The City of Onkaparinga in South Australia, as part of its Internet strategy, has a comprehensive community sport and recreation directory and communicates with sporting clubs via email. Email, online newsletters, online facility booking and online grant applications streamline the relationship between Local Government and the community.
The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and Telstra have developed SportNet to help all sporting groups, from grassroots clubs to national level, take advantage of information technology.
SportNet helps sporting clubs and Councils to take the next step in communicating with each other and with the community.
SportNet provides a club with:
- Online databases – secure and accessible via the Internet
- An email listserve facility
- Simple web page development tools that build an Internet site
- Individual member access to personal records over the Internet
- The ability to conduct online forums
Many organisations spend hours of volunteer time on registration, some double or even triple entering membership data.
The SportNet secure online database accessible via the Internet streamlines member management.
This enables a club to enter its members online, with the information immediately accessible by state and national bodies or even government, subject to security set by the organisation. SportNet’s online database and tools give a local club a better opportunity to retain and attract members.
Using the database, in conjunction with web sites and SportNet’s email listserve facility, allows an organisation to target members to ensure regular contact and improved service.
SportNet gives individual members access to their own record over the Internet – they can update their contact details online, access member only services or view their competition record.
Councils can use the same facility to maintain their contacts databases, with clubs updating their contact details online.
SportNet makes it easy for any club to create a web site and use it to communicate with members, with simple web building tools literally constructing the site for you in minutes.
Good web sites entice new and old members with information ranging from local fixtures, results and awards through to online magazines.
The Online forum facility provides SportNet clubs with another communication tool. This enables sporting clubs to use online forums to discuss, for example, new coaching techniques with national coaching staff, or allowing the local Council to set up a secure discussion forum where all the shire’s club secretaries discuss facility and development needs.
SportNet is different to other Internet based services because it offers a range of administrative tools – not just web sites. Importantly, with SportNet, the sport or recreation body always controls and owns content and data.
No rights are signed away and no advertising is forced on pages. Membership data is private and secure from unwanted commercial exploitation.
SportNet’s full service is available for a modest subscription fee and a new SportNet Active version with all features, except database functionality, will soon be available free of charge.
SportNet’s aim is to help sport and recreation develop national networks linking grass roots clubs through to national bodies.
Improving communication means better service and more effective local delivery.
Sportnet enables sports and government to gain a better knowledge of the needs of members allowing them to target certain geographic and demographic areas highlighted by data analysis.
For Local Government, SportNet is an opportunity to work with clubs to encourage them to adopt information technology. Getting community clubs online will help Local Government streamline its relationship with clubs, and importantly it will help the clubs perform their most vital role – encouraging members of the community to take up healthy physical activity.
For further information on SportNet, visit the web site www.sportnet.com.au or by telephoning 1800 300 131.
