Pre-season is chaotic. Registrations, uniforms, fixtures, ground bookings, committee meetings — there's a hundred things to do and not enough volunteers to do them.
Here's a practical checklist to make sure nothing falls through the cracks before Round 1.
6 weeks out: Get organised
- Confirm your teams for the season — how many grades are you entering?
- Register with your league/association and pay affiliation fees
- Confirm your home ground allocation and training nights
- Set up your club website — this is where everything lives from now on
- Appoint team managers for each grade
Set up your website first
Everything else becomes easier when you have a central place to publish information. Training times, registration details, fixtures — put it on the website and share the link instead of answering the same question 30 times.
4 weeks out: Players and registrations
- Open player registrations — share the link on social media and WhatsApp
- Chase returning players who haven't registered yet
- Confirm any new player sign-ups and assign them to teams
- Order new jerseys if needed — allow extra time for printing
- Confirm coaching and management staff for each team
Jersey numbers
Sort jersey numbers before the season starts, not on game day. Nothing causes more drama than two players turning up in the same number.
2 weeks out: Fixtures and logistics
- Upload your fixture list to your website
- Confirm match-day duties — who's doing first aid, who's running the BBQ?
- Set up payment collection for match fees or season subs
- Create a pre-season training schedule and publish it
- Reach out to potential sponsors — show them your professional website
1 week out: Final checks
- Send availability for Round 1 — test the process before it matters
- Confirm first aid kit is stocked and someone is certified
- Post a “Season starts next week!” announcement on your news feed
- Share the fixture list one more time in all your channels
- Take a deep breath — you've done the hard part
The 80/20 rule
You don't need everything perfect before Round 1. Get the teams registered, the fixtures uploaded, and the players notified. Everything else can be added as the season rolls on.
Key Takeaway
Pre-season prep doesn't have to be overwhelming. Work backwards from Round 1: 6 weeks for admin, 4 weeks for players, 2 weeks for logistics, 1 week for final checks. And put everything on your website so you only have to communicate it once.
How Matchdae helps
Matchdae lets you set up teams, upload fixtures, manage player registrations, publish training schedules, and collect payments — all in one place. Instead of juggling spreadsheets and group chats, you do everything from your club dashboard. Set up takes 10 minutes.
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