Uplifter provides two types of registration options for sports clubs and organizers. The first type is the fixed calendar membership, which remains valid from purchase to a fixed date expiry, such as the end of the season. The second type is the evergreen membership, also known as the 365-style membership.

There are a few guiding criteria that would help determine which membership model is most suited for an organization. Many organizations utilize both for different roles/ membership types.

Why Implement The Fixed Calendar Membership Registration Process?

The fixed calendar membership model is most suited to a membership (or license) that needs to span a seasonal sport and or an organization that has multiple affiliated organizations where members of one must require a membership with another. Such as a club or team and a regional or national governing body that they are affiliated with. It is important for the membership validity periods to align otherwise each membership needs to be validated for each and every day/ activity that a valid membership is required for.

The fixed calendar memberships are more suited for sports that have age and or ability levels to track and maintain, or for multi discipline sports where it is important for the member to indicate which roles and or areas of the sport that they shall be engaged with for the year ahead.

Why Implement The Evergreen Model?

The evergreen model is more suitable for anyone looking to participate in recreational or fan-based sporting activities. This type of membership can be purchased all year round and each membership is valid for a fixed number of days after purchase rather than all memberships having the same expiry date.

The evergreen membership models can still be used for seasonal sports, but typically only when there are no other affiliated organizations that require memberships for participation.

The evergreen membership model is sometimes favored because there is no need to prorate membership prices and from an organizational cash flow perspective it is more consistent and there is less of a spike occurring during a renewal period. The evergreen can also be very useful for temporary memberships, such as a one event membership that covers specific dates, or if the membership is being purchased now, but does not become valid until a selected date.

When signing up with the evergreen membership, registrants can check the auto-renewal function box during checkout which safely stores credit card details in a PCI-compliant manner. When members select this option, their membership  renewal notification is sent to them before their automatic renewal date. The notification is a customized renewal reminder that includes the renewal date, and the new renewal price. Customers do not have to do anything additional to renew their memberships. This is done automatically. Should any additional information be required, such as signing a required waiver, the system will renew the membership and payment, however, the membership status will be set to pending until the required waiver is signed. Becoming a member using this model is easy and simple, and organizations can easily customize their registration processes by including additional features that members signing up can access during the signup process including store products, waivers, and donation options.

An emerging trend is for an organization to run two separate and parallel membership programs, a fixed calendar membership for their traditional structured competition members, coaches and officials. Then also running an evergreen membership program for recreational participants or fan memberships that do not have a structure whereby the affiliated members organizations (clubs and teams) do not require all participants to have a membership with the governing body in order to participate.

The 365 membership when coupled to an exisiting  fixed calendar membership model has proved to be an advantageous tool that helps sports organizations to diversify and grow  number of members in new areas.. I. Both registration types issue digital membership cards and membership numbers for members, and can have all kinds of configurable requirements and eligibility logic included with Uplifter’s registration systems.

Contact us today

Are you interested in learning more about Uplifter’s membership models? Get in touch with us today. Our team will be happy to assist you.

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Disclaimer: This post was originally published under the name Interpodia Technology Inc. As of January 2025, the company is operating under its new name, Uplifter Inc. All references have been updated to reflect this change.

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