Timeline & My Role
In 10 Weeks, I Led the end-to-end redesign of GameChanger’s RSVP experience, from research and iteration to testing and final delivery.
Team
Redesigning RSVPs to Bridge Parent–Coach Communication and Streamlining Gameday Prep
RSVPs in GameChanger were frustratingly binary and often left coaches guessing and parents improvising with side messages. I led the redesign to create a flexible, context-aware RSVP flow that reflects real-life attendance situations—like arriving late, partial participation, or transportation needs. Through user research, competitive analysis, iterative design, and usability testing,
Sports-Tech
B2C
Product Strategy
by DICK'S Sporting Goods
Redesigning RSVPs to Bridge Parent–Coach Communication and Streamlining Gameday Prep
Sports-Tech
B2C
Product Strategy
End-to-End Design Process
My Role
I led problem validation and identification by analyzing survey and interview data (survey crafted by a UX researcher) and translating insights into actionable design directions. I also drove design iterations and played a key role in trade-off decisions to balance user needs, technical constraints, and business goals.
Timeline
10 weeks, from Jun 2025 to Aug 2025
Team
Tools Used
Impact
Impact
Measured after two months of the initial MVP launch
Measured after two months of the initial MVP launch
%
Increased Active Teams
%
Increased Active Teams
%
Better Pre-Game Planning
%
Better Pre-Game Planning
%
Decreased CX Queries for RSVP
%
Decreased CX Queries for RSVP
Product Overview ⚡️
Product Overview ⚡️
GameChanger’s vision is to be the ultimate ‘Home of Youth Sports’—bringing coaches, families, and young athletes together with powerful tools for live streaming, scorekeeping, and team management. Whether on the field or from afar, GC makes it easy to stay connected, celebrate every play, and keep the spirit of the game alive. It is used by 10+ million users.
GameChanger’s vision is to be the ultimate ‘Home of Youth Sports’—bringing coaches, families, and young athletes together with powerful tools for live streaming, scorekeeping, and team management. Whether on the field or from afar, GC makes it easy to stay connected, celebrate every play, and keep the spirit of the game alive. It is used by 10+ million users.
The problem 👀
The problem 👀
13.85% for practices & 11.15% for games, making it difficult for coaches and staff to plan for game day.
Context Setting
Context Setting
Seamless communication is at the heart of the GameChanger app. To truly become the ‘Home of Youth Sports,’ it’s essential that every game-day conversation happens right here on GC.
Seamless communication is at the heart of the GameChanger app. To truly become the ‘Home of Youth Sports,’ it’s essential that every game-day conversation happens right here on GC.
Currently there are two distinct communication channels serving unique needs-
Currently there are two distinct communication channels serving unique needs-
💬
💬
Messaging
Messaging
Enables ongoing interaction among team members, allowing them to share updates, photos, and videos in real time
Enables ongoing interaction among team members, allowing them to share updates, photos, and videos in real time
🗓️
🗓️
RSVP
RSVP
Designed primarily for coaches and staff to coordinate logistics for events and games
Designed primarily for coaches and staff to coordinate logistics for events and games
Together, these tools streamline both day-to-day communication & event/game-day planning.
Together, these tools streamline both day-to-day communication & event/game-day planning.
Why we chose to focus on RSVP?
While the messaging feature also had some issues, conversations with the CX team revealed that the majority of support tickets (500+) were tied to the RSVP feature. This problem impacted GameChanger’s most critical users—coaches.
The Business team highlighted since coaches pay for and rely on team management features, they are not only among the most loyal users but also highly influential. When a coach adopts GC, the entire team follows, making their experience central to the app’s success.
Teams that used RSVP in the past 90 days have 7% more confirmed members*, suggesting RSVP helps grow team communities
*Confirmed members are the users who are directly associated with players through primary relationships or are the players themselves; fans/followers of the team are not included
Staff members (typically head coaches, assistant coaches, and team managers)
Players on the team
Family members of players
Why we chose to focus on RSVP?
While the messaging feature also had some issues, conversations with the CX team revealed that the majority of support tickets (500+) were tied to the RSVP feature. This problem impacted GameChanger’s most critical users—coaches.
The Business team highlighted since coaches pay for and rely on team management features, they are not only among the most loyal users but also highly influential. When a coach adopts GC, the entire team follows, making their experience central to the app’s success.
Teams that used RSVP in the past 90 days have 7% more confirmed members*, suggesting RSVP helps grow team communities
*Confirmed members are the users who are directly associated with players through primary relationships or are the players themselves; fans/followers of the team are not included
Staff members (typically head coaches, assistant coaches, and team managers)
Players on the team
Family members of players
Understanding Different Types of Users & Their Goals
While the messaging feature also had some issues, conversations with the CX team revealed that the majority of support tickets (500+) were tied to the RSVP feature. This problem impacted GameChanger’s most critical users—coaches.
The Business team highlighted since coaches pay for and rely on team management features, they are not only among the most loyal users but also highly influential. When a coach adopts GC, the entire team follows, making their experience central to the app’s success.
Teams that used RSVP in the past 90 days have 7% more confirmed members*, suggesting RSVP helps grow team communities
*Confirmed members are the users who are directly associated with players through primary relationships or are the players themselves; fans/followers of the team are not included
Staff members (typically head coaches, assistant coaches, and team managers)
Players on the team
Family members of players
Understanding Different Types of Users & Their Goals
While the messaging feature also had some issues, conversations with the CX team revealed that the majority of support tickets (500+) were tied to the RSVP feature. This problem impacted GameChanger’s most critical users—coaches.
The Business team highlighted since coaches pay for and rely on team management features, they are not only among the most loyal users but also highly influential. When a coach adopts GC, the entire team follows, making their experience central to the app’s success.
Teams that used RSVP in the past 90 days have 7% more confirmed members*, suggesting RSVP helps grow team communities
*Confirmed members are the users who are directly associated with players through primary relationships or are the players themselves; fans/followers of the team are not included
Staff members (typically head coaches, assistant coaches, and team managers)
Players on the team
Family members of players
So why are parents not RSVPing? 😩
So why are parents not RSVPing? 😩
To analyze the problem and understand the loop holes in the current process, we circulated a survey & conducted 12 user interviews
To analyze the problem and understand the loop holes in the current process, we circulated a survey & conducted 12 user interviews
81% team staff (coach, assistant coach, team manager)
69% family of players
60% scorekeepers
41% video streamers
81% team staff (coach, assistant coach, team manager)
69% family of players
60% scorekeepers
41% video streamers
😩
😩
Most of them find it tedious and wants to see all RSVP requests in one place
💬
💬
Parents feel a simple yes/no isn’t enough, so they decide to text the coach closer to game day, but often forget.
📆
📆
Most users RSVP about one week before an event or when the event is posted (usually in the beginning of a season)
⛳️
⛳️
Player RSVPs are the most important, followed by staff and then parent's/family members
🆚
🆚
Games are the highest priority events for RSVPs, followed by practices.
📆
Most users RSVP about 1 week before an event or when the event is posted (usually in the beginning of a season)
After running the survey, we recruited 12 respondents who had indicated interest in sharing more. These participants were invited to interviews, where we offered incentives to encourage participation and thank them for their time. This allowed us to dive deeper into their experiences and perspectives.
After running the survey, we recruited 12 respondents who had indicated interest in sharing more. These participants were invited to interviews, where we offered incentives to encourage participation and thank them for their time. This allowed us to dive deeper into their experiences and perspectives.
😕
😕
"Sometimes I want to RSVP yes, but I’ll be 45 mins late — with no option for that, I just leave it blank."
🤷🏻♀️
🤷🏻♀️
"As one of the scorekeeper, my RSVP matters, so a “maybe” option would help, as I’m not always sure about my schedule."
📑
📑
"Right?! The RSVP feature is buried under so many layers—RSVPing for multiple events feels really tedious."
Categorizing Problems
Categorizing Problems
After talking to real users and digging into their feedback, I realized all their problems basically boiled down to two buckets -
👀 I focused primarily on the first challenge, since the second challenge was tackled by another designer before I came on board, my energy went into refining and expanding the RSVP experience
👀 I focused primarily on the first challenge, since the second challenge was tackled by another designer before I came on board, my energy went into refining and expanding the RSVP experience
Scanning the Landscape 🧐
Scanning the Landscape 🧐
Direct Competitors
Direct Competitors
Indirect Competitors
Indirect Competitors
Hard to update RSVP once submitted, so need to design RSVP to be editable before the event
Hard to update RSVP once submitted, so need to design RSVP to be editable before the event
Users expect familiar patterns from indirect competitors (Evite, Google Calendar), so keeping Yes/No/Maybe as a base layer but expanding it with sports-specific context
Users expect familiar patterns from indirect competitors (Evite, Google Calendar), so keeping Yes/No/Maybe as a base layer but expanding it with sports-specific context
TeamSnap & SportsEngine acknowledge that attendance isn’t always black and white. GameChanger’s binary-only approach leaves parents improvising with side messages and coaches piecing it together manually.
TeamSnap & SportsEngine acknowledge that attendance isn’t always black and white. GameChanger’s binary-only approach leaves parents improvising with side messages and coaches piecing it together manually.
Current design…
Current design…
…and how you reach there
…and how you reach there
Here’s the current flow to get to the event details page where RSVP lives.
Now imagine doing this 8 times a week (the average number of events) — only to realize the page doesn’t even support the real-life situations you’re dealing with.
Here’s the current flow to get to the event details page where RSVP lives.
Now imagine doing this 8 times a week (the average number of events) — only to realize the page doesn’t even support the real-life situations you’re dealing with.
Iteration mode on…
Iteration mode on…
STAGE 1
STAGE 1
STAGE 2
STAGE 2
STAGE 3
STAGE 3
Asynchronous Usability Testing (Prototype Link)
Asynchronous Usability Testing (Prototype Link)
To validate my designs, I shared interactive prototypes with 10 real GameChanger users- 5 both parents (also staff members) and 5 coaches. I gave them a document with written tasks
To validate my designs, I shared interactive prototypes with 10 real GameChanger users- 5 both parents (also staff members) and 5 coaches. I gave them a document with written tasks
I created a screener and a script and then by observing how they navigated the RSVP flow, I gathered direct feedback on what felt intuitive, where they hesitated, and what features they valued most.
I created a screener and a script and then by observing how they navigated the RSVP flow, I gathered direct feedback on what felt intuitive, where they hesitated, and what features they valued most.
REFINEMENT 1
REFINEMENT 1
Usability testing revealed that for coaches and staff, the Set Starting Lineup CTA was especially critical in the days leading up to a game. In my initial design, this action was buried inside the RSVP tab, making it harder to access quickly.
Based on feedback, I elevated it to the event header, visible one week before game day. To keep it focused, the CTA only shows the number of players who RSVP’d ‘Yes,’ rather than being bundled with the full RSVP summary.
Usability testing revealed that for coaches and staff, the Set Starting Lineup CTA was especially critical in the days leading up to a game. In my initial design, this action was buried inside the RSVP tab, making it harder to access quickly.
Based on feedback, I elevated it to the event header, visible one week before game day. To keep it focused, the CTA only shows the number of players who RSVP’d ‘Yes,’ rather than being bundled with the full RSVP summary.
REFINEMENT 2
REFINEMENT 2
Another small but impactful refinement came from testing the RSVP edit flow.
In the iOS bottom sheet, I had used the default Cancel label to close the sheet.
But users often misread it as Cancel the event instead of dismiss. To avoid confusion, I updated the label to a clearer option, reducing the risk of misinterpretation.
Another small but impactful refinement came from testing the RSVP edit flow. In the iOS bottom sheet, I had used the default Cancel label to close the sheet.
But users often misread it as Cancel the event instead of dismiss. To avoid confusion, I updated the label to a clearer option, reducing the risk of misinterpretation.
Final Design
Final Design
The updated flow makes RSVP quick, flexible, and intuitive for parents. No more workarounds or side messages.
For coaches, the redesign surfaces the most important actions (like setting the starting lineup) right when they need them, streamlining game-day prep.
Overall, the impact was a smoother, less frustrating experience for both sides of the team
The updated flow makes RSVP quick, flexible, and intuitive for parents. No more workarounds or side messages.
For coaches, the redesign surfaces the most important actions (like setting the starting lineup) right when they need them, streamlining game-day prep.
Overall, the impact was a smoother, less frustrating experience for both sides of the team
Also designed the experience to adapt across different phases of the game like pre-game, live game, and post-game.
By surfacing the most important features at the right time, the interface stays context-aware and keeps parents and coaches focused on what matters most in each moment
Also designed the experience to adapt across different phases of the game like pre-game, live game, and post-game.
By surfacing the most important features at the right time, the interface stays context-aware and keeps parents and coaches focused on what matters most in each moment
Figuring Out Constaints
While the messaging feature also had some issues, conversations with the CX team revealed that the majority of support tickets (500+) were tied to the RSVP feature. This problem impacted GameChanger’s most critical users—coaches.
The Business team highlighted since coaches pay for and rely on team management features, they are not only among the most loyal users but also highly influential. When a coach adopts GC, the entire team follows, making their experience central to the app’s success.
Teams that used RSVP in the past 90 days have 7% more confirmed members*, suggesting RSVP helps grow team communities
*Confirmed members are the users who are directly associated with players through primary relationships or are the players themselves; fans/followers of the team are not included
Staff members (typically head coaches, assistant coaches, and team managers)
Players on the team
Family members of players
Figuring Out Constaints
While the messaging feature also had some issues, conversations with the CX team revealed that the majority of support tickets (500+) were tied to the RSVP feature. This problem impacted GameChanger’s most critical users—coaches.
The Business team highlighted since coaches pay for and rely on team management features, they are not only among the most loyal users but also highly influential. When a coach adopts GC, the entire team follows, making their experience central to the app’s success.
Teams that used RSVP in the past 90 days have 7% more confirmed members*, suggesting RSVP helps grow team communities
*Confirmed members are the users who are directly associated with players through primary relationships or are the players themselves; fans/followers of the team are not included
Staff members (typically head coaches, assistant coaches, and team managers)
Players on the team
Family members of players
Figuring Out Constaints
While the messaging feature also had some issues, conversations with the CX team revealed that the majority of support tickets (500+) were tied to the RSVP feature. This problem impacted GameChanger’s most critical users—coaches.
The Business team highlighted since coaches pay for and rely on team management features, they are not only among the most loyal users but also highly influential. When a coach adopts GC, the entire team follows, making their experience central to the app’s success.
Teams that used RSVP in the past 90 days have 7% more confirmed members*, suggesting RSVP helps grow team communities
*Confirmed members are the users who are directly associated with players through primary relationships or are the players themselves; fans/followers of the team are not included
Staff members (typically head coaches, assistant coaches, and team managers)
Players on the team
Family members of players
Figuring Out Constaints
While the messaging feature also had some issues, conversations with the CX team revealed that the majority of support tickets (500+) were tied to the RSVP feature. This problem impacted GameChanger’s most critical users—coaches.
The Business team highlighted since coaches pay for and rely on team management features, they are not only among the most loyal users but also highly influential. When a coach adopts GC, the entire team follows, making their experience central to the app’s success.
Teams that used RSVP in the past 90 days have 7% more confirmed members*, suggesting RSVP helps grow team communities
*Confirmed members are the users who are directly associated with players through primary relationships or are the players themselves; fans/followers of the team are not included
Staff members (typically head coaches, assistant coaches, and team managers)
Players on the team
Family members of players
Tradeoffs- Prioritizing and Shipping What Matters First
Tradeoffs- Prioritizing and Shipping What Matters First
After sharing the final design with the broader team (managers and developers included) we uncovered two important realities.
From the development side, bandwidth was limited, which meant the redesign needed to be broken into smaller chunks. The plan was to prioritize the most essential features first and gradually roll out the full experience
From the management perspective, there was also a focus on impact: the Add a Note feature, in particular, needed to prove its value before investing further resources into building a fully polished version. This ensured that what we shipped not only fit within development capacity but also aligned with business priorities
After sharing the final design with the broader team (managers and developers included) we uncovered two important realities.
From the development side, bandwidth was limited, which meant the redesign needed to be broken into smaller chunks. The plan was to prioritize the most essential features first and gradually roll out the full experience
From the management perspective, there was also a focus on impact: the Add a Note feature, in particular, needed to prove its value before investing further resources into building a fully polished version. This ensured that what we shipped not only fit within development capacity but also aligned with business priorities
Learnings & Takeaways
Learnings & Takeaways
Context matters. Designing features around game phases (pre, live, post) helped surface the right actions at the right time, reducing clutter and boosting usability.
Context matters. Designing features around game phases (pre, live, post) helped surface the right actions at the right time, reducing clutter and boosting usability.
Small details = big impact. Even a microcopy change—like replacing “Cancel” with “Close”—can prevent confusion and improve confidence.
Small details = big impact. Even a microcopy change—like replacing “Cancel” with “Close”—can prevent confusion and improve confidence.
Collaboration is crucial. Working with managers and developers taught me the importance of balancing design ambition with development reality, and the value of phased delivery.
Collaboration is crucial. Working with managers and developers taught me the importance of balancing design ambition with development reality, and the value of phased delivery.
Guiding Feedback in Design Critiques- Always tell what kind of feedback you are looking for in the design critique session to get very specific feedback which will be helpful in your process.
Guiding Feedback in Design Critiques- Always tell what kind of feedback you are looking for in the design critique session to get very specific feedback which will be helpful in your process.
Team Kudos
Team Kudos
💚
💚
And that's a wrap….
And that's a wrap….