Sportsblock: A game changer for sports club management

Co-founder Nick Hugh’s personal connection to football and his experience with the challenges of sports club management drove him to enter the sportstech sector and make a positive impact through his startup SportsBlock.

Introducing SportsBlock

Nick’s journey with SportsBlock began when he identified the need to address the administrative burden placed on volunteers within sports clubs.

Sports clubs can range from small organisations with a hundred members, to large ones with up to two thousand members. Volunteers are responsible for handling all administrative tasks, and sadly, this often becomes overwhelming and can lead to burnout.

SportsBlock's solution focuses on creating a centralised platform where all aspects of sports club management can be easily accessed and managed from a single page - built for club committee members, as well as players, parents, managers and coaches.

Creating impact

SportsBlock's innovation has already had a profound impact on the sports community. By giving time back to volunteers and making sports club management more efficient, the platform contributes to the sustainability of community sports. The reduced administrative burden allows volunteers to enjoy their roles and keeps them engaged in the sports they love. This, in turn, leads to healthier and more vibrant sports communities.

Seizing the opportunity

“Sports technology is a relatively new sector and there's a lot of people who are chasing solutions that are going to make a massive difference in people's lives,” said Nicholas. “There’s a big focus on understanding how to make sports organisations more efficient or productive, or from an athlete's perspective, how to maximise the output they can have. It’s a very exciting time to be innovating.”

The founder journey

Nick emphasises the importance of being part of a community like Stone and Chalk where innovation is encouraged and like-minded individuals work together to solve problems.

“It can be a bit of a lonely journey sometimes as a founder, and you can certainly get tunnel vision and keep your head down because you’re trying to fix different issues or address problems. It's really important to pop your head up and Stone & Chalk encourages you to do this - whether it be through conversations with other founders or advisors, or by attending an event. The team makes sure you resurface to look at the big picture.”

Getting out of his comfort zone

“To be honest, when we visited Stone & Chalk for the first time, I was reluctant to come here. I thought we were comfortable doing what we were doing. But the whole point of being here is not about comfort. It's about going outside my comfort zone.

“I liked the fact that Stone & Chalk was open 24/7. The team encourages you to be here as much as possible to work on your business and the problem you're trying to solve. Being surrounded by other founders who share the same mindset and goals as me also ensures I maintain a broad perspective and stay focused.”

Stone and Chalk isn't for everyone, but it is for people who are pushing the limits

SportsBlock's journey in the sports tech industry demonstrates the transformative power of innovation in addressing real-world problems.

If you’d like to join Stone & Chalk’s community of game changers and big-picture thinkers, visit our website to learn more.