Stay Connected with Your Community Using OpenSports Channels

How to create a channel

OpenSports Channels are dedicated group chats created within the platform to keep players and organizers connected around a shared sport, location, or interest.

They’re perfect for:

  • Sharing updates about drop-ins, leagues, or tournaments

  • Coordinating with teammates or players in the same community

  • Getting quick answers from admins or regulars

  • Building a local sports community around your favorite activities

Think of Channels like a virtual club room—open 24/7 for chats, updates, and hype.

Why We Built Channels

Many organizations were juggling multiple WhatsApp threads, Facebook groups, and mass emails, making communication hard to manage and easy to miss. Channels keep everything in one place, right within the platform your players are already using!

If you don’t see the option to create Channels in your group settings, send us an email at support@opensports.net and we’ll enable it for you within 24–48 hours.

Admins: Where to locate Channels

  1. Locate Group Profile > Dashboard

  2. Click Settings, located on left hand side of screen

  3. Select Channels

How to create a Channel

  1. Enter a Name and Description for the channel, and upload a custom channel image.

  2. Visibility:

    • Public: Any group member can discover this channel

    • Private: Only group admins and others they add can discover this channel.

  3. Channel Guidelines

    • Create custom guidelines for users to follow when using the channel.

    • As users join the channel, they will be shown a prompt with channel guidelines, and must click “Agree and Join”. Guidelines are in markdown format.

  4. Messaging Permissions

  • Select whether Channel Members can either:

    • View Messages: Only view messages on the channel chat

    • View & Send Messages: View and send messages on the channel chat

    • None: Cannot view or send messages on the channel chat

  1. Member Rule

If a member rule is set for a public channel, then only group members satisfying that rule can join. Member rules are not applicable for private channels.

Ex: Select a member rule that you've created such as for advanced players, specific genders, or age ranges.

  1. Send Message Member Rule

Select a member rule to restrict which members can send messages in the channel chat.

Ex: A channel chat designed to help captains find subs. Set a member rule that allows only captains to post availability. Players can tap on a captain’s profile picture to send a direct message.

  1. Notifications

When a member joins or is added to a channel, they will have these notification preferences by default. For public channels, it is advised to set this to None.

  • All Messages: Members by default receive notifications for all messages.

  • None: Members by default do not receive notifications.

  1. Once all information has been reviewed click Create.

Spread the Word: How to Get Players Into Your Channel Chat

Once a channel is created, here are ways to grow engagement:

  • Share the Channel Link: Copy the channel’s link from the settings menu and post it in announcements, emails, or other channels

    Note: Members can only access the channel through the app.

  • Let Members Know Where to Find Channels: Copy and paste this message onto your current groupchat!

    “Join the conversation! We’ve set up a new group chat on OpenSports—just tap the Messaging tab in the app and select Channels at the top to jump in!”

Admins: How to add/remove members from the channel

  1. Locate Group Profile > Dashboard

  2. Select Channel Chats on left hand side

  3. Click on specific channel and the three dots at the top

  4. A list of members within the channel will be displayed, click the three dots on the right to Remove Member

  5. Add Members by searching their name up on the search bare or send Channel URL

Admins: How to Edit Pre-Existing Channels

  1. Locate Group Profile > Dashboard

  2. Select Settings on left side of screen

  3. Click Channels and on the three dots (...) on the far right

  4. Select Update to make edits

Admins: View Channel Chats

  1. Locate Group Profile > Dashboard

  2. Select Channel Chats

From here you will be able to view all existing channels.

Happy chatting everyone!

Questions? Send them our way: support@opensports.net