeguarding, and rowing‑specific requirements.

Clubs also gain access to a suite of tools proven in other sports, such as role assignment, creating membership options, refunds, reporting, and club communications.

3.2 Event Entry & Race Administration Made Easy

Sport80 simplifies the entire process of running regattas and league races.

For clubs hosting events:

Automatic eligibility checks ensure only valid WSR members enter—reducing manual verification.
Set capacity limits to avoid overselling race categories.
Secure payment handling through Stripe—trusted by major global brands.

Costs:
Sport80 charges 2% + Stripe fees, which is lower than common alternatives such as Eventbrite or Wix.

Clubs connect Stripe
Choose event type (competition/training/calendar‑only)
Submit for WSR approval
Once approved, events appear in the club’s admin dashboard and on the public calendar
This creates a consistent process for all WSR events.

3.3 Better Communication & Engagement

Sport80 also offers optional mobile app features that clubs may benefit from in the future:

Push notifications for urgent updates
Club notices
Messaging and social‑style timelines
Integrated booking and member self‑service

This could streamline communication around regattas, weather changes, safety updates, and club announcements.

3.4 Compliance, Safety & Training Management

Other sports using Sport80 demonstrate that it can also streamline tracking of certifications and compliance:

Coaching qualifications
Safeguarding
First aid or safety boat credentials
Household member management
Bulk membership uploads for clubs

This could support WSR’s efforts to maintain safe, well-governed rowing environments.

4. What This Means for Your Club

You will gain:

A centralised membership system shared by all clubs
Reduced admin workload for committee members and volunteers
Easier tracking of who is eligible to race
Simpler, automated payments and reconciliation
Concise records for Coaching / First Aid Qualifications
A consistent event entry system across all WSR races
Improved communication with WSR members

Your members will get:

A quicker, modern way to join or renew
Digital membership proof
Simple event entry with secure payments
Clear communication from clubs and WSR

5. Expected Transition Process

WSR will guide clubs through the following stages:

Data Preparation: Clubs provide membership lists for migration. (The current affiliation spreadsheet used by clubs will satisfy this criteria)
System Setup: Membership tiers, fees, forms, and club profiles configured.
Club Training: Online training sessions on membership management, event setup, and payments.
Pilot Phase: A small number of clubs test the system before full rollout.
Go Live: Membership renewals and event hosting move to Sport80.

The above steps will start in May 2026 and WSR expect to go live in time for affiliation in March 2027.

6. What Clubs Need to Do Now

Clubs are encouraged to:

Review the features above
Discuss benefits with committee members
Consider how Sport80 could replace current manual processes
Prepare feedback for WSR on needs or concerns

7. Next Steps

WSR will soon arrange a Q&A session. Clubs will have opportunities to provide input before the LIVE system is rolled out.

8. Summary

Sport80 offers a modern, proven, cost‑effective platform for managing rowing memberships and delivering events. It can significantly reduce workload for WSR clubs and enhance the experience for all rowers.

This transition represents an important step forward in digitising and strengthening the administration of Welsh Sea Rowing.