Project: Product Owner, Designer, Full-stack Developer
Years: 2018–2020
Introduction
Volunteer-run youth sports clubs in small communities are vital for engaging kids and families in healthy, active lifestyles. However, these organizations often face administrative burdens, limited technical resources, and unreliable or overly complex management tools that threaten their sustainability and growth.
BasinPLAYS was created as a grant-funded, digital hub tailored specifically to meet the unique needs of these clubs in the Kootenay region. The goal: simplify membership management, event organization, and communication so that volunteers could focus on coaching and community-building instead of paperwork.
The Challenge
Local volunteer sports coordinators struggled with:
- Complex or costly existing club management platforms.
- Multi-step membership and payment processes confusing for parents and volunteers.
- Disconnected event calendars and team communication tools.
- Limited capacity to train non-technical users quickly.
These challenges created barriers to participation, risked volunteer burnout, and undermined club growth.
The Solution
I led the design and development of BasinPLAYS with a focus on simplicity, reliability, and clear value for volunteer leaders and families.
Key Features
- Drupal-powered backend: Provided secure, scalable infrastructure with built-in extensibility.
- Membership and payments: Integrated Stripe for easy online payments, with a streamlined workflow for parents and administrators.
- Event calendars and messaging: Simple interfaces for scheduling and communicating across teams and families.
- User-centric design: Direct input from volunteers and parents shaped onboarding and daily use features that required minimal training.
The Approach
The project was shaped by continuous collaboration with local organizations—with product decisions driven by:
- Avoiding unnecessary complexity to reduce frustrations.
- Designing for users new to digital tools, ensuring rapid onboarding.
- Iterative development and regular user feedback to refine features.
- Focus on sustainability beyond the grant period to maximize long-term impact.
Impact
- BasinPLAYS effectively simplified the management of dozens of youth sports clubs in the region.
- Membership signup and event organization processes became more approachable for families.
- Volunteer coordinators experienced reduced administrative burdens, allowing more focus on coaching and community engagement.
- The platform supported greater youth participation and healthier community sports culture.
Reflections & Lessons Learned
Projects succeed when designed with local users rather than for them. BasinPLAYS demonstrates how digital tools can strengthen grassroots organizations by prioritizing clear, manageable workflows that respect volunteer limitations. Sustainable civic tech rewards not just innovation, but ongoing responsiveness to real needs.
