What is Clubhouse?

Clubhouse is a web application used by all kinds of amateur sports clubs to tackle the issue of team selection. It is designed to help by facilitating the communication around whether people can play and then letting them know when and where to be. Clubhouse was created to be simple to use, with nothing to install. It comes from our own experiences of running sports clubs.

How does it work?

The idea behind Clubhouse is that when people aren't at the club, Clubhouse is the place to be. As most of the communication through the week is about the next fixture, this is what Clubhouse is centred around. Players can state their availability online and deliver messages to the club, for example "Injured, can't make this week". The club can then view all this information, pick the teams and let the players know using Clubhouse. The players can then visit Clubhouse to chat about the upcoming game, whether it be about transport, tactics or general pre-match banter!

Who can use Clubhouse?

Any club or organistion that selects any kind of team can use Clubhouse. We have all kinds of sports using Clubhouse, including baseball, cricket, football, rugby, basketball, soccer, hockey, volleyball, and many more.

Can I use Clubhouse for my junior section?

Yes absolutely. Clubhouse is designed to be used for the entire club. Coaches can easily tag and manage their teams and players. Clubhouse seamlessly manages the transition as players move through the juniors teams into the senior section.

Can I use Clubhouse for a single team?

Yes. Clubhouse is primarily designed for a Club which has several teams but it works just aswell with a single team.

I already have a website, why do I need Clubhouse?

Clubhouse is not designed to replace your club website. Many clubs have lovingly crafted and cared for sites. Most continue to use them alongside Clubhouse. Clubhouse is simply for facilitating the process of team selection and can be used on its own or as a complimentary application.

How much does Clubhouse cost?

It's free.

How can it be free?

How can't it be free? Clubhouse was created to be genuinely useful. Clubs don't want to spend money on software, they want to spend it on tours, sports equipment and coaching. Given this, we decided to make Clubhouse free. Currently Clubhouse is supported by QMTech. At a suitable juncture we'll place sporting related adverts on the site to allow Clubhouse to continue to grow and develop.

How secure is Clubhouse? Are my details safe?

Clubhouse is a closed system. You have to be a member of a particular club to be able to see any contact details, which means you have to login with a username and password. The only ways you can become a member of that club are if an admin sends you an invite, or you request to join and an admin approves you.

For further protection, a user can choose to hide their contact details from everyone except the club admins when they create their account. For children under the age of 18 this information is hidden by default, though if they wish they can choose to share it with the rest of the club.

Furthermore, Clubhouse will never pass your details to a third party. We only actually take your details so that other members of the club can view them if necessary. So, in short, your details are safe - only club members can see your details if you choose to share them.

What do I need to use Clubhouse?

Clubhouse is a web application. All you need is an internet connection, an email address, and a browser e.g. Internet Explorer, Firefox etc.

What is a web application?

Web-based software does not require you to install or download anything to your device (computer, mobile phone, etc). You simply open a browser and it is ready to use. This flexibility means you can access Clubhouse anywhere: at work, at home, or even on the bus. You can interact with Clubhouse whenever you choose to.

I don't use computers all that much, is Clubhouse easy to use?

You don't need any specific skills to use Clubhouse. It has been designed to be flexible to use. If you're experienced using the web then you can dive right in and setup your club, or if you would like some help there are screencasts and articles illustrating how to use Clubhouse.

How long does it take to setup?

You can create your club and add some fixtures in 5 minutes or so.

Whats the best way to convert to Clubhouse?

Every club has to transfer from its old system, and like any change this can take some work. But the time saved in the long run is more than worth the effort. To make it easy we've collated the best tips from clubs in our conversion guide.

Clubhouse is constantly evolving, how can I keep upto date?

There are a variety of ways you can follow Clubhouse. You can add Clubhouse on twitter to get frequent updates (daily/weekly) on uptime, bugs, latest developments, and general news. You can subscribe to Team vs Player, the Clubhouse blog (weekly/monthly), which introduces new features, and offers a roundup of ongoing debate within the community. Finally, you can subscribe to the Clubhouse newsletter (quarterly), which offers a general overview.

I really like Clubhouse, how can I help?

There are many different ways in which you can help. Clubhouse was inspired, and continues to be driven, by the sporting community. We welcome all contributions no matter how small, from simply reporting bugs upto acting as a Community representive. You can find more information here.

You haven't answered my question, where can I get more help?

There are many Clubhouse users out there, particularly the administrators of clubs, who can offer a unique insight into how to use Clubhouse. You can canvass the community by posing a question, placing a suggestion or asking for help with a problem. Or, if you like, you can send us a private message. All of this can be done in our support area. There are also more FAQ's and guides about most areas of Clubhouse.

If you've still not found what you're looking for, or would prefer to simply talk to us direct, you can ring us on +44 161 660 2697, between 9am and 5pm GMT. We realise a lot of Club business is conducted in the evenings, so if you leave a message and a convenient time we'll arrange to ring you (even if it's in the evening).