Getting Started as a Parent

As a Parent on SlotBase, you manage your children's sports activities. You create and link child accounts, book sessions and register for events on their behalf, enroll them in programs, and keep track of their schedules and payments. This guide walks you through setting up your account, adding your children, and handling all their bookings.

What You Can Do

• Create your own account and add child accounts
• Book sessions on behalf of your children
• Register your children for events (tournaments, clinics, open play)
• Enroll your children in programs (group classes)
• View your children's schedules and attendance
• Manage payments for all your children's activities
• Oversee the transition when your child turns 18

Step 1: Create Your Own Account

Before you can manage your children's activities, you need your own SlotBase account:

1. Go to the SlotBase website or open the SlotBase mobile app.
2. Click Sign Up.
3. Enter your email address and create a password.
4. Verify your email by clicking the link sent to your inbox.
5. Complete your profile with your name and contact details.

tip

Use your own email address for the parent account. Each child will have a separate linked account that you manage.

Step 2: Add Your Children

Once your account is ready, add your children so you can book on their behalf:

1. Go to Settings and then Family (or Children) in your dashboard.
2. Click Add Child.
3. Enter your child's details: name, date of birth, and any other required information.
4. Click Save. The child account is now linked to your parent account.
5. Repeat for each child you want to manage.

Your children will appear in your Family list, and you can select any child when making bookings, registering for events, or enrolling in programs.

Understanding Minor Signup Policies

Different facilities have different rules about how minors can interact with the platform. As a parent, it helps to understand these policies:

Default policy:

• Children under 13 cannot create their own accounts. A parent must create and manage the account.
• Children 13 and older may self-signup with certain restrictions, but parent oversight is still available.

YMCA mode (strict policy):

• No minor self-signup at all, regardless of age. Parents must create and manage all child accounts.

Custom age threshold:

• Some facilities set a custom minimum self-signup age. For example, a facility may allow self-signup only for players 16 and older.

info

You can always add a child account regardless of the facility's self-signup policy. These policies only affect whether your child can create their own account independently.

warning

If your child already created their own account at a facility that allows self-signup, you can link that account to your parent account. Contact the facility admin for assistance.

Step 3: Join a Facility for Your Child

To book at a facility, your child must be a member:

1. Go to Browse Facilities from your dashboard.
2. Search for a facility by name, location, or sport.
3. Click on the facility and then click Request to Join for your child.
4. Select which child you are joining on behalf of.
5. Depending on the facility's settings, your child may be auto-approved or placed in a pending queue for the facility admin to review.

Once approved, you can start booking sessions and registering for events at that facility on behalf of your child.

Step 4: Book Sessions for Your Child

Booking on behalf of a child follows the same process as booking for yourself, with one extra step -- selecting which child the booking is for:

1. Go to the facility's Calendar or Book page.
2. Browse available time slots and select a resource and time.
3. A HOLD is placed on the slot temporarily.
4. On the booking confirmation screen, select your child from the Booking For dropdown.
5. Review the details and click Confirm Booking.

The booking follows the same flow described in the Player Guide:

• If no approval is needed, the booking is immediately CONFIRMED.
• If approval is required, the booking moves to PENDING until the facility admin reviews it.

tip

You can book recurring sessions for your child (weekly, biweekly, or monthly) to lock in a regular practice schedule. Look for the Recurrence option when creating a booking.

Step 5: Register Your Child for Events

Facilities host tournaments, clinics, and open play sessions. To register your child:

1. Go to the facility's Events page.
2. Browse upcoming events and click on one for details.
3. Click Register.
4. Select your child from the participant list.
5. If the event requires a waiver, review and accept it on behalf of your child.
6. If spots are available, your child's status will be REGISTERED. If the event is full, your child is placed on the WAITLIST and automatically promoted when a spot opens (first-in, first-out order).

Step 6: Enroll Your Child in Programs

Programs are recurring group classes (for example, a weekly junior tennis program):

1. Go to the facility's Programs page.
2. Browse available programs and click on one to view details (schedule, coach, skill level, pricing).
3. Click Enroll and select your child.
4. Choose the enrollment type:
   • Trial session -- a free session so your child can try the program before committing
   • Monthly subscription -- ongoing enrollment with a recurring monthly fee
   • Drop-in -- pay per session at a higher rate with no long-term commitment

tip

Trial sessions are an excellent way to see if your child enjoys a sport or coaching style before enrolling in a full program.

Viewing Your Children's Schedules

Keep track of everything your children have going on:

1. Go to Schedule in your dashboard.
2. You will see a combined calendar showing all bookings, events, and program sessions for all your children.
3. Filter by child to see one child's schedule at a time.
4. Click on any entry to view full details, including the resource, time, coach (if applicable), and status.

Managing Payments

All payments for your children's activities flow through your parent account:

1. Go to Payments in your dashboard.
2. View a list of all transactions across all children, including booking fees, event registrations, and program enrollments.
3. Filter by child to see charges for a specific child.
4. Click on any transaction for full details, or click View Invoice to see or download an invoice.

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Payment methods accepted depend on the facility. Some facilities support online payments, while others track offline payments (cash, check, bank transfer, Venmo, or Zelle). The facility admin records offline payments on their end.

When Your Child Turns 18

When your child reaches 18 years of age, their account transitions to an independent adult account:

• Your child gains full control of their own account and no longer needs a parent to manage bookings.
• They can sign in directly, manage their own schedule, and handle their own payments.
• The account history (bookings, events, programs) is preserved and carries over.

caution

After the transition, you will no longer be able to book or manage activities on your child's behalf. If your child still wants you to help manage their account, they can grant you access through their settings. Talk to your child about this transition as their 18th birthday approaches.

Best Practices for Parents

• Check schedules weekly -- review your children's upcoming sessions, events, and programs at the start of each week.
• Set up recurring bookings -- lock in regular practice times so your child has a consistent schedule.
• Take advantage of trials -- use free trial sessions to explore different sports and coaches.
• Keep contact details updated -- make sure your email and phone number are current so you receive all notifications.
• Review cancellation policies -- each facility may have different rules. Know the cut-off times to avoid fees.

What's Next?

• Player Guide -- Understand the full booking flow that applies when you book for your child
• Coach Guide -- Learn about coaching lesson types and how to pick the right coach for your child
• Facility Admin Guide -- See how facilities are set up and managed