Your First Season on Hurdle

You've decided to try Hurdle for your youth sports organization. Great choice. This guide walks you through everything you need to do before, during, and after launching registration — with no technical experience required.

Most organizations go from sign-up to accepting registrations in under an hour. Here's what you'll need to have ready:

Don't worry if you don't have everything figured out. You can always update details later — the goal is to get started.

Step 1: Create Your Organization

Here's where Hurdle is different: instead of filling out forms, just enter your website URL. Our AI scans your site and automatically imports your organization details — name, sport, location, logo, and even your existing programs.

What AI Imports Automatically

• Organization name and logo: Pulled directly from your website
• Sport and location: Detected from your site content
• Existing programs: AI finds seasons, camps, and clinics mentioned on your site
• Contact info: Email and phone imported for your admin profile

No website? No problem. You can enter details manually — it only takes 2 minutes. But if you do have a site, the AI import saves you time and ensures accuracy.

Once created, you'll get a public organization page (like hurdle.cc/your-org-name) that families can visit to see all your programs.

Step 2: Set Up Your First Program

A "program" in Hurdle is anything families register for: a season, a camp, a clinic, a tournament. Create one for each thing you're running.

Program Settings

• Program name: "Spring Rec League 2026" or "Summer Skills Camp" — whatever families will recognize
• Age groups: U8, U10, U12, etc. — you can create separate programs per age or combine them
• Capacity: Set a max number of registrations (optional, but helpful for planning)
• Season dates: When does the program run? Helps with communication timing

I used to create a separate Google Form for every age group. Now I have one program with age group selection built in. Cut my setup time from hours to minutes.

— Club director, Texas

Step 3: Configure Registration

Now set up how families will register and pay. This is where Hurdle really shines — everything is handled automatically.

Pricing Options

• Early bird pricing: Set a discounted rate that expires on a specific date
• Payment plans: Let families split into 2-4 monthly payments (same total, no extra fees)
• Sibling discounts: Automatically apply when families register multiple children
• Promo codes: Create codes for specific groups (returning families, referrals, sponsors)

Registration Form

Hurdle creates a registration form automatically with the essentials: player name, parent contact info, emergency contact. You can add custom questions if needed:

• •T-shirt size
• •Medical conditions / allergies
• •Previous experience level
• •Volunteer interest

Payment Setup

Connect your bank account to receive payments directly. Hurdle uses Stripe for secure processing — funds typically arrive in your account within 2-3 business days. You can start registration before connecting payments if you want to test the flow first.

Step 4: Go Live

Once your program is set up, you're ready to open registration. Click "Go Live" and your program is instantly available to families.

Spread the Word

• Email announcement: Hurdle can automatically email families from last season (if you import them)
• Share link: Copy your registration link to post on social media, your website, or send in group chats
• QR code: Print it for flyers or post at fields

Step 5: After Launch

Once registration is live, Hurdle handles the heavy lifting. Here's what happens automatically:

• Confirmation emails: Families get instant confirmation when they register
• Payment reminders: For payment plans, reminders go out automatically before each installment
• Real-time dashboard: See registrations, revenue, and payment status at a glance
• Roster updates: Your roster builds automatically as families register

Monitor Progress

Check your dashboard regularly during registration. Watch for:

• •Registration pace: Is it slower than expected? Maybe send a reminder email.
• •Age group balance: One age group filling fast? Consider adding capacity or a waitlist.
• •Payment issues: Any failed payments? Hurdle notifies you so you can follow up.

The first season I used Hurdle, I kept checking the dashboard every hour. It was addictive watching registrations come in without lifting a finger.

— League admin, Florida

Ask AI: Your Setup Assistant

Every organization is different. Maybe you run tryouts before registration. Maybe you need custom payment schedules around fundraisers. Maybe you're not sure why registrations slowed down. That's where Ask AI comes in.

Available throughout Hurdle, Ask AI is like having an expert assistant who knows your data, understands youth sports operations, and can guide you through any situation.

What You Can Ask

• Setup guidance: "How do I create a waitlist?" or "Can I offer different prices for residents vs non-residents?"
• Edge cases: "How do I handle a family that wants to split payment across two credit cards?"
• Analytics insights: "Why are registrations slower than last year?" or "Which age group fills up fastest?"
• Best practices: "When should I send reminder emails?" or "What discount percentage works best for early bird?"
• Troubleshooting: "A parent says they can't complete payment — what should I check?"

I was stuck trying to figure out how to handle a travel team with tryouts. Asked the AI and it walked me through the exact steps. Saved me an hour of Googling.

— Club administrator, Virginia

Week One Checklist

Here's everything you should accomplish in your first week on Hurdle: