Overview
YouthSports offers different feature tiers, and some features require active subscriptions or paid plans. When trials expire or subscriptions lapse, you may encounter restricted access; features that were available become gated. Understanding how this works helps you quickly restore access when needed.
How Feature Gating Works
Features in YouthSports fall into categories:
Always Available
Core features that work regardless of plan status:
- Basic team management
- Roster viewing
- Account settings
- Billing management (so you can always fix your subscription)
Plan-Dependent
Features that require specific plan tiers:
- Advanced payment features
- Ticketing
- Custom branding
- Certain integrations
Trial Features
Premium features available during trial periods that become gated when the trial ends.
What Happens When a Trial Expires
During a trial, you have access to premium features. When the trial ends:
- Grace period (if applicable) – Some features may remain briefly accessible
- Gated state – Premium features show restricted access
- Data preserved – Your existing data isn’t deleted, just access to certain features is limited
Types of Restrictions You’ll See
Hidden Features
Menu items and navigation options that completely disappear until the required plan is active. You won’t see them at all.
Disabled Features
Buttons and controls that appear but are grayed out or non-functional. Clicking them may show an upgrade prompt.
Paywall Overlays
Full-screen or section overlays that block access to a feature area. These typically include:
- Explanation of what the feature does
- Which plan is required
- Link to upgrade or manage billing
Redirect to Billing
Attempting to access certain routes may automatically redirect you to the billing page with a message about required upgrades.
Recovering Access
Option 1: Upgrade Your Plan
- Navigate to Organization Settings → Billing
- Review available plans and their features
- Select the plan that includes the features you need
- Complete the checkout process
- Access restores immediately upon successful payment
Option 2: Resolve Payment Issues
If you already have a subscription but access is restricted:
- Check for failed payment notifications
- Update your payment method if needed
- Retry the failed charge
Option 3: Contact Support
If you believe access is restricted in error:
- Check the billing page for your current plan status
- Note any error messages you see
- Contact support with details
Pages That Remain Accessible
Even in a fully expired state, you can always access:
- Billing settings – To manage your subscription
- Account settings – To manage your personal account
- Basic dashboard – To see your organization status
- Support/Help – To get assistance
This ensures you’re never completely locked out with no way to fix the situation.
Understanding Your Current Plan Status
To see exactly where you stand:
- Go to Organization Settings → Billing
- View your current plan and status
- Check trial end date (if applicable)
- See which features are included vs gated
Common Scenarios
“I was using a feature yesterday and now it’s gone”
Your trial likely expired. Check your billing page for trial status and upgrade options.
“I’m paying but features are locked”
Your payment may have failed, or you may be on a plan that doesn’t include that feature. Check billing for payment status and compare plan features.
“I see a paywall but I’m sure I should have access”
Try refreshing. If the issue persists, check billing status. If everything looks correct, contact support.
“I just want to see my existing data”
Your data isn’t deleted when access is restricted. Once you restore access (upgrade, fix payment), your data will be there. For immediate needs, contact support.
Avoiding Surprise Restrictions
- Know your trial end date – Mark it on your calendar
- Monitor billing emails – Payment failure notices come via email
- Understand your plan – Know which features are included
- Plan upgrades ahead of time – Don’t wait until you’re gated to figure out billing
What’s Next?
Looking to add revenue through events? Learn how to launch ticketed events and enable public ticket sales.
