You have the ability send text messages to your players from Tournament Desk. This will be helpful for communicating any changes and updates to your players quickly.
To send an SMS from Tournament Desk using either the Players tab or Schedules tab, please follow the steps below.
How to Send SMS from the Participants Tab
How to Send SMS from the Schedules Tab
How to Send SMS Messages via the Participants Tab
- Click Launch Tournament Desk in the Tournament Module.
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Go to Participants Tab in Tournament Desk and select the players that you want to send the message to.
- You can filter by event, status, gender or select individual players from the list using the search box. The draw status is useful because you can choose to only 'selected' players for example. Or you may want to SMS all 'alternates'.
To send to all players in the list after you have used the filters you wish, you will tick the top box.
- Select Send SMS in the blue box.
- Verify the recipients listed to ensure the message goes to the correct players. You can remove players by click the X
- Type your message to the players into the text box provided at the bottom.
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Click Send SMS
- Please note this text message comes from a USTA phone number, not your phone number.
- Players cannot respond to these text messages.
How to Send SMS Message via the Schedules Tab
Sending SMS messages via the Schedules tab is useful, as you can use it to inform players what court they are on, or you can send it to all players in the next match.
Note: to filter by draw status - i.e. selected or alternates, use the Participants tab. From the schedule tab it will be sent to all players in the event.
- Click Launch Tournament Desk in the Tournament Module.
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On the Schedules tab click the 3 dots under actions next to the player's name you would like to message.
- Alternatively, check the box to a player's name to select multiple players.
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You can also automatically send message to players as you assign the courts in the schedules tab, to do this slide the Auto send SMS toggle to blue.
- If Auto Send SMS is turned on, when a court is assigned successfully, players in this match who have opted in for SMS, will automatically be sent a message with the Court Details and Start Time.
- You can also automatically send SMS if you use the Move Time/Rain Delay feature. For more information refer to Moving Match Times.
FAQs for SMS
Q: Can I have a copy of the SMS sent to me as the Tournament Director
A: This is not possible at present, but is on the roadmap for the future.
Q: If I select all in the Participants tab, will this be sent to alternates and withdrawn players too?
A: Yes and No - We recommend you filter by draw status. If All draw status is selected it will send to all players, you can select the players you wish to send it to by clicking on the box, it will tell you who this SMS is going to.
Q: Can I send the SMS from my mobile, so they can reply back.
A: You can not attach your own number, this is a generic number and provided by a company called Twillo. It is a one-way direction text service.
Q: Is there any cost to me as the Tournament Director to send these SMS messages.
A: No, the USTA tournaments team currently pay for this feature. There is no cost to the tournament directors.
Q: Can I send the SMS to more than one number per player?
A: When a player registers for the tournament, they are asked to confirm what telephone number they would like to use for communication, this is the number used.