> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.uplifter.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How do I send families a reminder before each class?

> Turn on the built-in Program Start reminder, or create a Session Occurrence rule to remind families by email or text before every class.

<Note>
  **Must know**

  * **Program Start is switched off at first.** It emails guardians once, 1 day before a program starts. Turn it on from the **System Rules** tab.
  * **There is no built-in per-class reminder.** For a reminder before every class, create your own rule on the **Session Occurrence** trigger.
  * **Days before means one message a day.** A rule timed days or weeks before sends each guardian one message per class day, listing all their classes. **Scope** doesn't narrow it.
  * **Texts need SMS on your plan.** **Send SMS** only delivers when your plan includes SMS.
</Note>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Notifications">
    Go to **Settings > Communication > Notifications**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Before a program starts: turn on Program Start">
    Open the **System Rules** tab, find **Program Start** and choose **Enable** from its row menu. Its timing is fixed; **Edit** lets you reword it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Before every class: add a Session Occurrence rule">
    Click **Add notification**, pick **Session Occurrence** as the **Trigger event**, and set **Delivery method** to **Send Email** or **Send SMS**. **Timing** starts at 1 day **Before**; change the number or unit, or pick **At** or **After**. Finish the wizard as in [How do I create a notification rule?](/club/communications/how-do-i-create-a-notification-rule) and click **Create notification**. The rule is on straight away.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send a test">
    Choose **Send Test** from the row menu. An email test goes only to your own address; class details may show blank. A switched-off rule can't be tested, so enable **Program Start** first.
  </Step>
</Steps>

**Check what families were promised.** **Program Start**, **Program Enrollment** and **Waitlist Promotion** start out telling families you'll send "reminders before each class". If you won't, edit that line.

**One message a day, or one per class.** Timing in **Days**, **Weeks** or **Months** **Before** bundles each guardian's classes into one message a day. Add the **Session List** merge field on the **Content** step to list each athlete's class, time and place. **Hours**, **Minutes**, **At** or **After** sends a separate message for each session.

**Remind about only some classes.** On the **Scope** step, pick **Programs**, **Seasons**, **Categories**, **Specific sessions** or **Recurring time slots**, or leave them empty to cover every class. With **Guardians** as the audience, only families of athletes in a session hear about it. Scope doesn't apply to a days, weeks or months **Before** reminder, which covers every class a family has that day. For a scoped day-ahead reminder, use 24 **Hours** **Before**.

**Who misses it.** Texts reach only guardians who gave SMS consent and haven't opted out; each counts toward your SMS usage. Families who turned your club's email off miss your own rule's emails; **Program Start** still reaches them.

**Related:** [How do I create a notification rule?](/club/communications/how-do-i-create-a-notification-rule) · [How do I test a rule and check what was sent?](/club/communications/how-do-i-test-a-notification-and-check-what-was-sent) · [How do I edit or turn off a built-in notification?](/club/communications/how-do-i-edit-or-turn-off-a-built-in-notification) · [What are notification rules and reminders?](/club/communications/what-are-notification-rules-and-reminders)