3 Best Alternatives to Sport:80 for National Governing Bodies (NGBs)

Olivier Rousseau
22 March 2025 Alternatives 2 min read

From membership management to event registration and communication tools, the right platform can significantly improve the administrative efficiency of your sport’s National Governing Body (NGB). While Sport:80 is a popular choice, several alternatives offer robust solutions tailored to the needs of NGBs.

In this article, we’ll explore four alternatives to Sport:80:

Why National Governing Body’s Choose Sport:80

Sport:80 is a well known platform designed specifically for sports organizations, federations, and governing bodies. Its powerful features are designed for member management, competition registration, and event organization. Many associations choose Sport:80 because of its focus on streamlining administrative tasks while increasing member engagement.

Sport:80 alternatives

Key Benefits of Sport:80

  • Membership Management: Efficiently handles memberships, renewals, and athlete profiles with automated processes.
  • Competition Management: Provides robust tools for competition entry, results tracking, and rankings.
  • Event Registration & Payments: Simplifies online registration and offers integrated payment processing.
  • Data & Reporting: Delivers comprehensive reporting tools to help organizations analyze performance, manage finances, and track member engagement.
  • Compliance & Safeguarding: Includes features that ensure clubs adhere to important safety and compliance standards.

For sports organizations looking for a customized solution with a strong focus on membership and competition management, Sport:80 is often the first choice. However, some users experience challenges that make them consider alternative platforms.

Common Challenges Clubs Face with Sport:80

  • Steep Learning Curve: While powerful, Sport:80’s feature set can be overwhelming for new users, requiring time and training to master.
  • Pricing Structure: Some organizations find the pricing model less transparent, with costs increasing as membership numbers grow.
  • Limited Communication Tools: Unlike platforms with built-in email and SMS systems, Sport:80 may require integration with third-party tools for effective communication.
  • Customization Constraints: While robust for standard workflows, clubs with highly customized registration or payment requirements may find Sport:80 limiting.

Author’s note: Olivier shares tips and tricks he’s learned over the past decade as the owner of a kids’s sports program in Montreal. Today, as the co-founder of Activity Messenger, he helps hundreds of Sports Clubs, NGB’d and Federations across North America simplify their operations and increase their membership base.

4 Best Alternatives to Sport:80

If you’re looking for a more streamlined approach to managing sports for your National Governing Body, consider these 4 alternatives.

1. Activity Messenger

Activity Messenger Software

Activity Messenger is an ideal solution for NGBs looking for a versatile platform that combines event registration, communication tools, membership management and surveys. What sets Activity Messenger apart is its ability to send SMS reminders, newsletters, and automated surveys — perfect for post-event feedback or membership renewals.

Key Features:

  • Membership Management: Easily manage member profiles, renewals, and registrations. Activity Messenger allows you to track certifications, grades, and qualifications, making it easy to maintain updated records.
  • Certification Management: Track certifications and ensure compliance with automated reminders and alerts for expiry dates.
  • Event Registration: Create customizable registration forms with integrated payment options.
  • CRM & Contact Management: Store and manage contacts efficiently with segmented lists for targeted communication.

Form builder for sports federations

  • Data Management & Reporting: Gain insights through detailed reports on memberships, event attendance, and financial data.
  • Coaches & Workforce Management: Manage coaches, volunteers, and officials with background screening, certification tracking, and automated reminders.
  • Governance & Compliance: Ensure your NGB meets compliance requirements with automated record-keeping and secure data management.
  • Marketing & Communications: Integrated tools to send newsletters, SMS reminders, and email campaigns for effective outreach and engagement.

Portal for your coaches, judges and referees

Pros:

  • Highly customizable workflows for complex NGB needs
  • Robust automation features reduce manual work
  • Excellent for organizations seeking to improve communication with members

Cons:

  • May require initial setup time to tailor workflows effectively

Client testimonials: Activity Messenger software reviews

Talk to us about setting up an Activity Messenger plan that fits your NGB’s needs.

2. SportsEngine

SportsEngine is a platform designed for sports organizations of all sizes, making it an good choice for NGBs. It excels at membership management, event registration, and communication.

Sport Engine alternative

Key Features:

  • Centralized member database with detailed profiles
  • Background screening and compliance tracking for coaches and volunteers
  • Custom website builder for showcasing NGB events and updates
  • Online registration with flexible payment options
  • Integrated mobile app for team communication

Pros:

  • Strong focus on security and compliance features
  • Robust website builder with templates designed for sports organizations
  • Extensive partner integrations for additional functionality

Cons:

  • Some features may require additional add-ons or fees

Client testimonials: SportsEngine software reviews

3. Sportlomo

SportLomo is designed to support complex organizational structures such as NGBs, regional leagues, and clubs. It provides comprehensive features for registration, payments, and competition management.

Sportlomo alternative in Canada

Key Features:

  • Membership registration with custom fields for certifications, grades, and qualifications
  • Integrated referee and official management tools
  • Advanced reporting tools for tracking memberships, finances, and competition outcomes
  • Multi-currency support for international organizations

Pros:

  • Excellent for NGBs managing multiple tiers of membership
  • Strong reporting and financial management tools
  • Designed to handle large-scale events with detailed tracking

Cons:

  • May require training to fully utilize its extensive features

Client testimonials: Sportlomo software reviews

Choosing the Best National Governing Body Management Platform

Finding the right membership management, event registration and communications solution is critical for your national governing body. While Sport Engine offers tools that work well for large organizations, its complexity, high cost, rigid workflows and limited reporting capabilities have led some NGB’s to seek alternatives.

👉 Looking for explore a better management solution for you NGB? Book a demo with an Activity Messenger expert today

Written by Olivier Rousseau Olivier is a kids sports programs owner who has been operating for over a decade with locations in Montreal, Quebec city & Ottawa. He also helps Gymnastics Club, Swim Schools and Dance Studios streamline their operations. He is the co-founder of Activity Messenger an online registration platform for the sports & leisure industry.

Similar articles

Alternatives

Activity Messenger: Online Registration Software

2 August 2023

Learn more >
Alternatives

Best Canadian Software and Digital Tools (Made in Canada)

3 February 2025

Learn more >
Alternatives

5 Alternatives to Sportlomo: Complete Comparison

27 February 2025

Learn more >

Book a demo with an Activity Messenger expert

Subscribe for exclusive content

Receive News and Updates about our product