Organizing channels helps athletic departments stay efficient, reduce miscommunication, and ensure the right people see the right updates. Below is a suggested starter pack for departments.
1. Department-Wide Channels
dept-announcements
Who: All coaches, AD, compliance, trainers, staff
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Official announcements (deadlines, policies, weather closures).
dept-operations
Who: All staff
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Daily logistics (bus delays, gym conflicts, uniform drops).
dept-compliance
Who: ADs, compliance, head coaches
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Eligibility reminders, document requests, NAIA/NCAA updates.
2. Facility Update Channels
Helpful Tip: Use facility channels to keep everyone in sync with quick updates — like weather changes that move practice, notes when a space is blocked for a campus event, or operating updates about a facility. For requesting event space, it’s faster and easier to use the WinWon Calendar event request process.
facility-main-gym
Who: Basketball, Volleyball, Cheer, Facilities Ops
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Updates → Last-minute changes, special event coordination, setup/tear-down reminders.
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Coordination → Preseason discussions as coaches set up recurring practice times.
facility-weightroom
Who: Strength coaches, coaches of each sport
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Equipment status → Letting staff know if something new is available.
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Space availability → Flagging when the room is closed for cleaning, maintenance, or special use.
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Coordination → Sharing context like “football wrapping early, women’s soccer can move in 15 minutes sooner.”
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Schedule updates → Quick notes if a team lift shifts times, or if groups are swapping slots.
facility-turf-field
Who: Football, Soccer, Track, Facilities Ops
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Updates → Weather relocations, game-day setup notes, practice overflows.
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Coordination → Preseason discussions as coaches set up recurring practice times.
facility-athletic-training
Who: Athletic trainers, AT staff, coaches
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Treatment availability → Updates if trainers add extra hours or open additional slots for athletes.
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Schedule changes → Notices when treatment hours are adjusted (early closure, extended hours, holiday changes).
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Capacity updates → Quick heads-up if the training room is at capacity or able to take walk-ins.
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Resource updates → Notes on new rehab equipment, taping stations, or supplies available.
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Reminders → Seasonal check-ins like physicals, concussion baseline testing, or clearance deadlines.
3. Sport-Specific Channels
(Recommend starting with one “staff” channel per team, and expand to recruiting/ops as needed.)
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sport-football-staff -
sport-mens-basketball-staff -
sport-womens-basketball-staff -
sport-baseball-staff -
sport-softball-staff -
sport-volleyball-staff -
sport-mens-soccer-staff -
sport-womens-soccer-staff -
sport-track-staff -
sport-crosscountry-staff -
sport-golf-staff -
sport-tennis-staff
(Expand if needed: swimming, wrestling, lacrosse, etc.)
👉 Each channel should include the head coach, assistants, GAs, the AT assigned to that sport, and sport-specific ops staff.
4. Functional Role Channels
ops-facilities
Who: Facilities coordinator, ops staff, AD
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Shared space conflicts, gym rentals, turf/lights scheduling.
ops-sports-medicine
Who: Trainers, strength staff, coaches
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Injury updates, treatment schedules, clearance notices. Reminders for medical eligibility.
ops-sports-info
Who: SIDs, media staff, coaches
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Stats uploads, media day coordination, press releases.
ops-recruiting
Who: Recruiting across all sports
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Best practices, any compliance updates, recruiting messages or ideas that work well.
ops-admin-support
Who: Admins, AD, coaches
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Budget, reimbursements, HR, paperwork.
5. Special Event Channels
event-game-day
Who: Game ops staff, facilities, trainers, SIDs
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Live coordination during home events.
event-media-day
Who: SIDs, marketing, coaches
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Planning media shoots, headshots, hype content.
conf-callouts
Who: AD, compliance, commissioner reps, head coaches
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League reminders, reporting deadlines, meeting prep.
📌 Quick Recommendations
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Naming convention: Stick with
dept-,sport-,ops-, andevent-for clarity. -
Onboarding new staff: Add them into department + functional channels. Sport-specific is opt-in by role, managed by the coaching staff.
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Pin and share policies: Travel handbooks, recruiting calendars, and facility protocols should be posted in relevant channels.