A First Look at the New GotSport Software
Harnessing the power of technology since 1996, GotSoccer is launching their new, best of breed sports management software and empowering clients. Known for innovating the youth soccer industry, GotSoccer has nearly 1.4 million players registered on its platform.
Millions of American kids play youth soccer every year and whether you are a soccer player, parent, team coach, club administrator or State Association, you have likely heard of GotSoccer. Unlike other technology companies, GotSoccer has always been connected directly to the soccer communities’ coaches and players. As a provider of sports technology, GotSoccer has a huge footprint in the
In fact, 1.38 million players are registered in GotSoccer.
Last year, over 250,000 teams applied to compete in tournaments in GotSoccer — that reflects 2,258 tournaments nationwide using the software.
Since 1996, GotSoccer has harnessed the power of technology for the soccer community. Gavin Owen-Thomas, CEO and founder of GotSoccer has consistently pioneered and innovated, and now, with the release of GotSport,— the brand new suite of cloud-based registration management and sports administration solutions rolling out this week, his company has once again raised the level of ease and access to technology for the soccer world.
GotSoccer’s new cloud-based portfolio includes GotSport,
GotPro , GotAnalytics, and the soon to launch GotTicketing offerings.
GotSoccer’s efforts to successfully design best-in-class technology software has earned the company headquartered in Florida a tremendous market share in the youth sports landscape. GotSoccer reports 27 US Youth Soccer States
In the technology world of constant changes, GotSoccer has been developing tools to help get players on the field since 1996
Today, GotSoccer’s professional platform,
From using historical data to maximize stadium attendance and TV viewership by identifying the best dates and times for specific games,
With a modern and realistic approach, GotSoccer is pioneering the future of registration software.
Diane Scavuzzo Interviews Gavin Owen-Thomas, CEO of GotSoccer
Diane Scavuzzo: What inspired you to create new software?
Gavin Owen-Thomas: I think one of the things we enjoy the most is solving problems.
As we’ve taken on more clients over the years, we’ve learned much about their unique challenges. We’ve adapted our software wherever possible to help streamline what they do, and improve the end result.
Each time we do this, there are always certain changes that aren’t possible to implement seamlessly — and would have too much impact on other users. These elements, among many others, have all gone into the blueprint for developing the new software.
We’ve been planning this new system architecture for a long time — and all of the lessons learned were incorporated.
Diane Scavuzzo: What is your goal for your company?
Gavin Owen-Thomas: It’s really an exciting time for us. We are releasing our new GotSport registration platform just after Labor Day and the timing couldn’t be more perfect.
The WAGS tournament in Maryland and the Bethesda Thanksgiving event will both be using our new GotSoccer tournament software, as will the 2020 Dallas Cup next spring.
Also new is our League Software
Our GotSoccer legacy tournament system has set the bar for tournament software for almost 18 years — and it is still the most powerful on the market, but our new tournament software takes performance to a completely different level.
We took the optimization and AI (artificial intelligence) in
Diane Scavuzzo: GotSoccer created all new platforms for all of its software?
Gavin Owen-Thomas: Yes, and in December, we will release GotTicketing designed to compete at the highest level of ticketing sales and fan engagement. We’ve already got agreements with several large stadiums and leagues.
We’ve several other new projects and development on the drawing board, but that’s enough to tell you about now.
Diane Scavuzzo: What is wrong with trying to take an existing piece of software and build new features? Why is it better to start from scratch?
Gavin Owen-Thomas: Years ago, I used to coach a team in Maryland and one of my players came from a family of 10 brothers and sisters. Their house was like a maze — their parents had added rooms on willy nilly as the children got older in what looked like complete ignorance of local building codes.
I had to give my player a lift to practice and I walked through one brother’s room, through a bathroom, into my player’s bedroom. Obviously, if his parents had known when they built their house that 10 children would be living in it, they would have designed it very differently.
This is a great analogy for registration software and explains why so many platforms fail to work properly. It is why companies have failed.
The foundation of a database has to be perfect and it’s very hard to change it once it is populated.
Diane Scavuzzo: You sequestered developers and kept the development of your new software totally quiet until it was ready for testing?
Gavin Owen-Thomas: Yes, we set up a new development team and very few of our own staff knew of its existence. Our CTO, Aaron Wilmoth worked with the development team daily and built a roadmap. It has taken three years, and the results are magnificent.
Diane Scavuzzo: What do you like best about the new platform/ software?
Gavin Owen-Thomas: It’s so fluid and flexible.
The software can be almost anything you want it to be. It can handle any sport, any league, any club, any tournament and any size sports organization — in any language. You can change the colors, the background, even create a form on the fly.
Clients can do almost anything — we can’t wait to show everyone.
Diane Scavuzzo: You had mentioned that you do not believe in creating an endless series of unique customizations for individual clients — can you explain your strategy and how that has been received/accepted in the marketplace?
Gavin Owen-Thomas: Our legacy GotSoccer software was designed 18 years ago.
We customized versions for each of our clients, twisting and turning our database with add-ons that were good for only one or two clients until the system got so convoluted, it was getting hard to manage.
I knew we needed a better solution and our new GotSport platform is the solution.
We have empowered our clients and given them the freedom to easily design and build their own options. We are always here to help but clients do not want to be tethered to a provider and have to wait for custom solutions to meet their needs today. I believe we have solved this problem.
It is so flexible, so workable — we do not have to provide unique customizations.
Diane Scavuzzo: How do you believe your new product compares to other platforms?
Gavin Owen-Thomas: It is the newest, freshest, best platform and it draws from the deepest well of experience.
Diane Scavuzzo: Does the GotSport / Got Soccer software charge extra transaction fees for players registering?
Gavin Owen-Thomas: We don’t add on transaction fees or bank charges for players registering. We always try and avoid adding any extra charges for the public.
Diane Scavuzzo: When did you first start expanding your business overseas and what is your strategy?
Gavin Owen-Thomas: Four years ago, some large money entered the youth soccer software business — venture capitalists and three very large corporations gobbled up about 50 smaller software companies and it didn’t take long before we looked around to see we were one of the last independent companies left standing.
My strategy has been simple. GotSoccer has never sought venture capital or investors.
We built our own software, and have never purchased another company. The company is wholly owned and has no debt.
Market growth in the US looked tough with a lot of new players fighting over the same pot of available money, so we looked abroad at the professional market.
We now schedule and work with approximately 40 of the major sports leagues globally.
Diane Scavuzzo: Did you ever think of selling?
Gavin Owen-Thomas: The venture capitalists and investors have come knocking, as have the big corporations but no, we’re a steady ship that can be relied upon in stormy waters and charter our own path.
GotPro’s International Professional Clients include: Ligue 1 & 2 in France, Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol in Brazil (Seria A- Serie D), CONMEBOL, Major League Baseball, Chinese Basketball Association, Super Netball Australia, National Basketball League in Australia, Major League Soccer (MLS), USL (2nd division in USA), Scottish Premier League (4 divisions), Welsh Premier League, Ekstraklasa in Poland, Major League Lacrosse, Major League Rugby, Cricket Australia A-League and W-League in Australia, UNAFUT in Costa Rica, Thai League (4 divisions), Kenyan Premier League, Indian Super League, KOVO (Korean Volleyball League), Saudi Professional League, Greek Superliga, Botswana Premier League, Superliga Argentina, Canadian Premier League, and South African
