Gymnastics Åland is one of the largest sports clubs in Åland, a community of around 1,200 members. The club offers gymnastics for children, adults, and seniors – from recreational and competitive gymnastics to adapted activities. With the help of Suomisport, the club can monitor its operations based on up-to-date data and make better decisions for the future.

Data and insights as a foundation for development

Gymnastics Åland reports annually to the Government of Åland to receive financial support. Suomisport has made collecting the required information much easier – for example, the number of members by age group and municipality, as well as the number of guided training sessions, can now be retrieved directly from the service.

– We use Suomisport’s reporting tool to compile figures. It works well and distinguishes current members from those who have left. We simply filter out the ones who are no longer active in our club, says Ylva Watkins, Executive Director of Gymnastics Åland.

Gymnastics Åland also uses Suomisport data internally: attendance records, payment statistics, and other operational data provide a clear overview of the club’s scale and development.

– It’s easier when everything you need is in one place, Watkins notes.

Smooth payments without invoices

All club payments are handled through Suomisport. Members can easily pay directly within the service, and coaches or club officials no longer need to send invoices manually.

– Managing payments has become significantly easier for both club administrators and members, Watkins explains.

Member experiences

Both members and parents have welcomed Suomisport positively. Most find the service functional and easy to use. For those less familiar with digital tools, a little guidance is usually enough to overcome any challenges.

– We encourage our members to use the mobile app – it makes everyday life much smoother, says Watkins.

Gymnastics Åland’s tips for other clubs

• Get to know the service and attend training sessions to understand all that Suomisport offers.
• Start with the most important features and progress gradually.
• Give both coaches and members time to adapt to the new way of working.
• Communicate and support – encourage change rather than enforce it.