I understand PLI is now looking to abandon the scheduling feature of this website and is looking for a replacement. It would seem to me that the best path would be to return to Playtime Scheduler for scheduling purposes -- it has the features most of us want, such as lists of participants at each event. The new site could still be used for collection of dues and tournament entries. In regards to fees for the use of indoor courts, doesn't most of that money go to the facility (Calvert, Speedway, etc.)?
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TL;DR: I agree that, at this juncture, Playtime Scheduler (PTS) seems the best option.
Here's why.
One system containing all opporunities to play PB is far prefererable to two. And PTS does that. This is an advantage not only for Lincoln PBers but also for visitors who travel to Lincoln with a paddle in their suitcase wondering, "Where can I play in Lincoln?" The learning curve for PTS, small as it as, has already been absorbed by most PLI members. PTS has a dedicated team of PLI volunteers who adminster the site, creating and updating listings, and even recruiting them from private and public sources (Genesis, YMCA, Lincoln Parks & Rec, etc.). And (opinion) I think it's very well-designed: full of features wanted by PBers with an excellent user experience (UX), e.g. as effective on a mobile device as on a computer. As a comparison, contrast the scheduling UX of PTS, https://bit.ly/3UuIqoZ , with that of Pickleball Omaha, https://bit.ly/3WojkLh , both on computer and mobile.
The new PLI site is a Wix site. Wix is one of several 'drag and drop' website builders. The advantage of these builders is that "anyone" (with sufficient manual dexterity) can build a website without knowing any Web programming language. The main disadvantage is that you must choose one of about 300 templates for your design. If there's no "pickleball club" template you must "shoehorn" your desired design into the closest template. I think the template chosen for the site, however, is excellent, with little evidence of shoehorning. (You see a little bit of this in the Spaces by Wix app, in which scheduling a time to play is under "Services.") Once a template is chosen, customization is largely superficial with little possibility to alter the programmed functionality of the template. This is like being able to choose your car color but not being able to swap your Chevy for a Mercedes. I suspect that this site's template does not have the functionality of, say, showing who's already signed up. If it did, the gozoek.com Wix developers would have included it in their scheduling page.
In contrast, PTS is programmed (the PHP language) "from scratch" so there's, in theory, no limit to the functionality or UX PTS developers can implement.
The site provides much more functionality than scheduling. Credit card payments. A blog so that communication from the PLI Board isn't scattered in email threads. This Forum, which even allows polls! And more. The site should remain up and congratulations given to all PLI members who contributed to its birth.
If I'm wrong about the limitations of Wix and the features and UX of PTS can be embbeded in the site I would definitely revisit this choice.
I hope they don’t abandon the new website. I think it will be good. Just have some changes to make. Now if for some reason they can’t make those changes. I agree. But for now give them time to tweak it.
I agree until a tested format better than PTS can be developed