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🎠 Ride the Carousel: A Winning Instagram Strategy for Grassroots Clubs

17 July 2025

Hey there,

This week we’re focusing on a specific trend in social media, carousels. We’ll give you the run down on why they work, how to optimize them and have you kicking goals all over your club’s Instagram in no time! We’ve also got a link we loved and a look at something we’ve worked on lately.

Instagram carousels are posts that allow you to upload and share multiple images or videos in a single post. Followers swipe left to view each slide, just like flipping through a digital photo album.

You can include multiple slides, and each one can have its own visual and caption.

Think of it as a mini story or presentation that you control, perfect for showing highlights, telling a story, or providing helpful information.

💡 Why Carousels Work So Well

  • More Time on Your Post: Each swipe keeps followers engaged longer, which boosts visibility in Instagram’s algorithm.
  • Better Engagement: Carousels typically get more likes, comments, and shares than single-image posts.
  • Multi-Purpose: Perfect for combining photo and video content for anything from matchday recaps, player spotlights, or sponsor shoutouts.

✅ What Makes a Good Instagram Carousel?

A great carousel post doesn’t just look nice, it tells a story, keeps people swiping, and sparks interaction. Here’s what sets the best ones apart:

  • One Clear Purpose: Focus on one message per post (e.g., game recap, player intro).
  • Strong Visuals: Use bright, high-quality images. Need a hand? Take a look at our guide on Making the Most of Your Phone Camera.
  • Slide-by-Slide Flow: Organize like a mini-story or list, keep it swipeable.
  • Short, Punchy Text: Keep slide text minimal, think headlines, not paragraphs.
  • Engage the Audience: End with a CTA: ask a question, tag a friend, or prompt a DM.

🛠️ Tools to Make your Carousel Posts Shine

Want your club’s carousel posts to look sharp, consistent, and on-brand? These tools can help, even with limited time or budget.

  • Canva (Free + Paid): Drag-and-drop carousel templates Pro tip: Search “Instagram Carousel” in Canva for ready-to-go designs.
  • Mojo (Mobile App): Animated carousel slides with text effects Pro tip: Great for player spotlights and match promos
  • Adobe Express (Free + Premium): Instagram-ready templates and quick editing tools Pro tip: Ideal for clubs that want a more polished, branded look

🤩 Post like the Pros

Here are a few examples from professional sporting teams to give you the next big idea for your club’s feed!

🏀 OKC Thunder – Match moment and highlights Carousel
⚽ Chelsea FCW – Player Spotlight 
🏉 Hawthorn FC – Sponsor/Community Charity Shoutout

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📣 From the Studio

What a game. Bendigo FNL vs. VAFA went down to the wire, literally. With scores tied at full time, it took overtime to split them, and we were there for every wild minute.

While we were on-site running the livestream, we also filmed some extra boundary-side footage just for this one.

It made for a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat recap reel tailored for TikTok and Instagram, full of big hits, game-changing goals, and an overtime finish that had everyone holding their breath, this one was too good not to share.

And that’s game.

Thanks for tuning in this edition. Catch you next week with more tools, tips, and design wins straight from the heart of the clubroom.

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