How to create a Program in BowlsLink

• Video guide
• Creating a competition
• Creating a Participation Type
• Creating a Signup
• Promotion of your Program
• Other Helpful guides

A program is a participation event in a modified format of bowls (i.e. Jack Attack, Night Owls, Corporate Bowls) for non-affiliated members over a period of four (4) or more weeks.

For a club to create a program in BowlsLink they should follow the following steps

1. Create a competition under which the participants will firstly enter then later view fixtures and results.
2. Create a Participation Type, this registers participants into your club’s database under a specific group relating to the program.
3. Create a Signup. Once created a Signup provides a Link or QR Code for participants to register for the program.
4. Promotion of your Program. Use the QR code and/or Link to advertise via your website and social media.

Video guide

▶ Watch the video: How to Create a Program v3

Creating a competition

Complete the following steps to create a competition for your Program

1. Login to BowlsLink as a club administrator. If you are not already a club administrator you can apply to be one here Administrator Request Form
2. Navigate to Competitions via the left-hand side menu. Select Add Competition from the top right corner. Choose the Quick option.
3. Complete the required fields which include Title, Format (Pairs or Triples are preferred), Type (Round Robin), Status (set initially as Active), Start and End Date plus Entry Fee (if applicable). Once entered select ADD COMPETITION

Note: If applying an entry fee your club must be registered for Online Payments

Congratulations you have now created a Competition for your program.

Creating a Participation Type

Complete the following steps to create a Participation Type for your program.

1. Prior to creating our Participation Type we must ensure we have an available Fee Package, even if we are not charging a fee for participants to register for the program. Select Finances and then Fees from the left-hand menu. If you wish to apply a Fee select Add Fee from top right of the screen then complete the required fields of Name, Description, Amount and Type. Once completed or if no fees are required select Add Fee Package. Apply a Package name (this would relate to your Participation Type) and description if required. Your Fee Package has now been created.

Note: If applying fees your club must be registered for Online Payments

• Navigate to Participation then Participation Types via the left-hand side menu. Select Add Type from the right-hand side of the screen. Complete the required fields as shown in the screen shots.

Important that the following are applied. Member selectable? Should be set to Yes.

The Fee Package should be the one that was created in step 1.

Participation Expiry can be Annual or for a prescribed set period, if using a set period you may wish to align this with your competition duration.

Type should be set as Program. Once all fields and completed finalise by selecting ADD.

Congratulations you have now created a Participation Type for your program.

Creating a Signup

Complete the following steps to create a Signup for your Program.

1. Navigate to Participation then Signups on the left-hand menu. On the right-hand of the screen select Add Signup.
   The signup Name should reflect the program you are running.
   Is Public should be ticked on – this will allow your program to also appear in the BowlsLink App.
   Description allows you to add more detail about your program including dates/times what to wear and other important information. Here is a good example

The Theme should be Social Bowls. The Participation/Membership selection will be the Participation Type you created in Step 2.

Enabled should be ticked on to allow for new enrolments.

Compliance Terms and Conditions information can be entered here, feel free to link off to your website for any venue code of conduct or patron policies.

Competition select the Competition you created in Step 1.

Once you have completed all these remember to select Submit to finalise your signup.

Congratulations you now created a Signup for your program.

Promotion of your Program

Once you have completed the BowlsLink setup you are now ready to promote your Program.

Navigate to Participation and Signups on the left hand menu to access the Manage Signups page.

The Action spanner on the right hand side will provide options to either adjust your signup or Download Poster(s) or a QR Code. The 6 letter code and link can also be used for further promotion.

Whilst the available Posters may be useful they are generic, your club may wish to do more by using online poster creation tools such as Canva for a more appealing promotion.

Alternatively you can also try to create an AI generated poster using available online programs (such as Chat GPT), here is an example with the information we used for the program description.

Other Helpful guides

The following links will also prove helpful if you require further support in running your competition once you have taken all your entries.

Creating a Competition – Checklist

Fixturing your Competition

Adding Results for your Competition

Withdrawing and Refunding Entries

Of course you can also always contacts your Club Support Manager for more information or assistance.

For more support please contact bowlslink@bowls.com.au