LoveAdmin Squads
As Lead Product Designer at LoveAdmin, I drove the design and development of Squads, a comprehensive team management solution for sports clubs. This platform streamlines complex team organisation tasks and addresses real-world challenges faced by sports administrators through an intuitive, user-focused interface.
Challenge
Clubs struggled with paper-based systems to track players, consents, dates of birth, photography permissions, team transfers, events, and cash payments. Managing player availability for games was the most challenging aspect.
Impact
While further results are pending, customer feedback has been positive. Many clubs have onboarded and appreciate the time savings and control they now have. The player availability feature via push notifications on the iOS and Android apps has been especially well received.
The Problem
Sports clubs across the UK were struggling with fragmented team management processes. Coaches were using WhatsApp groups, spreadsheets, and paper forms to manage teams, leading to missed communications, late payments, and administrative chaos. Our research revealed that club administrators were spending 15-20 hours weekly on basic organisational tasks, with 40% of events having poor attendance due to communication breakdowns.
Research & Process
User Research
Conducted interviews with 10+ sports clubs across football, rugby, and cricket. Created user journey maps and identified key pain points in team communication, payment collection, and event management workflows.
Using the Object-Oriented UX approach, we began by identifying the key entities within the system, including players, coaches, teams, events, and payments, then mapped their attributes and relationships. This foundational object model clarified which actions each user role needed to perform on each object. These insights directly informed the structure and placement of those actions within the interface.
Wireframing & Testing
Developed low-fidelity wireframes focusing on mobile-first design. Conducted usability testing with 3 pilot clubs, iterating based on feedback around navigation patterns and information hierarchy.
Design System
Created a comprehensive design system that accommodated different user roles while maintaining consistency with LoveAdmin's existing brand guidelines and accessibility standards.
Key Features
Matchday Preparation
Create squad and team events for training, social events, and league matches. Notify players and request availability in advance with push notifications via email, SMS, or the iOS and Android app.
Player Safeguarding
Flexible coach assignments with customisable permissions for payments, messaging, and event creation. Instant access to player details including emergency contacts, consents, and medical information from mobile devices.
Team Communication
Built-in email and SMS messaging with message tracking. Post updates to players' accounts and track who has received and opened messages for effective follow-up.
Payment Management
Integrated payments for membership requirements during squad sign-up. Coaches can request payments for fines and match fees with auto-payment options and clear tracking of due payments.
Trialist Management
Invite trialists and pitchside walk-ins to squads with confirmation via the mobile app. Access to team training and fixture information helps prepare for upcoming matches and build next season's squad in advance.
Technical Challenges
Multi-Platform Development
Built a web app, iOS app, and Android app that all work seamlessly together. Ensuring consistent functionality and data synchronisation across all platforms while maintaining the same user experience.
Pitchside Performance
Optimised for weak signal conditions when coaches are pitchside taking registrations and processing payments. The apps need to work reliably in poor network conditions and on older devices commonly used in outdoor sports environments.
Legacy System Integration
Successfully integrated with LoveAdmin's existing payment and user management systems while maintaining data integrity and performance standards across all platforms.
Technology Stack
Frontend
React, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS
Backend
Node.js, Express, PostgreSQL, Redis
Mobile Apps
Native iOS and Android applications
Real-time
WebSockets, Push notifications, Live updates