Operating a premier sports facility demands a seamless experience for players, from registration to the final match point. As participation in racquet sports surges, Spare Time Sports Clubs is leading the way by leveraging advanced technology to elevate the high school player experience. By prioritizing innovation in the youth space, Spare Time has set a new benchmark for how clubs can foster thriving, competitive tennis communities.
The definitive evidence of Spare Time’s operational excellence is the 2025 UTR Girls and Boys High School Series. Designed to provide athletes with valuable off-season match play, this series became the hero success story of their programming calendar. In its inaugural year, the series drew over 120 participants representing 25 regional high school programs, creating a massive regional impact that resonated across the Sacramento community.
The series created a significant regional impact, drawing over 120 participants from 25 high school programs, and fostered a highly competitive environment that mirrored the intensity of collegiate play. This series wasn't just a set of matches; it was a demonstration of how a club can scale a complex, multi-divisional event series into a regional gold standard. By creating a competitive environment that mirrored the intensity of collegiate play, Spare Time provided a platform where high school athletes could test their skills under pressure.
The success of the series served as a model for club programming, proving that when organizations prioritize the youth space with professional-grade events, they attract a higher caliber of talent and engagement. The 120+ participants didn't just play matches; they participated in a curated experience that elevated their perception of what local club tennis can provide, cementing Spare Time's reputation as a leader in player development.
This momentum continued into 2026, with the January–June period achieving a 21% increase in participation, growing from 77 active participants in 2025 to 93 in 2026. Notably, this growth was achieved while hosting fewer events (4 in 2026 versus 6 in 2025), highlighting how strategically optimizing event scheduling can effectively drive higher overall engagement.
The high school series serves as a natural feeder into the broader player journey, specifically the transition to college tennis. By utilizing the UTR Sports platform, Spare Time enables players to turn every match result into recruiting currency. The gold-standard UTR Rating, trusted by college coaches nationwide, allows players to understand their "UTR Fit"—identifying programs where they can realistically compete in the top six of the roster.
Through college recruiting features built into UTR Sports Power memberships, club play is directly linked to recruitment visibility. Athletes can even notify coaching staff of their interest, and see which coaches are interested in them, effectively transforming their UTR profile into a recruiting hub. This seamless transition from a high school event series to active recruiting visibility ensures that Spare Time players are not just competing in a vacuum, but can actively be discovered by the majority of college coaches, who use the platform to find and evaluate talent.
Scaling an event to 120+ players and providing recruiting support would typically be an administrative nightmare. However, Spare Time utilized specific UTR Sports software features to transform potential bottlenecks into a streamlined operational triumph. The platform automates the heavy lifting of scheduling and registration, reducing the administrative burden on club staff.
"We truly value our partnership with UTR Sports. Their platform offers incredible ease and flexibility, allowing us to design events that work for our clubs rather than conform to rigid formats. The support from the entire UTR Sports team has been exceptional."
Chrys Atkinson
Spare Time Clubs | Junior Tennis Academy & Partner Liaison
Founded in 1972, Spare Time Sports Clubs has spent over five decades setting the gold standard for fitness and community engagement in the Sacramento area. Today, their seven premier locations—including the state-of-the-art, 22-court Broadstone facility—continue to pioneer innovative sports programming tailored to families and local businesses alike.
These facilities offer an exclusive combination of upscale social programs and top-tier instruction. Notable for features like advanced LED lighting systems for evening competition, Spare Time-Broadstone remains a true destination for tennis enthusiasts, ensuring the legacy of the organization continues to lead the industry into the future.
Unlock Your Potential
Spare Time's success demonstrates what's possible when technology removes administrative barriers and lets staff focus on people. With UTR Sports, your club can streamline event management, reduce operational workload, and create more opportunities for players, coaches, and families. By spending less time on logistics and more time building community, you can deliver a better experience while helping every athlete reach their next level.