Athletic Management 22.3

› Negotiating Your Contract › How to Rebuild a Program › Fundraising California Style › Outdoor Facility Products

April/May 2010

Vol. XXII, No. 3

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Ready or Not Responding to issues in sportsmanship

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Circle No. 100

Contents April/May 2010

61

Vol. XXII, No. 3

WARMUP

4 High School News

IMG to sponsor national championships

9 Adding Sports

39

Sand volleyball and water polo make gains

12 Policies & Procedures Enforcing dress codes

14 Marketing Revenue from baseball

14 Scheduling

Pairing boys and girls

17

28 COVER STORY Ready or Not

Being proactive about sportsmanship is great, but sometimes you need to be reactive.

This article provides insight into what to do when things don’t go quite as planned.

39 FINANCIAL PLANNING A Good Deal

Your job is unlike anyone else’s on campus—and your employment contract should be just as unique. Here’s the latest advice on how to negotiate the best deal for you.

47 COACHING From the Ground Up

What do you do when one of your teams continues to be unsuccessful with no signs of improvement? Rebuilding a program takes patience and persistence—and a welldesigned plan.

55 FUNDRAISING Looking for Gold

In California, there’s a new gold rush on: finding money to save high school sports.

In the process, athletic directors have turned up some interesting and creative fundraising ideas.

61 LEADERSHIP On Offense

As more and more small colleges look for the right moves to advance their goals, they are turning to their athletic departments for an assist. This author shares what she’s learned navigating the process.

71 SCOUTING REPORT Outdoor Facilities

Our Straight Talk section details award-winning synthetic turf fields. We also provide profiles of bleachers, scoreboards, and other outdoor facility components.

On the cover At Waterloo (Iowa) West High School, student fans were handed new rules on acceptable behavior at the start of the football season. Athletic directors share their sportsmanship stories in our cover story, starting on page 28. PHOTO BY RICK SMITH

Q&A

17 Deb Tyson Albemarle (Va.) High School

GAMEPLANS

21 Welcoming Parents

By Earl W. Edwards 25 Case Review

By Dr. Richard P. Borkowski

ASBA AWARD

68 LSU’s Alex Box 88 Advertisers Directory 96 Next Stop: Web Site AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 1

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Editorial Board VOL. XXII, NO. 3

Elizabeth “Betsy” A. Alden, PhD, President, Alden & Associates, Inc.

APRIL/MAY 2010

PUBLISHER Mark Goldberg

Dixie Bennett, MEd, CRSS, Director of Recreational Sports, Loyola University Steve Blake, Regional Manager of Capital Giving, Bucknell University

EDITOR IN CHIEF Eleanor Frankel

Craig Bogar, Director of Administration, United States Sports Academy

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Dennis Read, Greg Scholand

Dan Cardone, Athletic Director, North Hills High School, Pa. James Conn, PhD, Professor, Dept. of Health & Human Performance, Central Missouri State University Robert Corran, PhD, Director of Athletics, University of Vermont

ASSISTANT EDITORS RJ Anderson, Kenny Berkowitz, Abigail Funk, Kyle Garratt, Mike Phelps

James Cox, Director of Athletics, Miami Dade College Joan Cronan, Women’s Athletic Director, University of Tennessee

ART DIRECTOR Pamela Crawford

Roger Crosley, Coordinator of Athletic Operations, Emerson College Bernie DePalma, Head Athletic Trainer/Physical Therapist, Cornell University

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR David Dubin

Tom Douple, Commissioner, Mid-Continent Conference

CIRCULATION MANAGER John Callaghan

Douglas Duval, CAA, Athletic Director, Mundelein High School, Ill.

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Maria Bise

Jay Gardiner, Director of Athletics, Oglethorpe University

GRAPHIC ARTIST Trish Landsparger

Dale Gibson, EdD, Chair, Dept. of Education and Sport Management, Tusculum College

PREPRESS MANAGER Neal Betts

Mike Glazier, Partner, Bond, Schoeneck & King

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Natalie Couch

Steve Green, Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Northwestern University Kevin Hatcher, Athletic Director, Cal State San Bernardino Phillip Hossler, ATC, Athletic Trainer, East Brunswick High School, N.J. E. Newton Jackson, Jr., PhD, Chair, Dept. of HPER, Florida A&M University Dick Kemper, CMAA, Athletic Director, St. Christopher’s School, Va. Bob Knickerbocker, Athletic Equipment Coordinator, Michigan State University John Knorr, EdD, Professor of Kinesiology, former Director of Athletics, St. Edward’s University Donald Lowe, MA, ATC, Executive Director, College Athletic Trainers' Society

BUSINESS MANAGER Pennie Small SPECIAL PROJECTS Dave Wohlhueter ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Sharon Barbell MARKETING DIRECTOR Sheryl Shaffer AD MATERIALS COORDINATOR Mike Townsend

Keith Manos, Wrestling Coach, Richmond Heights High School, Ohio Glen Marinelli, Head Athletic Trainer, Marist College Robert Mathner, PhD, Assistant Professor, Sport Management, Troy University Kirk McQueen, Director of Campus Recreation, Georgia Institute of Technology Anthony “Chick” Napolitano, EMC, Equipment Manager, Newburgh Free Academy, N.Y. Fred Nuesch, Coordinator of Athletic External Affairs, Texas A&M-Kingsville Tony Pascale, Athletic Director, West Genesee High School, N.Y. Jamie Plunkett, Head Athletic Trainer, Allegheny College

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Chris Ritrievi, Associate Director of Athletics, University of Utah Matthew J. Robinson, EdD, Associate Professor/Director of Sport Management Program, University of Delaware Langston Rogers, Sports Infor­mation Director, University of Mississippi Calli Theisen Sanders, EdD, Senior Associate Athletics Director, Iowa State University Terry Schlatter, EMC, Equipment Manager, University of Wisconsin Tim Slauter, CMAA, Director of Athletics, McCutcheon High School, Ind. Michael Slive, Commissioner, Southeastern Conference Donald Staffo, PhD, Dept. Chair, Health, Phys. Ed., & Rec., Stillman College Ellen Staurowsky, EdD, Associate Professor of Sport Sciences/Coor­dinator of Sports Information and Communication Program, Ithaca College William F. Stier, Jr., EdD, Director of Sport Management/ Coor­­dinator of Sport Coaching, State University of New York at Brockport Lou Strasberg, University Travel Coordinator, The University of Memphis E. Michael Stutzke, CMAA, Athletic Director, Sebastian River High School, Fla. Michael Thomas, Director of Athletics, University of Cincinnati Brian Trotter, District Athletic Director, Penn-Delco School District, Pa. Michael Vienna, PhD, Athletic Director, Salisbury University

Athletic Management (ISSN 1554-2033) is published bimonthly for a total of 6 times a year, by MAG, Inc., 31 Dutch Mill Rd., Ithaca, NY, 14850. Athletic Management is distributed without charge to qualified high school and collegiate athletic program and athletic facilities personnel.

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WarmUp High School News

GOING NATIONAL Sports and entertainment marketing company IMG and the National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) made head-

lines in January when they announced a partnership to sponsor national high school championships. Although some athletic administrators are skeptical about the idea, plans continue to move forward.

Beginning this summer, IMG and the NHSCA will hold high school championships in seven-on-seven football and boys’ and girls’ seven-on-seven lacrosse, tennis, and golf at IMG’s Bradenton, Fla., training academy. They plan to eventually expand to 20 sports.

The NHSCA already sponsors a national high school championship in seven-on-seven football, and no changes are expected in this event. Football is the only sport where teams will represent their

high schools. Rosters in other sports will be made up of allstar athletes from each state.

The all-star rosters, however, have some people pushing the pause button—including NFHS Executive Director Bob Kanaby.

“Calling these events national high school championships is a misnomer,” he says. “They’re all-star games. The athletes will not be representing their schools—they’ll be individuals competing unattached from their schools.”

Bobby Ferraro is Executive Director of the NHSCA, a Pennsylvania-based non-profit association founded in 1989 that provides leadership and resources to scholastic coaches nationwide. He says rosters will be primarily chosen by coaches. “The idea is that they assemble the best team they can from their state and the athletes get a chance to compete against the best athletes

Teams from Colquitt County (Moultrie, Ga.) and Pleasant Grove (Ala.) High Schools compete in the National Select 7-on-7 Tournament last year. This summer, the football showcase will become part of a larger national tournament, co-sponsored by IMG. from other states they would never play otherwise,” Ferraro explains.

Each sport’s championship event will be held separately,

For fans with food allergies,

a sports arena can be a dangerous place.

Accidentally eating the wrong snack, or even sitting near someone who did, can land you in the emergency room. In response, marketers at the University of Wisconsin launched 2010 with “allergy friendly” games in women’s basketball and women’s ice hockey at the Kohl Center.

Promotions

4 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

No Nuts here

With input from the Food Allergy Association of Wisconsin, the school removed all foods with nuts from the concession stands and set aside three sections of the Kohl Center for extra cleaning. Banners directed fans to the special seats and concessionaires provided a complete list of ingredients for each snack offered.

Before the events, Wisconsin created an online offer with discounts for patrons with food allergies and sent a press release to local media.

The athletic department was pleased with the turnout, which drew 100 people to the allergy-friendly sections for the basketball game and 75 to the hockey game. “As marketers, we usually think about targeting large groups of people,” says Ahearn. “This was an opportunity to reach out to a new segment of the community and expose them to intercollegiate athletics in a safe, memorable way.”

the Birmingham news/hal yeager (football)

The University of Wisconsin hosted two “allergy friendly” events in women’s basketball and ice hockey this winter. Above, young Badger fans enjoy the basketball game.

“Our first goal was to provide kids and families with an opportunity to attend a sporting event in a safe environment,” says Adam Ahearn, Assistant Director of Marketing for Wisconsin Athletics. “Our second goal was to create more good will in the community. Our third goal—a distant third—was to sell additional tickets. We feel we succeeded on all three counts.”

with golf scheduled in June, football in July, and lacrosse and tennis in August. Depending on the sport, regional qualifiers may precede the final tournament in Florida.

Circle No. 102

WarmUp Football, for instance, which had 300 teams competing last year, will hold regional qualifiers beforehand to whittle the teams down to 32.

IMG and the NHSCA plan to enhance the tournaments by offering more than competi-

which has renewed debate over putting high school sports on a national stage.

Dick Flanary, Senior Director of Leadership, Programs, and Services at the National Association of Secondary School Principals, told USA Today that national competition in high school sports may be natural growth, but he remains wary.

“I think there needs to be lots of controls,” he said. “The exploitation of kids is something we all need to be concerned about.”

The NFHS is in the middle of its own discussions on creating national championships, which would feature high school teams instead of all-star squads. tion. “We’re putting together a college recruiting seminar and getting celebrity athletes to come to the campus,” Ferraro says.

IMG hopes to sell television rights for the tournaments,

A handful of state associations don’t allow high school athletes to compete in national all-star competitions without forfeiting their high school eligibility, which may keep some non-seniors at home.

But overall, Ferraro stresses

that the events are merely another competition opportunity. “When you’re a talented athlete, you may want to see how you compare to other athletes from other states,” he says.

Despite questions about the idea, more national high school championship events may be coming anyway. The NFHS is in the middle of its own discussions on creating national championships, which would feature high school teams instead of allstar squads.

“There were extensive discussions among a number of state association representatives at our winter meeting on the topic,” Kanaby says.

“There are those who have expressed great interest and those who have said it’s not the direction to go in. The decision rests with our Board of Directors, which will continue to discuss the matter.”

In basketball, the ESPN Rise National High School Invitational Tournament was held for the second year in early April, and while it is not called a national championship, it is leaning toward that distinction in the future. This year, the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) became the first state association affiliated with the NFHS to allow its teams to participate.

“I believe it’s good for high school athletics altogether when you get ESPN involved and you get that national exposure,” FHSAA Executive Director Roger Dearing told the Orlando Sentinel.

›

For more information about the NHSCA and the upcoming high school championship events it’s presenting with IMG, go to: www.nhsca.com.

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WarmUp Adding Sports

The Emerald Ridge (Wash.) High School football team went 0-10 last year, so it wasn’t a huge surprise when almost 500 people showed up for a meet-and-greet with the team’s new head coach. The surprise was that the new coach is actually five coaches.

Women emerge

Brian Anderson, Torey Donovan, Darren Erath, Troy Halfaday, and Adam Schakel turned in one application for Hiring the vacant head coaching position, saying they wanted to be considered as co-head coaches. Athletic Director Dell Dittus, along with the school’s principal and assistant principal, decided five could be better than one.

Five heads

“My first question was, ‘Why are you doing it this way?’” Dittus says. “They replied they are stronger as a unit than they are as individuals. They said, ‘By ourselves we are pretty much weaklings, but if you get us all on the same field with the same purpose in mind and let us do the things we do best individually, we will be a strong staff.’”

During its interview, the group presented a portfolio outlining the areas each coach would specialize in. Erath and Schakel will be co-offensive coordinators, Anderson will be defensive coordinator, Donovan will be the line and strength and conditioning coach, and Halfaday will be the program coordinator and special teams coach.

In women’s water polo, NCAA Division III schools now have a league of their own. Above, Connecticut College tri-captain Phoebe Bakanas looks to score.

While headlines blare news of budget cuts in athletics, a handful of emerging sports for women are quietly making gains. Over the past few months, new opportunities for females in sand volleyball, water polo, and wrestling are bucking the trend of program cuts.

The biggest news is in sand volleyball, which has been officially adopted as an emerging sport for women in NCAA Divisions I and II and will be played in the spring. Although Division I members almost voted to override the addition of sand volleyball at the NCAA Convention in January, supporters of the game believe it will bring increased attention to the sport of volleyball overall.

At Emerald Ridge (Wash.) High School, five teachers will serve as head football coach instead of just one.

JOHN NAREWSKI (WATER POLO)

“My second question was, ‘Who will be the face of the program in terms of media contact, community relations, and speaking about the stuff outside the chalk lines?’”

Dittus says. “Troy Halfaday stepped up and said he would be that face.

“Hiring five coaches hasn’t been done before,” he continues, “but I have every confidence they will make it work.”

“This was a heck of a fight, but I’m pretty excited,” says Mick Haley, Head Coach at the University of Southern California, the first school to announce it will offer sand volleyball as an official team.

“We’ve just added a tremendous lightning rod to our sport, and more people—sponsors, manufacturers, fans—are going to take notice of both the indoor and outdoor game as a result.

“I don’t think the override vote was a direct reflection on the sport of sand volleyball,” Haley contin-

ues. “I think it was a reflection on the economy and those schools not wanting to add a sport—which I completely understand. But a lot of those schools that voted for the override will add sand volleyball once they realize it’s best for the athletes. We’re always talking about adding scholarships for women, and the sand game is a great way to do that.”

Division II, which approved practice and playing season dates and a scholarship equivalency proposal at the Convention, aims to ease concern over competitive equity issues with a hierarchy financial aid model. This means that any scholarship athlete who participates in both sand and indoor volleyball will count against the indoor team’s scholarship limits, ensuring that the five scholarships approved for the sand game will go to new players only.

While Division II is set to begin sand volleyball in 2010-11, Division I pushed its start date to 2011-12 so it has more time to debate the specifics. The membership will likely approve the same hierarchy financial aid model as Division II, though have more scholarships and a slightly longer playing and practice season, at the next Legislative Council meeting scheduled for April 19-20.

AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 9

WarmUp At USC, plans for its sand team are beginning to take shape. The school hopes to build a small facility on campus that will accommodate a sand court, and while Haley

it is adding a division for D-III schools. Collegiate Water Polo Association Commissioner Daniel Sharadin expects many more small schools to add women’s water polo in the coming years as a result.

“The 14 [smaller] schools that have programs are a good sign. But we now need Division I schools to form teams for women’s wrestling to truly take off.” will serve in a supervisory position, the Trojans will hire another coach with outdoor experience.

“Previously, Division III institutions were often matched up against Division I schools, and in some cases, fully funded programs with eight scholarships,” he says.

“That’s just not an equitable situation, and the D-III athletes went into those contests knowing they didn’t have much chance of winning.

Moving from the beach to the pool, water polo supporters got great news this winter when the Collegiate Water Polo Association announced

Sharadin is also encouraged by the fact that water polo is an incredibly easy sport for schools to add. Most Division III institutions already have

a pool on campus, and as a spring sport, water polo won’t interfere with the winter swimming season. Equipment costs are also nominal since all a team needs are swimsuits, practice and game balls, and goals.

There is one other major benefit of the sport. “Most games are played in a tournament format on the weekends, so the scheduling is very simple for administrators and the athletes miss very little class time,” Sharadin says.

High school-age athletes are also trying out new opportunities through the growth of girls’ wrestling. Ten years ago, almost every girl who wanted to wrestle had to compete primarily against boys. While many still are, a growing number of high schools are creating girls-only teams, and Hawai’i, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington now hold girls’ state championships. The Cali-

Circle No. 106 10 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

fornia Interscholastic Federation will vote on a proposal this year that would expand its girls’ wrestling regional championships to a state championship in 2011.

The number of girls-only invitational tournaments held across the nation has also risen in recent years. The United States Girls’ Wrestling Association (USGWA) has open girls’ tournaments listed every weekend through the spring.

The NFHS last reported the number of female high school wrestlers to be just over 6,000 in 2008-09, but Kent Bailo, Director of the USGWA, estimates there are now over 10,000 high school girls wrestling in the United States.

“The 14 NAIA and NCAA Division III schools that have programs are a good sign,” he says. “But we now need Division I schools to form teams for women’s wrestling to truly take off.”

Seeing The

Circle No. 107

WarmUp Policies & Procedures

shirts required Most high schools have some sort of dress code that defines what students are allowed to wear during the school day. But whether those codes should carry over into athletics has been debated at a number of schools this year.

One of them is Lansing (N.Y.) High School, where a new clause was recently added to the school’s code of conduct that reads, “The school dress code will be enforced throughout the sports seasons and pertain to each

team, extracurricular activity, and club. It will be allowable for student-athletes to wear game or competition style clothing during practice.

Otherwise the dress code is in full effect, i.e., girls need to adhere to covering sports bras … and boys need to adhere to shirts being on.”

Anticipating that the clause might not be well received, Athletic Director John Taylor met with the school’s Captains’ Council. “This gave the captains an opportunity to speak their minds and us a chance to explain ourselves,” Taylor says. “Making the team leaders aware of the decision early on was very helpful in the process. It’s an interesting subject, and I’m glad the kids were able to offer their input and hear our reasons.”

Nevertheless, when the new clause was discussed at a Board of Education meetAt Lansing (N.Y.) High School, a clause was added to the school dress code prohibiting athletes from wearing sports bras without a shirt or going shirtless.

Facilities Seattle Pacific University needed to upgrade an aging facility. The WNBA’s

Seattle Storm needed a new place to practice. Both got what they wanted when the two groups reached an agreement that will allow the Storm to use SPU’s Royal Brougham Pavilion as its practice court.

The Storm were forced to leave their former facility, the Furtado Center, after their old owners, the NBA’s Seattle SuperSonics, moved to Oklahoma City.

The Storm contacted Seattle Pacific Athletic Director Erin O’Connell to ask if she had any space to spare.

12 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

ing, many upset students and parents packed the high school library to argue against it. They felt that athletes who remove their shirts during practice are not doing so to show off or be provocative. Rather, they are simply trying to stay comfortable.

There was so much discussion that the board was forced to expand the time normally allotted for public input.

“As a former runner myself, I understand the desire to run with your shirt off when it’s hot out,” says Taylor. “But you have to think about the image that boys with their shirts off and girls in sports bras is casting to the public.

We don’t want people who might be drawn by that coming to our campus.

“A student wouldn’t walk around school all day long without a shirt on, even if it was hot in the building, so the same rules should apply after school,” Taylor continues. “I’m not sure if we’ve convinced everybody that it was a good idea, but people do understand and have accepted our thought process.”

welcoming the storm

“Since the Storm’s season is in the summer, it’s ideal,” O’Connell says. “It’s a way to help them out and help ourselves as well.”

Seattle Pacific benefits because the agreement will allow it to renovate the lower gymnasium of the pavilion through a three-way deal. The renovations are being financed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, made possible by the Storm agreeing to special educational and community relations efforts. The Storm will be offering internships to Seattle Pacific students and may make appearances at university basketball camps and clinics.

“There were many things to be ironed out, and we put a lot of effort into making sure both groups were getting what they needed,” O’Connell says.

“We want to be good neighbors, and it’s really a win-win for everyone.”

Seattle Pacific Athletic Director Erin O’Connell says the plan, “was a creative way to upgrade our facility.”

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Circle No. 108

Marketing

It’s a basketball scheduling question many athletic directors have thought about at one time or another: Should j.v. and varsity teams of the same gender be paired together for games, or varsity squads of different genders? This past winter, Hillsborough County (Fla.) Public Schools changed its model—with positive results.

Previously, each high school team’s j.v. and varsity squads traveled together to play the same opponents on the same nights. But with a growing number of schools unable to field j.v. teams, the teams that did exist lost playing opportunities.

Scheduling

ALL VARSITY Now, girls’ and boys’ varsity travel together and play back-to-back on Tuesday and Friday nights. The j.v. squads compete on Saturdays, with three schools meeting to play two games apiece in a round-robin format.

“At the j.v. level, it took care of our problem with scheduling— each team played 12 games on a total of six Saturdays,” says Hillsborough County Athletic Director Lanness Robinson. “It also worked out well at the varsity level. Our girls played in front of larger crowds because they were paired with the boys’ teams, and that was great for them.”

Another benefit was reduced travel expenses.

“With j.v. playing two games each Saturday, we could schedule them against nearby schools and parents often just drove their kids, so we didn’t need to use many buses,” Robinson says. “The cost savings were really significant.”

home run revenue College baseball isn’t typically seen as a revenueproducing sport, especially when a team is only a year old.

But at the University of Oregon, a multi-pronged approach is challenging that way of thinking.

Joe Giansante, Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Communication, says the revenue stream for Oregon baseball starts with its new facility, PK Park. Built in two phases, the field was completed in time for the Ducks’ 2009 season—its first since 1981. And as the squad takes the field for its second campaign this spring, a multi-level concourse and permanent covered seating have replaced the temporary bleachers that sat behind the backstop last year.

“The first thing any college baseball program needs in order to make money is a proper ballpark,” Giansante says. “As we looked at places that have revenue success, the common element we saw was

a concourse with visibility to the field. The University of Arkansas and Louisiana State University both have one, as do most new minor league ballparks.

“Our concourse will essentially operate like a mall while the game is going on,” he continues.

“There’s a lot of commerce that can take place on a concourse.

A fan might walk by a popcorn stand, cotton candy stand, memorabilia booth, and our fixed concessions area, all on their way to the restroom. This will push our numbers through the roof because no one will leave the park to buy food and memorabilia.”

The concourse also gives the Ducks another chance to sell tickets. The Oregon ticket office plans to set up kiosks staffed with salespeople who will offer season ticket packages, future single-game tickets, and special group rate packages.

During its inaugural season, the Ducks averaged 2,399 fans per

I asked for an images showing fans in the stands and the best I got is onthe next page. Or I have general pitching action.

The district is planning a few refinements to the setup for next year. Girls’ varsity always played before boys’ this past season, but they’ll alternate the earlier start time in 201011 to ensure compliance with Title IX. The district may also schedule games on nights other than Tuesday and Friday so the highestrated officials can work more contests.

“Change always takes getting used to for some people, but overall we were happy with it,” Robinson says. “We solved the problem we had with our j.v. schedule and saved some money, too.”

The University of Oregon is using several ideas from minor league baseball to make its new squad a revenue producer.

14 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

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producer in a very controlled environment? The 30 to 50 year-old male demographic has money, and we want them in our ballpark buying a beer and a hot dog. There is no question that alcohol sales are a component to us making money.â&#x20AC;?

Another theme Oregon observed while studying different parks is the importance of suites. PK Park contains eight suites that are sold out for this season and will generate about $200,000 in revenue each year. A deal sweetener for buyers is the ability to use their suite during football season, as PK Park sits next to Oregonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s football stadium.

The suites are one of two areas where Oregon will sell beer.

The other is located along the right field line in a closed-off section called Fowl Territory. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of colleges worry about selling alcohol in their baseball facilities, but most of them already sell it in their football stadium suites,â&#x20AC;? Giansante says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why not expand that revenue

The Ducks are also looking to minor league baseball for revenue producing ideasâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;in two ways. One is through its relationship with the Eugene Emeralds, a short-season Class A team that will pay the university $200,000 for three monthsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; use of the park each year. The second is by borrowing some of the quirky in-game promotions minor league teams employ. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re really trying to be creative in how we present games so that people have fun and will want to come back,â&#x20AC;?

Gians­ante says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have theme nights, for example.

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Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to do an Elvis night again this year where we give all fans free mutton chop sideburns, play Elvis music, roll back the prices on some food, and have an Elvis impersonator contest. Last year we gave the winner plane tickets for two leaving that night for Las Vegas. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also trying to tap into what people get excited about around here,â&#x20AC;? he continues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Oregon football is extremely popular, so this year weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re having an Oregon football day where people who come to the park get to interact with the team on the concourse, get their autographs, and hang out with them. And weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do a foot­ball contest like field goal kicking or a throwing accuracy game.â&#x20AC;?

Oregon has also been aggressively selling season tickets, targeting alumni and donors.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;One thing college baseball has is people who will buy season tickets almost as a way to make a donation to the program,â&#x20AC;? Giansante says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been pushing season tickets super hard to our former players, donors, and friends of the university.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve found there are people willing to pay $500, even if they only go to two games, just to help the program.â&#x20AC;?

The final piece to any baseball program making a buck might be the most obvious one: winning. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re building this program to win, so we hired George Horton, one of the top coaches in the country,â&#x20AC;? Ginansante says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just as weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re investing in a quality ballpark, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re investing in a quality coach. When you put it all together, this program is in a great position to produce revenue every year.â&#x20AC;?

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Q & A

Deb Tyson Albemarle High School, Charlottesville, Va.

There’s a saying in Albemarle County, Va., that when the going gets tough ... give Deb Tyson a call. Few administrators have faced more adversity than Tyson, CAA, who for 20 years has been the Athletic Director at Albemarle High School in Charlottesville, Va. During a recent two-year period, Tyson helped shepherd her community through the deaths of three student-athletes and the school’s swim coach. This February, a historic winter storm pummeled Virginia and closed Albemarle for 15 days, forcing difficult decisions about game and season cancellations. And like most athletic directors, Tyson has spent the last couple of years dealing with budgetary issues.

Despite the challenges, Tyson, who is a past president of the Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and former Head Volleyball Coach at the University of Virginia, has persevered, setting a positive example for her student-athletes, her coaches, and her colleagues. In this interview, she talks about her approach to crisis management, what inspired her to become a high school athletic administrator, and the importance of cultivating relationships.

AM: Take us through your career.

What drew you to the high school level?

Tyson: I coached college volleyball for 13 years—it was my first career, my love, and my passion. Then one day, I was sitting in on a budget meeting at UVa and our situation looked pretty grim. We were adding more scholarships to become fully funded at 12, but there was some dispute about whether we would be allowed to add additional personnel to our coaching staff. I was extremely frustrated, so I left that meeting and drove to the nearest high school, which was Albemarle.

College athletics is a saturating environment.

It’s 24/7. I saw first-hand how hard it is to have a balanced life working at the Division I level. Not that high school athletic administration is much better, but at least our coaches go home to their families every night.

There’s a normalcy at this level that doesn’t exist in collegiate athletics, and it very much appealed to me.

I walked in, introduced myself to the secretary and asked, “Do you have athletic directors at the high school level?” That’s how ignorant I was about how the system worked. The secretary called the athletic director who talked to me about the profession, and a year later, I left coaching and became a physical education and health teacher at Albemarle. In my second year I was named Assistant Athletic Director, and my third year I was hired as Athletic Director.

What skills transferred from college coaching to high school athletic administration?

The things that carried over were my organizational skills, knowing the importance of structure, and being consistent at applying policies and practices. I also learned from coaching that to have a team that’s above average—regardless of talent level—you must relate to your players on a one-on-one basis.

As an administrator, I need to relate to my coaches in the same way.

It’s important to cherish and nurture those one-on-one relationships with coaches every day. If a solid relationship is in place, when you do have to criticize a coach, there’s a better chance that message will be received in a positive manner. Also, if you go about making rules and dictating change without talking to and involving your coaches, things can go sour in the long term.

What are your strategies for fostering personal relationships?

Everybody has his or her own style, but for me communication is a top priority. Even when you have 40 things to do—the phone is ringing off the hook and you have a meeting in an hour— you need to find the time to walk down the hall and check in with your coaches. I ask them, “Hey, how are you doing?” and really listen to what they have to say.

JIM COPONY

I make a conscious effort to keep that communication open. It’s so easy to get stuck in your office and get caught up in the day-to-day duties. But then you lose touch with the people around you.

Jordan Hill led Albemarle to a regional championship in indoor track and field this winter competing in the long jump, high jump, and triple jump.

What did you learn from your time as president of the Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association?

It certainly helped enhance my legislative knowledge and my understanding of rules and policies. But more than that, it allowed me to be involved with a group of people who are traveling the same road as me and dealing with similar issues and problems.

AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 17

You realize that when the smoke clears, the real joy comes from problem solving and building and nurturing those friendships.

When things do get hard, the strength of those relationships determines how successfully you navigate the problem.

I call it a haunting time because each of us has to make some really difficult decisions. Trying to stay positive, yet realistic, is the challenge of the day. Whether that means finding more corporate sponsorships, working more closely with booster clubs, or designing creative revenue streams at games, it comes down to figuring out how to run your business better—and it is a business—with less money from your school.

“Every athletic director needs to figure out who the leaders in the community are. Then you have to be willing to call on them … Part of the discussion is to get their advice, and another is to get them to advocate for athletics.”

What is your biggest challenge right now?

Figuring out how to do the most with the least amount of money. That’s the overriding cloud nearly everyone is dealing with. How are we going to get through a season when we’re losing coaching positions and having budgets cut? How are we going to get through this and still provide a quality experience for our student-athletes?

How important is it to involve parents and the surrounding community in these issues?

Within each community there are parental leaders. You have people who own businesses or are leaders within their job or field, and I rely on those folks to be a voice for me in the community.

Every athletic director needs to figure out who the leaders in his or her community are.

You get to know them by talking with them on the sidelines, leaning over a fence while they watch their kids play. Then you have to be willing to call on those people and involve them in these difficult conversations.

How do you draw these leaders into the discussion?

A lot of times I’ll have smaller meetings with them, or even just pick up the phone and call them individually. Part of the discussion is to get their advice, and another is to get them to advocate for athletics. I may call someone and say, “Hey, I need you to be at this meeting tonight. Can you do it? This is what I need you to talk about. How do you feel about it?”

How did you navigate the huge snowstorm that consumed your part of the country in February?

In our area and in adjacent districts we lost 15 days of school—and 15 days of scheduled games and practices. All of the athletic administrators in this area had to sit down and problem solve this together. We had to make compromises and do the best we could to preserve the integrity of the season. It’s taken collective conversations and open minds to figure out how to maneuver through all of this rescheduling and come out of it successfully.

For most sports, we had to stop the regular season and go straight to our postseason tournaments. This meant our j.v. and freshman seasons ended without warning.

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Q & A Many of our decisions were a last resort and not something we wanted to do, but what we had to do. Our area had a lot of homes without power, so most people kept the athletics side of things in perspective.

wasn’t sure I could give them either one, but I hoped I could at least help them live with their questions. In some ways, helping others get through crisis helped me deal with my own emotions—it was therapeutic.

Your school dealt with four tragedies over a two-year period. Can you walk us through that difficult time?

When it’s all said and done, what do you want to be remembered for in your career?

The first death occurred in August of 2005 when a popular cross country athlete who had just graduated and earned a scholarship to William and Mary died of heat exhaustion while jogging. At the end of that year, one of our lacrosse players was killed in a car accident that was very controversial. The following winter our swimming coach collapsed and died on the pool deck during a meet. And the next spring, one of our girls’ soccer players was killed in a car accident while driving to school.

The thing that makes me feel restful at night is knowing that I always try to be genuine, whether it’s during tough budget times, grieving periods, or celebrating a championship. I want to be known as an individual who can be relied upon and who keeps her sense of humor through the ups and downs.

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TO READ MORE from our interview with Deb Tyson, visit: www.AthleticManagement.com and search “More With Deb Tyson.”

Page 1

How did you and your program react?

I have a sign on my desk that says, “There will always be a moment in your life that will change you forever.” For the athletes who lost a teammate or a coach, that event had the potential to change them forever.

We never call a weather delay.

That’s why the first thing I did was stop everything else and put my energy toward helping the kids through the grieving process. We gathered counselors and crisis managers to speak to the students, and as the athletic director, I sat down with kids. I talked with them, cried with them, and just was there for them. You also do small things, like make arrangements to bus them to the service and for them to sit together. It’s not a structured process or anything you can plan for—you just do what you have to do.

Then you spend time helping them figure out what do to afterward. People want to do something when you have a tragedy and fortunately there are some good things that can arise from bad times. We’ve come up with memorial scholarships, concerts, and tournaments to commemorate those individuals who passed away.

When you’re in the middle of it, you forget about win-loss records and you forget about the budget. You’re reminded how quickly things can change and to celebrate every moment—to walk down the hallway and say hello to people and to make sure you touch base and let them know how you feel.

How would you describe your own emotional response during those times?

I’m a pretty emotional person, but initially I didn’t feel anything except an urgency to get to the kids and help them through it. Then, when I was alone at night and away from the people I was leading, I mourned. I certainly did my fair share of eulogies, and it was difficult, but I realized the people around me were in need of leadership and answers. I

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GamePlan Leadership

the newly-created position of Director of Parent Relations and Programs. This program is housed under Student Affairs, which is the same division that oversees athletics.

GARY HOVLAND

The goal of the program is to develop lasting relationships with parents and families that strengthen university ties during the college experience and beyond. This is accomplished by keeping parents updated and involved, primarily through a dedicated Web site and electronic newsletter. The program serves as a trusted resource for UC-San Diego parents and as a conduit of information.

In the athletic department, we have implemented a second tier of parent interaction that begins during the recruiting process and continues throughout the student-athletes’ time on campus. Every coach is responsible for developing methods of welcoming parents to our athletic family and communicating with them regularly. As Athletic Director, I have also developed strategies for reaching out to parents.

Open Door Policy Even at the college level, parents of today’s athletes want to be heard. With the right approach, engaging them can actually reap rewards for your athletic department.

By Earl W. Edwards There are many constituency groups that we as athletic administrators have to work with on a daily basis, from alumni to faculty to corporate sponsors. One of the more critical groups has become parents of student-athletes.

Parents no longer drop their son or daughter off at campus with a “see you at Thanksgiving” send-off. Instead, they communicate frequently with their children, eager for news about their struggles and successes. In response, it is imperative that we in athletics have strategies for working with parents of student-athletes.

Here at the University of California-San Diego, we have found that doing so leads to many positives. When parents understand how we operate and what their role is in our program, it minimizes personal confrontations and interference. It also creates an environment where they become allies and supporters of the athletic department and the university.

Part of the Family UC-San Diego has two ways that we engage parents of student-athletes. The first operates university-wide through

It all starts when I meet recruits and parents on their campus visit to explain the UCSD student-athlete experience and encourage the parents’ support of their son or daughter. We talk about the proud tradition of academic and athletic excellence at UC-San Diego and the Triton Family atmosphere that we have created.

I relate how most of our programs have a parent support group that cheers the team on and hosts dinners while athletes are on the road. I also make it clear we have a department rule that parents may not talk to coaches about playing time.

Parents who are not initially receptive Earl W. Edwards is Director of Athletics at the University of California-San Diego and a recipient of the 2007 NACDA Athletic Director of the Year award for the NCAA Division II West Region. He also operates Athletic Consulting by Earl Edwards (ACEE) and can be reached at: ewedwards@ucsd.edu.

AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 21

GamePlan Leadership to this policy come around in a short period of time since we enforce the rule strongly.

Team Events Once student-athletes become part of the Triton family, parents are welcomed with events set up by coaches. Baseball

The organizational chart provides parents with a clear understanding of how the athletic department works at UC-San Diego, and we emphasize the chain of command when parents have things they want to discuss: First, speak to the coach about any concerns, then to the athletic administrator who supervises that sport,

Our womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball team starts its engagement with a parent picnic, where all the parents and athletes play introduction games. The players are then asked to leave for a few minutes so the coaches can answer questions from the parents. does an excellent job engaging families starting with a parent day orientation.

The meeting lasts approximately two hours, and the agenda includes a review of the athletic department organizational chart, an introduction of coaches and administrators, and a PowerPoint presentation about baseball at UC-San Diego.

and then, if necessary, to the Athletic Director. Providing parents with this structure gets more buy-in from the beginning.

The head coach then talks about the philosophy of his program, special projects, and the role of each coach. He also clearly defines the parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; role as supporters of the program.

After the orientation, the team has a barbeque and scrimmage at the field. The parents of our baseball team are very supportive and engaged. In fact, two recently signed on to help with department events and committees.

Our womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball team starts its engagement with a parent picnic, where all the parents and athletes play introduction games. The players are then asked to leave for a few minutes so the coaches can answer questions from the parents. The coach makes it clear that their daughters are adults and she treats them as such. She also reminds parents of federal laws that prohibit coaches from discussing athletesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; grades, injuries, and so forth.

We also have several athletic events that have become a traditional time for parent gatherings. The menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crew teams host a reception for parents, athletes, and alumni at the San Diego Crew Classic. This is a major regatta with crew teams from all over the country and our parents provide food, tents, and tables. The track team does the same after the Triton Classic track meet. These special events provide a great opportunity for coaches to engage parents.

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22 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

Keep Them Updated Throughout the year, we work hard to keep parents in the loop. We have partnered with the Parent Relations Program to produce an electronic newsletter titled “Triton Family Connection.”

This newsletter keeps parents informed about campus happenings and programs specific to their needs, as well as athletic events and news. The newsletter is expressly for parents, and has been a great way to keep them involved with our programs.

We also keep parents, alumni, and supporters updated weekly through our electronic “UC-San Diego Athletic Update” which goes out every Monday.

Currently 16,877 individuals receive this e-mail, including approximately 2,000 parents and alumni parents. Each issue includes news, notes, and a brief summary of each contest.

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Individual sports programs communicate with parents through a variety of methods. Many use frequent e-mails to a parent list. For example, our cross country coach begins e-mailing our incoming freshman parents to inform them of the tryout process, preseason housing, and camp information. Once the season starts, parents receive a weekly e-mail update about training and racing progress.

Another coach writes individual letters to parents to let them know how their child is doing at least once a year—usually twice. He further communicates with families based upon their desire for involvement. He is accessible to parents and responds promptly to their inquiries.

Thanks & Honors One final way we engage parents is through recognition at our end of year all-sports banquet. Since 2003, we have handed out Parents Awards to recognize those parents of student-athletes who have stepped forward in a big way to support UC-San Diego Athletics.

With the shifting role of parents in our program, we wanted a mechanism to publicly thank those who significantly assisted our program. The award and presentation also encourage others to get involved. However, we make it clear that the individuals receiving the award represent all the parents we want to thank.

In the short run, it may seem easiest to discourage any parent involvement on collegiate athletic teams. But in the long term, welcoming parents can strengthen an athletic department in many ways.

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Circle No. 118

GamePlan Risk Management

GARY HOVLAND

In my view, the school created an unnecessary risk. Coaches could have accomplished their practice objectives without placing the plaintiff in a situation that caused him to hit the wall. And the coaches were clearly aware of the possibility of a collision.

This case also reaffirms the fact that padding is not failsafe. While padding lowers the chance of a problem, it does not eliminate risk.

Take-home message: Coaches need to continually ask themselves, “Are there any hazards in the area? Can I eliminate them? Will what I plan to do in the facility create injury risk? What’s the safest way to implement a drill?”

Failing to Supervise?

A Closer Look

After a leg injury, a high school wrestler accused his coach and school of failing to properly supervise him during a routine practice. He alleged this failure caused the leg injury, which occurred during a controlled, limited-time takedown drill.

By Dr. Richard P. Borkowski

Two qualified, experienced coaches were present during the incident. The plaintiff was warmed up and properly attired.

Regulation wrestling mats were in place.

He was a senior who was experienced in the skills being performed, and he received rest breaks.

Do coaches need to see every move their athletes make to avoid being liable for injuries? Our expert’s up-close review of three important cases answers that question … and others.

For many years, I have offered specific risk management strategies in these pages. How to make practices safer. How to check facilities for hazards. How to properly warn participants of risks.

This article is a bit different. It is about three actual lawsuits, all of which I have been associated with. Each case demonstrates key issues that should help lower the chance of injuries and being sued.

Indoor Practice More than a decade ago, a freshman college football player ran head first into a padded wall while practicing sideline-passing routes in an indoor football facility during a spring practice. The player caught the ball at the sideline, lost his balance, and struck the wall. He was wearing a helmet and full athletic gear, but the event left him paralyzed.

In court, his attorney raised several issues against the university:

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The team did not have to practice passing routes indoors, as this was a spring practice.

The team did not have to practice the specific passing pattern that brought the player into contact with the wall.

The team could have practiced this pattern in ways that would have eliminated the potential for receivers hitting the wall.

Additional padding that was stored a short distance away could have been used to better pad the wall.

Practice film showed several receivers making various types of contact with the wall prior to the incident. In addition, all the coaches stated they were fully aware receivers were making contact with the wall.

The university settled the case for a large amount of money. It was most likely a wise move to settle out of court.

The plaintiff was not injured because of an illegal maneuver. No other wrestlers were injured during the drill. Documentation also showed the drill was stopped immediately and the wrestler was attended to.

So what was the argument against the school? The plaintiff’s expert witness took the position that coaches are required to observe every action of every participant, Richard P. Borkowski, EdD, CMAA, is a sport safety consultant based in Narberth, Pa., and the former Director of Physical Education and Athletics at the Episcopal Academy in Merion, Pa. His most recent book is titled A Risk Management Handbook for Physical Educators.

AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 25

GamePlan Risk Management and should therefore be able to anticipate and prevent every injury. The expert also stated that the student-athlete was not prepared to participate. Both coaches disagreed and were able to demonstrate they had far more information and experience to make a coaching judgment than the plaintiff’s expert.

The case was settled out of court for what is sometimes called “nuisance money.”

Schools do not like to go to court, and it is generally cheaper for them to settle.

In my view, the plaintiff did not have a case. He received acceptable supervision and instruction in all areas. The position that a coach must watch everything in a practice is in conflict with the demands of the profession and simply impossible.

This case points out a difficult reality that can affect any coach and athletic director. Even when you meet your duty of care—when you do everything that you should—you can still be sued.

Take-home message: While no coach is immune to lawsuits, being safety-conscious will still lower the risk of injury and the chance of a costly and career-damaging lawsuit. When it came time for the wrestling coaches to detail their procedures, they were able to demonstrate their knowledge, professionalism, and attention to safety. The school decided to settle, but the coaches were able to hold their heads high and continue their careers.

Pregame Drills In 2005, a youth baseball team was holding pregame practice. While the head coach hit ground balls to the infielders, the assistant coach started hitting fly balls to the outfielders in left, center, and right field. The assistant coach stood near the third base coach’s box, and the fly balls hit toward center and right field went directly over the heads of infielders.

Testimony suggests the assistant coach was about 10 feet from the third baseman.

To read previous columns by Dr. Borkowski on risk management, enter “Borkowski” into the article search box at: www.AthleticManagement.com.

After a short period of time, the third baseman was struck in the head by a line drive off the assistant coach’s bat. The boy collapsed and suffered brain damage. The second baseman, his brother, suffered psychological damage.

The boys’ family sued the baseball league and athletic associations governing the league. They settled out of court for an undisclosed amount of money.

In my view, the coaches demonstrated a clear lack of common sense, organization, and foresight. The defense suggested this pregame procedure saved time and permitted more practice, but it is wrong to substitute expediency for safety. Hitting fly balls should have occurred far from infield practice.

What makes this serious injury more egregious is that the assistant coach stated he was aware of the dangers of what he was doing. He knew the risk, yet continued placing players in jeopardy.

Take-home message: Coaches sometimes recognize problems, but they don’t bother to correct the situation. They get lazy.

It’s the old “we’ve never had a problem before” syndrome. Everyone must always be on their toes when it comes to safety.

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Ready or

Being proactive about sportsmanship is great, but sometimes

a school is forced to be reactive. The following stories provide insight into what to do when things

do not go quite as planned.

At Waterloo (Iowa) West High School, new policies for student fans were met with resistance, but eventually accepted as the football season went on. The rules ban all signs and banners, define acceptable chants, and limit face paint. PHOTO BY RICK SMITH

Not

COVER STORY

By Laura Ulrich

ob Ceplikas, Acting Athletic Director at Dartmouth College, had just left a sports banquet in early December when the bad news came. Another Dartmouth administrator who had been working game security that night told him fan behavior at the contest had gotten out of control and things turned ugly. In the end, Dartmouth students stood accused of verbally assaulting the visiting team and using language that was misogynistic and homophobic. The sport? Squash.

Sara Croney, Superintendent of the Oconto (Wis.) Unified School District, was at her office on a Monday morning in January when the call came. The Oconto High School boys’ basketball team had visited rival Sturgeon Bay over the weekend, and the Sturgeon Bay superintendent was telling her he had witnessed the most flagrantly offensive behavior he’d ever seen in his career during the game—from the Oconto coach.

For Jeff Frost, Athletic Director at Waterloo (Iowa) West High School, tough news came in his morning newspaper last fall. Frost had been instrumental in instituting stricter policies governing fan behavior in his district, making changes aimed at enhancing the game experience for all fans. But a Des Moines Register article quoted a student-athlete who said the new rules were keeping fans away and killing school spirit.

The issue of sportsmanship is on every athletic director’s radar, but at times, problems still come from unexpected directions.

In this article, we share how several different

AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 29

COVER STORY

schools have handled potentially explosive situations and what they learned from the experiences.

OUT OF THE BLUE

When Dartmouth hosts a squash match, about 50 spectators usually attend. Behavior problems are unheard of, and Ceplikas says he didn’t expect anything out of the ordinary when Harvard visited in early December.

But on that particular night, 300 spectators turned out, 200 of them Dartmouth students. Fans heckled Harvard players and shouted sexist and homophobic slurs, according to witnesses interviewed by the Boston Globe and the Valley News. “Women on the Harvard team were called ‘whores’ and ‘sluts,’ witnesses said; the men were taunted with crude comments about their masculinity,” reported the Globe. There was one Dartmouth administrator on site, which wasn’t enough to keep things under control.

“It was a perfect storm,” Ceplikas says.

“It was the final day of classes, so a lot of students had free time. We had never beaten Harvard in a regular squash match, but we had beaten them in a preseason scrimmage.

And unbeknownst to us, our squash athletes were e-mailing their friends across campus, drumming up a large crowd. These factors came together to create a situation unlike anything we’ve ever seen in squash, and the result was some very regrettable behavior.”

In their initial response, Ceplikas and Dartmouth President Jim Yong Kim focused on reaching out to those who were wronged.

Kim apologized to Harvard’s president and also called the family of a Harvard co-captain who had been singled out by fans.

Next, they launched a thorough investigation. A member of the school’s student affairs office interviewed Dartmouth students at the game as well as Harvard coaches and athletes. Ceplikas was unable to discuss the results of the ongoing investigation or say whether any individuals were likely to be disciplined.

Part of the longer term response has involved looking for ways to better anticipate when an issue might arise in a sport that isn’t typically a concern. Improving communication with coaches was one of the first steps. “We’re asking our coaches of smaller teams to alert us any time they expect a larger-than-usual crowd so we can increase our administrative and security presence,” Ceplikas says.

Laura Ulrich is a contributing writer for Athletic Management. She can be reached at: laura@ MomentumMedia.com.

30 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

But most importantly, the incident sparked a campus-wide discussion about standards for fan behavior. Members of the men’s soccer team, some of whom were involved in the squash incident, have taken the lead in examining the issue.

Working with the student assembly, student-athlete advisory council, and captains from several sports, the soccer players hosted a forum in January to discuss spectator behavior. A panel was assembled, consisting of Kim, the student assembly president, and current and former Dartmouth student-athletes. In an interactive discussion, attendees and panelists discussed a range of topics, including how to create a home court advantage while staying in the bounds of good sportsmanship.

Ceplikas believes such discussions are extremely important with today’s students. “At every level, there is growing acceptance of the idea that it’s okay for ordinary people to walk into an athletics venue and turn into raging lunatics,” he says. “We now have a generation of students who have grown up seeing this as normal. We absolutely need frank discussions if we’re going to tackle that mindset.”

The students who organized the forum will continue to meet regularly, and Ceplikas is asking student-athletes to step up to the plate. “If they see someone behaving badly at another sport’s contest, we want them to speak up,” he says. “I know that’s difficult, but we expect them to be leaders in many respects, and this is a challenge we’re putting in front of them.

“We can’t help but be disappointed in the way some of our students acted at the match,” Ceplikas continues. “But we are proud of the way they acknowledged their mistake and are trying to initiate change.”

Sturgeon Bay Superintendent Joe Stutting, who supervised the game, Ruechel’s behavior on the bench was not helping.

“He was berating the officials,” Stutting says. “Our crowd started yelling for the refs to give him a technical foul. I talked with our student section, urging them not to focus on the other team’s coach, and I also talked with one adult who was yelling the loudest and asked him to tone it down.”

Late in the game, however, Ruechel did something that Stutting says crossed the line from unprofessional to unacceptable. An Oconto player was ejected from the game for an intentional foul, and Stutting says

Stutting decided he could not ignore the situation. “It’s not an easy thing to complain about another school’s coach, and I didn’t make the decision lightly.

But ... I felt I had no choice.”

COACH CONDUCT

Students may be allowed to make mistakes when it comes to sportsmanship, but what about a coach? That question came up for Oconto High this winter, when Mike Ruechel, Head Coach of its very successful boys’ basketball team, was accused of displaying unacceptable behavior during a game.

When the undefeated Oconto team traveled to play rival Sturgeon Bay in late January, the atmosphere was tense from the start. Not long into the game, excitement turned to antagonism, and according to

Ruechel high-fived the player as he left the court, celebrating his ejection.

Sturgeon Bay won the game, but Stutting decided he could not ignore the situation.

“I had to go to the Oconto administration,” he says. “It’s not an easy thing to complain about another school’s coach, and I didn’t make the decision lightly. But in this case, I felt I had no choice.”

On the Monday after the game, Stutting called Croney. He was extremely careful with his approach. “I told her what I had seen, not what she should do,” he says. “It would have been easy to make the mistake of demanding that the coach be punished or terminated, but I firmly believed it wasn’t my place to tell another administrator what to do.”

For Croney, responding to the incident meant being careful and thorough from the start. “I had to be deliberate while acting quickly, since the team was in mid-season and things needed to be resolved as soon as possible,” she says.

Croney listened carefully to Stutting’s account and then asked him to put it in writing. Next, she got in touch with the school’s lawyer. “Our lawyer advised us to inform Coach Ruechel that he would be suspended with pay until we could investigate,” she says.

Then Croney began gathering as much information as she could about what had

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happened. “I interviewed Coach Ruechel and gave him the written complaint from Sturgeon Bay and a copy of the officials’ sportsmanship report,” she says. “He gave me a list of people he wanted me to interview, and I talked to each of them.”

One thing Croney did not do was interview students. “I didn’t feel like it would have been appropriate,” she says. “This is an adult issue, and I could get a thorough picture of what had happened without putting any kids in a difficult position.”

During her investigation, Croney accumulated 54 pages of transcribed interviews.

The next step was to pass all the information on to the Oconto school board and schedule a hearing. Following the hearing, the board voted to terminate Ruechel’s coaching contract. Ruechel has publicly disagreed with the decision, and said he feels it was in retaliation for past disputes with the school’s principal.

Although the situation is not fully resolved, Croney is focusing on moving the community forward.

An interim coach was quickly named and she has urged parents and students to continue supporting the team. “I keep pointing out all the good things going on,” she says, “and I remind people that our coaches absolutely have to be positive role models.”

MAKING IT FUN

Administrators met with the advisory board to brainstorm ideas and a professor had a suggestion: Why not launch a contest, inviting undergraduates to submit videos promoting a sportsmanship message?

During the final minutes of a heated men’s basketball game against Gonzaga University, fans from Santa Clara University twice tossed objects onto the court. Both times, officials assessed technical fouls, and both times, Gonzaga converted all four free throws. Santa Clara lost the game, thanks in part to the fans’ actions.

The February 2009 incident was an isolated event, according to Jeff Mitchell, Assistant Athletic Director of Compliance and Student Services, but it prompted Santa Clara to think of ways to improve sportsmanship before such behavior turned into a regular pattern. Athletic administrators met with the athletics advisory board to brainstorm ideas and a professor had a suggestion: Why not launch a student video contest, inviting undergraduates to submit videos promoting a sportsmanship message and then show the winning video at home games?

“We quickly realized this could be a positive way to engage our students,” Mitchell says. “Rather than us preaching to them, we’d let them come up with the message themselves.”

Circle No. 123

In the spring of 2009, athletic administrators teamed up with the school’s Office of Student Life. They developed ground rules for the competition, secured prize money to award to the winners from a fund supporting campus spirit initiatives, and worked with the university’s legal counsel to clarify copyright issues. During the summer and early fall, the committee put the word out.

“We promoted the contest through athletics, student life, and the student government,” Mitchell says. “We used e-mail and Facebook and put postings all over campus.”

The finished videos were due in midNovember, and four were good enough to be considered for the top spot. In early December, the school held a sportsmanship forum where it unveiled the final videos. Next, the videos were posted online and voting was opened to all undergraduate students. More than 800 unique votes were logged.

The team that created the winning video was awarded $1,500, while the second place

team received $750, and the third place team got $500. The top video debuted at Santa Clara’s first men’s basketball conference game of the season and was played at the team’s subsequent home games.

“Our student attendance at men’s basketball games has been through the roof and fan behavior has been phenomenal,” Mitchell says. “The contest created a buzz, and we feel it made a big difference.”

Next year, the stakes will increase. The winners will see their spot aired during game telecasts. Instead of submitting a finished video, teams will submit samples of their work and the winner will be joined with a faculty mentor to create a televisionquality product. “We want to find students who can put a lot of time into it,” Mitchell says, “and we’re working to make it count toward class or internship credit.”

For other schools thinking of launching a video contest, Mitchell encourages involving as many constituencies across campus

COVER STORY

as you can. “Student life was critical because they have the means to communicate with the entire student body,” he says. “Getting faculty involved is important for their support. And keeping our student-athlete > To view the top four advisory board in the videos, visit: www.scu. edu/studentlife/osl/ loop really helped get pbpvoting.cfm. our athletes excited about the contest.

“The topic of fan behavior can have some tension around it,” Mitchell continues.

“Approaching it in a creative way that fosters buy-in from students, instead of lecturing them about what they can and can’t do, really makes a difference.”

IMPLEMENTING NEW RULES

While student buy-in is great, sometimes sportsmanship initiatives need to come from the top down. And sometimes, administrators need to take the heat for being the bad guys. Frost learned this last fall when he launched an effort to strengthen fan behavior policies at Waterloo West.

“For a while there, I was known as ‘Frost the Fun Hater,’” he says. “It was an

interesting period.”

Frost’s look at sportsmanship rules was prompted by a security audit undertaken by his district. An independent firm was hired to review policies and facilities at the school and generate a report outlining areas where it could improve. As part of the process, auditors met with Frost, toured the athletic facilities, and asked questions about policies and enforcement.

“They felt there were some things we could do to make sure our game day atmosphere was safe for all our fans—grandparents as well as students,” Frost says. “We decided an overhaul of our policies was in order.”

The newly articulated rules address several areas. First, they prohibit all signs and banners in the stands. “We went with a total ban because it’s clear and easy to enforce,” Frost says. “We don’t want administrators making judgment calls on whether a sign is positive, because there are often innuendos they aren’t aware of.”

The new rules govern chants as well.

“The only chants allowed are along the lines of, ‘Stand up, be proud,’” Frost says.

“We prohibit any chants that are negative or about specific players, as well as chanting back and forth with the visiting fans.”

The new policy also prohibits Waterloo fans from mingling with opposing fans and requires middle school students to be accompanied by an adult. A provision requiring students to wear their school ID tags also led administrators to ban all body paint, although that prohibition was later eased.

“We feel it’s important to be able to identify our students, and when they have their faces painted, it defeats the purpose of the ID tags,” Frost says. “With that purpose in mind, we amended the rules to allow arm and leg paint, eye black, tattoos, and symbols on the face as long as they don’t interfere with identifying the student.”

Frost rolled out the rules last fall, announcing them in parent meetings and at a season kick-off event, and sending them home in writing. He also read the entire policy on the PA system during the school day before Waterloo’s first football game.

“There was a groan throughout the building,” he says. “It was funny, because

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COVER STORY

these rules are not terribly different from the ones we already had, and we didn’t have large numbers of kids who were violating them anyway. But when they heard there were new rules, suddenly it was an issue.”

The Des Moines Register ran a story about the new policies, quoting a football player who said the rules weren’t “doing anything but hurting school spirit.” Frost also fielded calls from parents who were concerned about the changes.

“I had to decide how to respond, and it was a tough decision: Do I address the complaints directly or just see if they fade away?” he says. “I decided to keep a close eye on the situation but not address it directly. I waited for our first game to see what happened.

“We didn’t need to turn anybody away at that game and, for the most part, everyone followed the rules,” he continues. “We did need to do some enforcing, but when we reminded our students of the rules, they complied.”

About three weeks into the football season, Frost says, he no longer heard complaints. “I’m glad that I just let the com-

ments fade away,” he says. “If I’d overreacted and taken it personally, I could have made it more of a problem than it was.”

Frost also believes it was important to show he was willing to compromise by amending the face paint rule. “That showed students we weren’t out to ruin their fun, and we were willing to listen to their side,” he says. “It helped them buy into the rest of the rules.”

Although there were some bumps in the road, Frost is glad he took on the job of clarifying the rules. “After the initial response, we’ve seen record crowds of students at our events,” he says. “They’re still vocal, but now it’s much more positive.”

CREATING A CULTURE

After the well-publicized ponytail pull by a University of New Mexico women’s soccer player during a match last fall, upgrading sportsmanship in the sport has been on a lot of athletic directors’ minds. The Neumann University women’s soccer squad provides a great example of how to do it right.

For two years running, the team has won

fair, students often wonder, that when we play at another school their fans do whatever they can to distract us, but when they come to our place, we aren’t allowed to do the same?

One solution is to get all conference members on the same page, and the Mississippi Valley Conference, a collection of 14 high schools in Iowa’s largest class, has found a recipe that works. It promotes its leaguewide seasonal sportsmanship award as the most sought-after accolade in the conference, channeling its schools’ competitive drive to improve behavior.

Under the program, officials rate the sportsmanship of coaches, players, and fans in selected sports on a scale of one to five following each contest. They also have the option of writing a short narrative to explain their ratings. The rating forms are then sent to Conference Commissioner Randy Krejci, who keeps track of the scores.

For more information, contact Randy Krejci at: rnkrejci@cr.k12.ia.us or (319) 558-4463.

34 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

Midway through each season, Krejci updates schools on their standings, and when the season concludes, the school with the best score is awarded a trophy, which it keeps for a year. The fall season covers football and volleyball, winter includes basketball and wrestling, and spring/summer targets soccer, softball, and baseball.

Simply knowing they’re being watched and ranked at each contest changes people’s behavior markedly, according to Jeff Frost, Athletic Director at Waterloo (Iowa) West High School, which has held trophies for three out of the past four seasons.

Another key is making sure administrators and coaches emphasize the award’s value.

“Our trophies are displayed very prominently, and every time we have an assembly, I bring them out and talk about how proud we are of them,” Frost says. “I tell our coaches that our athletes and fans are going to decide how much to value it based on how much the coaches care. And I remind people that they’re being rated at the beginning of contests.”

For a conference contemplating starting a similar program, Krejci recommends getting everyone’s input from the start. “You also need one person who is willing to compile and compute the scores,” he says. “I use a pencil-and-paper system, but it could be computerized.”

AS A LEAGUE

When a school tries to improve sportsmanship, one of the biggest stumbling blocks can be the concern that it may find itself at a disadvantage with opponents. How is it

the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Gold Team Ethics Award, given to teams that don’t receive any yellow or red cards during the entire season. In 2009, only nine teams across all three NCAA divisions earned this distinction, and even more impressive, the Neumann team went card-free while posting its best win-loss record ever.

Head Coach Jeremy Brodovsky believes the award is the result of an overall emphasis on creating the right team culture. “I have three guiding principles for our team: respect, responsibility, and integrity,” he says. “We start talking about these at the beginning of the season and they shape everything we do.”

“Respect” is the key word Brodovsky uses when he talks to his team about interacting with officials. “I teach them to respect the referee’s position, whether or not they think the referee is doing a good job,” he says. “I coach them to speak very respectfully to the officials, if they need to talk to them at all.”

Brodovsky also prepares his players to handle a call that doesn’t go their way by

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COVER STORY

talking about it before it happens. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I tell them to think of the referees like any other aspect of the game they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t control,â&#x20AC;? he

He also coaches his athletes on responding to clashes with opposing players, whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a hard foul or a nasty comment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I tell them never to retaliate,â&#x20AC;? Brodovsky says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of having integrity, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s practical, too.

The player who retaliates is the one whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to end up with a card, not the player who initiated the problem.â&#x20AC;?

There is also a strict team rule on swearingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;it is not allowed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This might seem unrelated to sportsmanship, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an important part of establishing our team culture,â&#x20AC;? Brodovsky says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A playerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s language is something she can control and it requires using the self-discipline weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to achieve. It means they have to think before they act.â&#x20AC;?

Players are then reminded about sportsmanship during pregame talks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We make it one of our goals each game not to get

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I tell my players that sportsmanship is about self-discipline and being in control of your responses, and no athlete is successful without those two attributes. I remind them that the best coaches and athletes in the world know how to control themselves and their reactions.â&#x20AC;? says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I ask them, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Is it raining? Is the field narrow? Is it cold? These are things you have no influence over, and officiating is the same. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t waste your energy getting angry about calls you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like. Accept it and move on.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;?

any red or yellow cards,â&#x20AC;? Brodovsky says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t talk specifically about the award.

We just focus on not getting any cards that day.â&#x20AC;?

Such admonishments will do little good, however, if the coach doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t set the right example. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I tell them I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t gauge our success by whether we win or lose,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As long as they play to their capability, and strive a little beyond that, I am happy.

Knowing that helps them keep their cool when things arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t going well.â&#x20AC;?

As Neumannâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2009 season illustrated, playing with class doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean giving anything up competitively. According to Brodovsky, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because the skills required to play with sportsmanship are the same ones needed to win games. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I tell my players that sportsmanship is about self-discipline and being in control of your responses, and no athlete is successful without those two attributes,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I remind them that the best coaches and athletes in the world know how to control themselves and their reactions. There is no reason we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be a team that wins games and ethics awards at the same time.â&#x20AC;? n

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Circle No. 128

FINANCIAL PLANNING

A Good Deal

Your job is unlike anyone else’s on campus—and your employment contract should be just as unique. Here’s the latest advice on how to negotiate the best deal for you.

By David O’Brien & Dr. Elizabeth Alden

AP PHOTO/ANTHONY S. BUSH

I

Kansas State Athletic Director John Currie signed a five-year contract with his school in December that provides incentives based on the bonuses his coaches receive.

f you’re like most athletic directors, you pour your heart and soul into your job. You work hard to mentor every coach, listen and respond carefully to a long list of constituencies, and advocate endlessly for your student-athletes. You are fundraising more than ever and diligent about the bottom line. And, of course, you work long hours and countless weekends.

So, are you being properly compensated for all you’re doing? That can be hard to know since the job of athletic director has changed so much over the years and no one else on campus has a job similar to yours.

AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 39

That’s why it’s critical to know how to negotiate your employment contract. It may seem simpler to accept whatever salary and benefits you are given, or leave the whole thing up to your lawyer. But that puts your fate in others’ hands. Whether you are starting a new job or continuing in your current position, it is in your best long-term interests to carefully discuss and define the exact terms of your employment.

MORE THAN MONEY

When thinking about employment contracts, the first thing that comes to mind is usually money. What is my salary? But good employment contracts are much more than that.

Specifically, they are written agreements between an institution and its athletic director that define the individual’s role over a specific period of time, usually three to five years.

They should outline your responsibilities, reporting structure, salary, benefits, perks, renewal, and the terms and conditions should either side decide to end the contract early.

Often, it’s best to spell out responsibilities and reporting lines as the initial area of negotiation. Agreement on these specifics is needed before the two parties can fully discuss compensation.

Responsibilities vary greatly from one school to the next and will likely change over time. Be sure that the specific roles and priorities of your position are put in writing. For example, are you expected to be both the internal day-to-day manager of the department and also the chief fundraiser with a high annual goal?

In addition, clarify the organizational reporting structure for the position. Sometimes it is advantageous to report to the president, but in other situations reporting to a vice president makes more sense.

It is also important to fully understand who reports to the athletic director. Is the academic counseling area under the athletic director or the provost? Does the compliance unit report to the athletic director or the general counsel? Will the athletic director or the vice president for development oversee athletic fundraising?

Another up-front area of discussion should be performance expectations. How exactly will your performance be measured? Be sure you are comfortable with the goals and review process, and have them put into the contract.

Then, be sure to ask for the resources you think you will need to be successful. For example, if additional budget or staffing are needed to reach your goals, this is the best time to secure those commitments. Remember, no matter how talented an administrator you are, you cannot succeed unless the president wants you to succeed and is willing to provide the resources to make it happen. You may as well test that support in the negotiation period.

Finally, ask about the right of the institution to reassign you to another administrative role, which is a provision in many contracts.

Decide whether this is acceptable, and if not, ask if it is negotiable. If the clause remains in the contract, you should attempt to define limited circumstances under which this option may be exercised.

NEGOTIATIONS 101

With clarity on the big picture items and what exactly you’ll be responsible for, you can begin to discuss what you receive in return.

It’s best to start by assessing how much negotiating the institution is willing to do.

Look for clues during the interview process and as the school begins to make an offer. Listen to the words used and assess body language while the offer is being made. Is the school open to negotiations or making a firm offer?

In almost all situations, some back and forth is both acceptable and expected. More than most other university administrators, an athletic director must be comfortable and effective negotiating, and you may actually be judged based on the way you negotiate your own employment contract. Therefore, the manner in which you do this is an important first step in your new relationship.

Often the institution’s representative will ask you to specify what compensation level you had in mind to start the discussion process. It is important to have done your homework so that you can express your expectation with a sense of both confidence and fairness.

Throughout the conversation, advocate for yourself and your family in a polite, but firm manner. Remember that your future compensation and protection depends on what you were able to secure as a foundation walking in the door. The number-one arguing point is that in college athletics, expectations need to be commensurate with resources and that begins with compensation for the athletic director. Expressing this prin-

David O’Brien, JD, is a Senior Associate and Elizabeth “Betsy” Alden, PhD, is President/CEO at Alden & Assoc­iates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in executive search services for colleges and universities. O’Brien is a former Director of Athletics at Northeastern University, Temple University, and Long Beach State University with a law degree from Seton Hall University. Alden is a former Director of Athletics at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, Webster University, San Francisco State University, and Ithaca College and currently serves as Chair of the American Council on Education’s Executive Search Roundtable. They can be reached at: www.aldenandassoc.com.

40 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

$

More and more contracts between athletic directors and their institutions now include incentive clauses. At right, we list a sampling of a few gathered from public sources.

BONUS ROUND ciple is a way of stating that you ultimately get what you pay for.

Then, do not sell yourself short in the negotiating process. Research all the factors that you want addressed in the contract and prepare to fight for them. If the institution is not fair and amenable in its approach, it is doubtful that things will improve once you are on board. This could be a sign that it might not be the right situation for you.

Be sure to separate the different aspects of the job offer: salary, benefits, supplemental compensation, term, responsibilities, and liquidated damages. Each category needs to be negotiated distinctly and it is the combination of all these factors that constitutes your package. An institution probably cannot meet your demands in every area, but it should be flexible in some of them. For example, there may be no wiggle room on base salary, but adding several incentive clauses would be okay. (See “Bonus Round” above for a look at some current trends in such clauses.)

If an offer appears firm, be creative by negotiating for alternative benefits. This can include relocation expenses, a housing allowance, car stipend, bonuses, or supplemental compensation that is based on new revenue generated or longevity.

To ensure accuracy, repeat the offer out loud after you hear it so that there is no confusion. In addition, ask questions on any areas that you are not sure about. This clarifies that

$ FINANCIAL PLANNING

At the University of North Carolina, Athletic Director Dick Baddour receives one month’s salary as a bonus if the football team is invited to a bowl game or the baseball, men’s basketball, or women’s basketball team is invited to the NCAA Division I tournament.

He receives the same amount if:

> The average of the four-year Academic

Progress Rates for the university’s 28 varsity sports teams equals or exceeds 970

> UNC ranks in the top 10 of the final Directors’ Cup standings.

At the University of Missouri, Athletic Director Mike Alden receives additional compensation based on the success of the men’s basketball team in the NCAA Division I tournament:

> $15,000 if the team appears in the tournament

> $15,000 if the team appears in the Sweet Sixteen

> Two months of additional salary if the team makes it to the Final Four

> $60,000 if the squad wins the national championship.

At Kansas State University, Athletic Director John Currie receives a bonus for athleticrelated accomplishments when his coaches do. The amount is:

> 75 percent of the bonus paid to the head coach

> With the total amount for one year capped at 25 percent of Currie’s annual base salary.

At Arizona State University, Athletic Director Lisa Love signed a new contract this winter with several incentive clauses that cover both academics and athletics. The total is capped, however, at 50 percent of Love’s salary. She receives:

> One week of salary if the graduation rate of scholarship student-athletes is five

percent higher than the general university rate, two weeks of salary if the rate is 10 percent higher, three weeks for 15 percent, and four weeks for 20 percent.

> Two weeks of salary for each postseason

appearance by a team sport and another two weeks of salary for a national championship. For the football squad, the two weeks of salary is awarded if the football team appears in a bowl game, with the incentive increasing to three weeks of salary for a BCS game.

> One week of salary when a student-athlete in an individual sport places in the top five at the NCAA championships, and two weeks of salary if the athlete is a national champion.

For a look at the full list of incentives in these athletic directors’ contracts, search “incentive clauses” at:

www.AthleticManagement.com.

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everyone is on the same page, and it also may prompt the institutional representative to sweeten the offer so that it sounds better.

DOLLARS & SENSE

The heart of the negotiation process will focus on the compensation package. This area requires special attention so that all dol-

tion by researching salary levels. This is often difficult because there are no comparable positions on campus. Generally, the unique aspects of an athletic director’s job and the high visibility of the position demand a salary level at the vice presidential level with additional supplemental compensation opportunities. You can also speak with colleagues at similar institutions or within your conference and seek out data from sources such as The Chronicle of Higher Education or NACDA. Then, think about what is important to you in terms of compensation.

The following is a checklist of items that you might want to consider during negotiations over your compensation package: > What is the starting salary and how will it be increased in the future? > Will there be a signing bonus?

This is especially important if you are walking away from compensation (such as a longevity bonus) that would have soon been owed to you at your previous job. > What will be the process for merit

You may want to build in a rollover provision … This ensures you don’t end up working without a contract once your new contract expires—and that you get a formal review from your supervisor. lar amounts and benefits are discussed with precision and mistakes are eliminated in drafting the contract.

Going into this discussion, it’s important to understand the market value for your posi-

increases? When is the first time you will be considered for a merit increase? How often will this occur? > What are the categories for bonuses and what will the criteria be? Some suggested areas to consider are academic incentives, victories, conference championships, postseason appearances, attendance goals, fundraising goals, and longevity. > Will the institution pay any temporary housing expenses? Will a housing allowance be provided for the duration of the contract? > Will the institution pay relocation expenses? Is there a cap on these expenses or other limits, such as procedural requirements or specified vendors that can be used? > Are there any expense limitations on your travel to games? Can someone else travel with you at the institution’s expense? > How many tickets will you receive for each home game? How many will you receive for away games? How many will you receive for conference championships and NCAA tournaments? > Will you or others in your family be eligible to receive tuition remission for taking classes at your institution? Are there recipro-

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Circle No. 131

FINANCIAL PLANNING

cal relationships with other schools? > Will you receive any complimentary club memberships? If so, what expenses at the club are covered by the institution? > What are the health and retirement benefits? Are there any beyond the standard benefits for institutional employees? > Are you free to endorse products and retain the fees? Are you allowed to have your own radio or television show or accept speaking engagements and retain the fees?

Hand-in-hand with compensation is contract length. In most situations, you should look for a minimum three- to five-year agreement. This timetable acknowledges the difficulty inherent in running a complex intercollegiate athletics program. Anything shorter than three years entails significant risk. It indicates that the institution may not have complete confidence in you and does not provide you with a long enough period to achieve success.

You may want to build in a rollover provision that specifies the contract will automatically be extended for a certain period of time if the athletic director reaches measurable goals or the institution fails to end the employment by a specific date. Another option is to add a clause providing a window of time when the parties must renegotiate terms of the agreement. This ensures you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t end up working without a contract once your new contract expiresâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and that you get a formal review from your supervisor.

opportunity to present evidence challenging the termination decision to someone other than the decision maker.

A contract normally includes provisions allowing termination by the university for just cause. Negotiations in this context involve which transgressions can trigger the firing.

Common reasons include: > Failure to adequately perform the duties as athletic director > Violations of the contract > Conduct that could constitute a crime > Conduct that constitutes an offense of

moral turpitude > Conduct that brings the institution into disrepute > Violations of university, conference, or NCAA rules by the athletic director > Violations of university, conference, or NCAA rules by student-athletes, coaches, or administrators > Conduct that would result in termination for other university employees.

Another provision will define what happens if the university terminates you without cause, which involves the liquidated damages

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JUST IN CASE

While you may have the utmost confidence you will never be fired, it is still important to have a section outlining the conditions under which the contract may be terminated prior to its end date. Such a scenario can easily arise simply by alienating a key constituency, because a new president is appointed, or if thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a change in direction by the trustees.

At the same time, the institution will likely want language establishing penalties if you leave the position early.

This section should essentially specify the circumstances under which the institution can terminate you and under what conditions you can leave the institution prior to the end of the contract.â&#x20AC;ŻIt should also include a provision on liquidated damages, which defines any compensation the institution will be required to give you or that you will owe to the institution.

If the termination clause is invoked by the institution, there is probably going to be some acrimony. To protect yourself, be sure that this section includes some type of due process. Ideally, you want to be given the

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AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 43

FINANCIAL PLANNING

provision. A reasonable place to start these negotiations is to require the institution to pay your salary for the remaining period of the contract. However, if the amount of bonuses and supplemental compensation

by the institution during this time.

Most institutions will want you to agree to a mitigation clause, which would entitle the school to an offset against the amount owed to you should you get another job or earn money as a consultant during the term of the liquidated damages payout. This is fair, but you’ll want to discuss it up front. You should also negotiate whether you want the liquidated damages amount to be paid in one lump sum, periodic payments, or normal monthly installments as though you were still employed.

Another area to negotiate is your right to terminate the contract. This will require determining what type of notice you must give to the institution and what liquidated damages you will owe the university. Often, the amount agreed upon as liquidated damages is reciprocal on both parties no matter who ends the contract early.

An additional common provision requires the athletic director to receive per-

Most institutions will want you to agree to a mitigation clause should you get another job or earn money as a consultant … This is fair, but you’ll want to discuss it up front. called for in the contract is large, it is reasonable to ask for liquidated damages at an amount equivalent to what you expect to earn in total compensation.

An important element to keep in mind is whether the institution will continue to pay your health benefits during the payout period. Also, be sure to clarify whether any club memberships or other perks will be paid for

mission before discussing employment at another institution. This should not be taken lightly, as its violation may result in higher liquidated damages or even an injunction prohibiting you from working for another institution.

Finally, have your attorney look over the agreement and ask if the institution’s attorney will be available to discuss specific language with your attorney. Sometimes it is easier to have the attorneys negotiate some of the details.

ON THE RIGHT FOOT

Especially when you are starting a new position, contract negotiations can seem like a burden getting in the way of your dream job. But it is important that you take the time to work through them and get yourself the best compensation package possible.

In fact, there is no better time to ensure that you will be treated fairly in all respects than at the outset of the relationship. Take the opportunity to negotiate a fair contract that protects you so you can then concentrate your time and effort on moving the athletic program forward. n

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Circle No. 136

COACHING

T

he struggles of the University of Notre Dame football program over the past few years have been well documented.

The firing of Head Coach Charlie Weis and hiring of Brian Kelly this winter has many armchair quarterbacks preaching how to best rebuild the Fighting Irish.

While a similar situation at the high school level doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t generate the same national debate, it can be just as difficult to tackle.

When a sport program is not fulfilling its mission, similar questions arise: Do we need a different coach? How do we get motivated students to join the program? Can we convince the community to support this team?

Of all the responsibilities that high school athletic directors have on their plates, the

process of rebuilding a struggling program is among the most challenging. But it is important to take it on if we want to give our student-athletes the best experiences possible. And it is extremely rewarding when all the hard work pays off.

I had the wonderful opportunity to rebuild the baseball program at Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn, Ill., from 1999 to 2005, after serving as an assistant

The author (top left) celebrates a regional championship with his squad.

From the Ground Up

What do you do when one of your teams continues to be unsuccessful with no signs of improvement?

Rebuilding a program takes patience and persistenceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and a well-designed plan.

By Jim Fornaciari

AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 47

COACHING

coach at neighboring Naperville Central High School for 11 years. That experience, as well as watching other successful coaches, has helped me put together a blueprint for turning a failing program into a great one.

DIAGNOSING A DECLINE

In most cases, high school athletic programs do not fall apart overnight. If athletic directors monitor their teams closely, they will begin to observe a series of symptoms that exist in declining programs. By analyzing these warning signs as they relate to the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s particular athletics mission, athletic administrators can decide if change is necessary.

The symptom most often associated with failing programs is a lack of strong student participation. One of the key missions of high school athletic programs is to provide Jim Fornaciari recently retired as Head Baseball Coach at Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, where he continues to serve as a history teacher. His teams went to the state finals in 2002 and 2003 and his program produced a number of college and professional players. He can be reached at: James_Fornaciari@glenbard.org.

opportunities to students, and if they are not taking advantage of the opportunities, a problem exists.

Hand in hand with a lack of student involvement is often a drop in attendance at meets or games. Sometimes this is important for gate receipts and supporting the department financially.

But more significantly, it may indicate the loss of a strong community connection.

A head coach who is constantly replacing his staff is another cause for concern. Why would quality coaches come and go from a particular program so quickly?

The scheduling of contests or events is also key. Highly motivated coaches are interested in providing the best possible competition for their athletes and fill their allotted competition dates in a thoughtful manner. Decaying programs look for ways to cut games from their schedules.

When kids begin to lose interest and assistant coaches are leaving, another glaring problem becomes painfully obvious: los-

ing. Although no high school coach should be fired simply for a losing record, winning at the high school level is nevertheless important. Just as school administrators work to maintain high academic standards

You are going to ask your coach to rebuild a program that has fallen apart, and this cannot be done without a leader who can reach out and inspire people. You also need a person who exudes passion. in the classroom, our athletic leaders need to demand those same high expectations on the playing field.

Other factors to consider should be based on the goals of the specific school and athletic department. If, for example, coaches are expected to help student-athletes find opportunities to play at the college level,

Circle No. 137

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COACHING

evaluate if the coach is doing this. If pride in facilities is important at one’s school, assess whether the team maintains its field or court in a first-class manner.

When enough symptoms are present for the diagnosis of a failing program, an athletic director should carefully record the problems and provide feedback to the coach. At the same time, the athletic director must keep the school principal up to date on the issues with the team and there should be constant dialogue about them. If the coach is not receptive to change and an athletic director decides to dismiss him or her, it is important to discuss the reasons with the school principal and perhaps even members of the district office staff.

IN WITH THE NEW

Once an athletic director has decided to rebuild a dead-end program, he or she must focus on the hiring process. In hiring a new head coach, it is important to find a high energy person who has the vision to rebuild.

I have often observed athletic directors select “caretakers” who are a safe choice, but don’t bring about any significant change.

It is also important to be aggressive in finding candidates. Ideally, athletic directors should constantly keep their eyes and ears open to up-and-coming coaches. If there is an assistant coach at your own school who seems to have promise, start a dialogue with

him or her about goals and ideas. In addition, try to notice the freshman team coach from an opposing school who seems to have all the right stuff. An athletic director should not hesitate to contact colleagues at other schools who may have an assistant coach ready to take on the challenge of building his or her own program.

As you begin the search process, develop a list of characteristics you would like to find in your new coach. It is key to find candidates who have high expectations—for themselves, their assistant coaches, and the athletes. A coach who speaks of lofty goals will most likely be someone willing to put time into the rebuilding process.

Another important characteristic is the ability to foster relationships. You are going to ask your coach to rebuild a program that has fallen apart, and this cannot be done without a leader who can reach out and inspire people. You also need a person who exudes passion.

In addition, look for a coach who speaks of the entire program and not just about the varsity squad. A coach who talks about attracting more student involvement through the development of a new facility understands the big picture. For example, a baseball coach might pinpoint a goal of building new batting cages and a concession stand. A candidate who speaks about developing community events to promote the team is another good find.

In finding the perfect coach to help you rebuild a program, it’s critical to ask great questions during the interview process. Here are some suggestions: What is your coaching philosophy?

How do you define success?

Academics are a priority in this building. How would you support our academic goals?

> What are the key relationships that you would need to build as a head coach? How would you go about doing this?

> Describe a difficult situation you

encountered with a parent in your coaching career. How did you handle the situation?

> Describe a difficult situation you

encountered with a fellow coach.

How did you handle the situation?

> Describe the vision you have for our program.

> What methods would you use to

> Describe an experience you have

> Describe a difficult season you

> Describe an average practice. > How would you support the other

develop a commitment from student-athletes?

have encountered in your coaching career. What lessons did you learn from the experience?

> What role do you see the athletic director playing in your program?

50 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

had in making your program connect with the community.

coaches in the athletic department?

> What are the first three things you would address in taking this position?

KEY QUESTIONS

> > >

Once you start interviewing candidates, be sure to ask questions that will give a clear sense of whether an individual possesses these characteristics. (See “Key Questions” below.)

You can tailor the questions to fit the specific goals of your athletic department.

I would also encourage the athletic director to be involved in the hiring of assistant coaches. The quality programs I have been involved with and observed not only have strong visionaries in leadership positions, but also recruit great people to serve as assistant coaches. When possible, try to hire assistant coaches from within the building, who can help talk up the program during the school day and be magnets for the team.

However, the new head coach also needs to be very clear with potential assistant coaches about the time commitment involved in the program. This is especially true if the assistant is a holdover from the previous staff. Be sure to discuss expectations for off-season conditioning, summer workouts, and attendance at clinics.

It’s also critical to hire assistant coaches committed to teaching fundamentals and strong work habits. I liked to use one of my strongest coaches at the freshman level because this is such a key time to work on skills. Be wary of assistants not willing to work at the lower levels because they think they “belong” at the varsity level. These types of coaches most likely will not buy into the concept of a program.

If your new coach is interested in using volunteer coaches, be sure these volunteers understand the mission of the athletic department. I have encountered volunteers that bring a solid knowledge of the game but really do not understand or appreciate the goals of educational athletics.

ENCOURAGING INVESTMENT

With a passionate, energetic coaching staff on board, the next step is to encourage students (and their parents) to invest in the program. This is where it is critical for the athletic director to consistently demonstrate support for the new coach and help him or her refine plans. Your new coach is going to bring about tremendous change and will need your guidance.

How can coaches encourage true investment? It cannot be done by simply implementing tougher workouts and giving a few motivational speeches. Coaches who are going to ask more of their players both on and off the field need student-athletes to buy into an entirely new culture.

One idea that works well is to develop a specific “on-field” trademark the program can call its own. I observed a softball coach

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working to bring about a significant change to a program a few years ago. His athletes were accustomed to a very slow moving style of practice with a great deal of time spent standing around. This kind of pedestrian, low-energy practice made its way into the

field to dugout. Opposing players, coaches, parents, and umpires took notice and the new program became known in the region for quality softball with a special trademark.

It is also possible for a program to do some â&#x20AC;&#x153;off-fieldâ&#x20AC;? activities to develop a new culture. I admire local coaches who take their baseball teams on trips to warm weather destinations each spring. I have also observed the bonding developed when basketball coaches arrange for their squads to take part in a team camp.

Several years ago, my athletic director encouraged my programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s involvement in a special alumni weekend focused on welcoming back Don Burns, who had previously served as the baseball coach at Glenbard West for 30 years. Around 200 of Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s former players traveled from across the country to be part of this special day, and my players enjoyed visiting with and then playing in front of them.

From this event, my players understood the lifelong significance of making the most of your high school career.

My players struggled with the concept of 5 a.m. workouts the first three weeks of the season â&#x20AC;Ś But as they became accustomed to hard work, they began to feel a camaraderie they hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t felt before. game mentality of the players and helped lead to the downfall of the program.

The new coach decided a complete change in mentality was needed, starting with improved practice habits. The girls began to sprint from station to station, drill to drill,

Sometimes, implementing change simply takes perseverance. Asking for more will be met with resistance at first until players become stakeholders. My players struggled with the concept of 5 a.m. workouts the first three weeks of the season just as they struggled with the demands made to improve their academic standing. But as the players and staff became accustomed to hard work, they began to feel a camaraderie they hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t felt beforeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and they cherished it.

In some cases, participation may decline at first. The new expectations can create a culture shock for the athletes and their families. If you receive a phone call from a parent complaining that the â&#x20AC;&#x153;kids are not used to this kind of time commitment,â&#x20AC;? that is okay. Your coach is holding the athletes to the high expectations discussed in the interview process. Maintain constant communication with your new coach to be sure changes are within reason and continue to support him or her. In some cases, the athletic director should help the new coach prioritize his or her goals so they are eased in, in an appropriate way.

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AT THE HEART OF IT.

Circle No. 141 52 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

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AT THE HEART OF IT.

Circle No. 142

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COACHING

INVOLVING OTHERS

When changing the culture of a program, it is not only important to get staff and players to be investorsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;you will need the parents to buy in as well. The key here is communication and giving parents a role to play.

To get relations off to a positive start I always planned a program-wide potluck dinner to open each season. This allowed me to chat with parents while addressing overall goals and operations. I explained to parents that their job was no longer to coach their child (no more â&#x20AC;&#x153;little leagueâ&#x20AC;? parents offering advice every pitch of every game), but to support the program. I talked about how our coaching staff was filled with experienced, knowledgeable people who were now responsible for coaching their sons.

Another part of the discussion was about how hard work is necessary to bring success, and what exactly such work entails. If possible, the athletic director should attend this event, which sends a clear message of support for the new coaching staff.

A coach can then further parent buy-in by using them as a resource. Parents are

especially helpful in fundraising and facility improvement rolesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;but be sure to let them know there are no favors given to athletes whose parents lend a hand.

Another group to get on board is local youth programs, and the athletic director can help develop these links. One idea is to put on a coaching clinic where staff and players can demonstrate key fundamentals to youth teams. This is a great opportunity for the new coaching staff to connect with members of the community and build passion for the sport at the lower levels.

As your coach is busy building important relationships, he or she might find it helpful to employ a few organized methods of communication. To start, all coaches should have a team Web site. Parents have come to expect an accurate and updated online presence.

I also found it useful to send out program newsletters several times during the school year. These newsletters highlighted team and individual accomplishments both on and off the field. The players and parents appreciated the public recognition the newsletter presented, while youth league

players and coaches were given some insight into the program. In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world, coaches can also send out an electronic version of the newsletter via e-mail.

SPREADING THE PASSION

As athletic directors help to foster the rebuilding of a declining program, they need to be prepared for some questions and perhaps even some uneasiness from other head coaches. But this can actually be a positive for the athletic department.

When a veteran coach questions the energy of a new coach, you can suggest they ask the new coach about his or her methods. A healthy interaction among coaches can be encouraged by the athletic director, and you may even find veteran coaches rebuilding their programs themselves.

When change needs to be made, the selection of a passionate coach with a clear vision of the programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future is needed.

And with the support of a strong athletic administration, a new coach can rebuild a once decaying program into a model while helping to encourage pride in an athletic department and school. n

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Circle No. 144

FUNDRAISING

Paradise High School is hoping to fund athletics through raffling off a three-bedroom house.

Looking for Gold

In California, there’s a new gold rush on: finding money to save high school sports.

In the process, athletic directors have turned up some interesting and creative fundraising ideas.

J

ust over a year ago, students and staff in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District were handed some devastating news. Funds for all extracurricular activities would be eliminated in 2009-10.

They were not alone. Throughout California, school boards struggling with a massive loss of statewide funding for

education were greatly reducing monies for athletic programs—or cutting them entirely—in what seemed like the blink of an eye. And the cuts are going even deeper this year.

As in many other school districts in the state, the staff at Mt. Diablo did not take the news sitting down. Administrators immediately met to brainstorm ways to raise the $1.2 million needed to save athletics. Since

By Kenny Berkowitz

then, $900,000 has been brought in, with the additional $300,000 to be covered through upcoming events.

If there has been one small consolation to the ongoing budget crisis in California, it’s that many athletic departments have responded with novel ideas in fundraising.

From dinner auctions to selling a house, no stone has been left unturned and no volunteer has gone untapped. In this article, we

AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 55

profile some of the more successful endeavors now in place.

UNIFIED EFFORT

Faced with two options—the end of sports at its six high schools or massive fundraising—administrators and parents at Mt. Diablo knew they would need to be very organized if they chose the latter. They also knew they needed buy-in from the whole community.

Their first decision, which proved to be a good one, was to unify efforts across the district. Instead of each of the six high

To make the day fun and community oriented, the group also lined up side events.

These included a barbecue, an appearance by former Oakland Raiders tight end Jeremy Brigham, and performances by high school musicians and dancers.

The entry fee for the race was $20, and coaches were asked to have their athletes sign up as teams. Physical education classes gave extra credit to every student participant, and iPods were offered to the student at each school who raised the most sponsorship money.

In the weeks before the event, UMDAF received 1,221 online registrations, and another 800 people signed up on the morning of the race. That totaled over $40,000 before runners took their first steps.

The run enjoyed widespread participation from community members, teachers, coaches, and student-athletes from all six schools­­—many of them dressed in their team uniforms.

Parents pushed strollers, dogs ran alongside their owners, and Concord student-athletes pushed a wheelchair contingent of residents from a nearby nursing home. Athletic trainers from the schools donated their time to cover the event, a local soccer club paid for the cost of portable toilets, and each school provided enough volunteers to keep the event running smoothly.

Pat Middendorf, Athletic Director at Clayton Valley, says the combining of efforts was crucial. “If just one school had done this, the event wouldn’t have been anywhere near as successful,” says Middendorf, who also serves as President of the UMDAF. “A couple of these schools could have raised enough money to continue their programs, but others wouldn’t have been able to preserve athletics on their own. The fact that all six came together turned this into a major fundraiser, and everybody took it very seriously.”

By the end of the day, UMDAF had raised a total of $115,000. Middendorf credits community buy-in. “It was important to get as many people involved as possible,” she says. “If you can get your coaches, students, and parents on board from the very beginning, word will spread like wildfire. We had our top athletes signing students up in the middle of our quad, and we had a remarkable number of volunteers with experience and a willingness to work hard.”

By the end of the day, UMDAF had raised a total of $115,000.

Athletic Director Pat Middendorf credits community buy-in. “It was important to get as many people involved as possible. If you can get your coaches, students, and parents on board from the very beginning, word will spread like wildfire.” schools—Clayton Valley, College Park, Concord, Mt. Diablo, Northgate, and Ygnacio Valley—raising money on their own, they all pulled together.

Just as important was getting a structure in place. The United Mt. Diablo Athletic Foundation (UMDAF) was established as a tax-deductible 501(c)3 organization and a 12-member board of directors was formed, composed of administrators, parents, and boosters from the six schools. A Web site was created to publicize upcoming events, post press releases, profile alumni athletes, accept online donations, recognize donors, and sell T-shirts.

And an initial fundraiser was organized: the Mt. Diablo 5K Fun Run and Walk. Sunday, Oct. 18, was selected as the date of the event, and a goal of 1,000 participants was established. The UMDAF planned to raise money through entry fees, participants collecting money from sponsors, concessions, and grants.

Kenny Berkowitz is an Assistant Editor at Athletic Management and can be reached at: kb@ MomentumMedia.com. Editorial staff members Abigail Funk, Kyle Garratt, and Mike Phelps also contributed to this article.

56 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

Since the run, organizers have hosted a celebrity golf tournament and begun planning a three-day carnival for Memorial Day weekend. Middendorf is confident they’ll reach their target, but once they do, they’ll need to start fundraising for the 2010-11 school year.

“The minute the race was over,” she says, “we started asking ourselves, ‘How are we going to make this even bigger next year?’”

HOUSE MONEY

At Paradise High School, the price tag to save athletics was $100,000. Boosters tossed some fundraising ideas back and forth, and ultimately settled on the most ambitious suggestion of all. Why not buy a house, renovate it with volunteer labor, and raffle it off?

“We’re aiming high,” says Seth Roberts, who is in his second year as Athletic Director at Paradise. “It might seem like we’re shooting for the stars, but if we’re going to keep sports afloat for the next two or three years, that’s what we need to do. We need some major money to save athletics, and we can’t expect to raise it with a car wash and a bake sale.”

Organizers began by creating a tax exempt organization called The House of Sports and setting up a Web site to keep the community informed and accept online donations. Then, working with a realtor, they found a modest three-bedroom ranch house whose owner happened to be a retired schoolteacher.

With the downturn in the economy, she had been unable to sell the property for its assessed value, and was willing to strike a deal with The House of Sports. They agreed to pay the assessed value of $175,000 and placed an additional $15,000 in escrow for expenses incurred before the house could be transferred to the raffle winner.

Next, The House of Sports drafted a set of legal conditions for the raffle, registered the benefit with the state, and announced plans to sell 5,000 raffle tickets at $100 apiece. After buying the house and purchasing supplies for remodeling, the group would be left with about $275,000 for athletics, enough to sustain the program for almost three years.

With the help of an interior decorator, the owner of a local construction company, and the father of a football player, The House of Sports launched renovations at the beginning of last summer. Coaches poured the concrete walkways, student-athletes landscaped the exterior, and parents tiled the floors and painted the walls. By the time classes resumed, the house also had new furniture, appliances, bathroom fix-

FUNDRAISING

tures, kitchen cabinets, granite countertops, arched doorways, and hardwood floors. And there was a new fireplace, deck, and heating and air conditioning system.

“After all that work, the house looked like a shiny new penny,” says Roberts. “When we started, it was a 30 year-old house with old everything. When we finished, it was stateof-the-art beautiful. Most of the materials were donated, so the money put into renovations was small compared to the increased value of the house.”

Once the remodeling was finished, The House of Sports moved onto the second stage of the project: finding 5,000 people to enter the raffle. In the fall, they sold close to 1,000 tickets, mostly to stakeholders in Paradise athletics, including high school families, coaches, faculty, and boosters. They sold another 71 tickets at an initial open house over Thanksgiving weekend, which drew more than 500 people. The event included a set of smaller raffles, with tickets selling for $2.50, and prizes consisting of home furnishings and a ticket for the main raffle.

Over the next two months, organizers made steady progress at open houses spon-

sored by local businesses, and raised a total of $140,000 by early February. With a growing sense that they needed to pitch their raffle to a wider audience, co-coordinator Joan Swingle then created a marketing plan.

“This is a business, and we’re learning to treat it like a business,” she says. “That means getting more organized, coming up with a business plan, becoming more transparent, and demonstrating that we’re a viable entity. Most important, to raise the next $360,000, we need to reach a broader group of constituents.”

Paradise’s three largest employers have agreed to publicize the raffle to their employees and pay the cost of hosting an open house. The local Eagles, Elks, and Moose Clubs have launched a competition to see which group can sell the most raffle tickets. And Swingle has begun reaching out to regional and national media, especially television stations, emphasizing the chance to win a house while helping to preserve high school athletics.

Nov. 6 has been chosen as the date of the raffle drawing, which sets a pace of 400 tickets sold each month, and Roberts feels

confident about reaching the goal. “We’re going to get it done, no doubt about it,” he says. “There’s been too much time and effort put into this to settle for anything less than $500,000. Once the word gets out around the country that it only costs $100 for a ticket to win a house in Northern California, sales are going to snowball.”

STAR STRUCK

At its heart, fundraising is about selling something that you have easy access to. In California, the commodity in abundance is entertainers, and high school athletic departments are finding success with celebrity basketball game fundraisers.

That was the case for the boys’ basketball team at Claremont High School, which welcomed a squad of celebrities including Cody Linley of the hit television series “Hannah Montana,” Michael Copon of “Beyond the Break,” and Travis Van Winkle of “Friday the 13th” into its gym this winter. Booster club leaders liked that the idea was new, would be affordable for a family, and serve as entertainment the entire community could be interested in.

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Claremont put on the event with the help of Hollywood Knights International, a celebrity fundraising, special events production, and talent booking company. While the company does charge an up-front fee, Julia Mullinix, a member of the Claremont Booster Club who served as chair for the event, liked that Hollywood Knights had a specific plan for how the event would be run and wasn’t going to take a cut of ticket sales. “Even before we signed a contract, they provided us with a 50-page outline that diagrammed step-bystep what they were going to do,” she says.

Mullinix, meanwhile, had her own outline for making the event a success. First, she set out to secure sponsorships from area businesses to underwrite the costs of the event. She found that companies were excited to get on board and eventually sold enough sponsorships to more than cover expenses.

“Sponsors were so glad to be involved with something that was new and fresh,” Mullinix says. “They also liked that they could bring their families, or give tickets to their employees.”

To promote the event, Claremont placed posters around the district’s schools and other places in the community where youths and parents frequently visit. New posters with different celebrities on them were provided by Hollywood Knights and hung every few days to build buzz for who would be at the game. The school also hosted a youth free throw shooting competition in the gymnasium before the game, with the winner’s name announced at halftime. The goal was to bring awareness of the celebrity event to as many young people as possible.

Tickets were $8 in advance and $10 at the door, and nearly 1,000 people were in attendance. Around 600 of the tickets were sold on the high school campus, and they were also distributed at the junior high school and a local grocery store.

“We plan to do this again next year and will probably try to develop an even greater connection at the junior high and elementary school levels,” Mullinix says. “That’s the age group that most identified with the celebrities who were playing in the game.”

At the event, Bay Area CEOs and philanthropists served as celebrity waiters and were encouraged to put their personalities on display to earn tips that went to local public schools. Guests were invited friends of the waiters who, in addition to showing tattoos, dressed up in costumes, danced, sang, sold family recipes, rollerbladed, and performed gymnastics in order to stuff their aprons with tips for the schools.

“Because of the personality of this event, people get carried away and the waiters do just about anything to earn their tips,” says Kathie Velazquez, Senior Development Officer for the San Francisco Education Fund. “If somebody at their table says, ‘I’ll give you $10,000 right now if you get up there and sing, ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco,’ there’s no stopping them.”

The second annual invite-only dinner raised just over $300,000. More than 360 diners paid $275 for single tickets, or between $5,000 and $10,000 for a table of 12, with the majority of money raised coming from the

58 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

tips. There was also a silent auction. While the event does not support athletics specifically, it is highly successful and replicable by any group.

Velazquez says a big key to the event is the head waiter. “Find someone in the community who is well thought of and would be a draw as the head waiter,” she says. “That is the person who signs the letters of invite to the celebrity waiters. Have that person really personalize them as much as possible.”

Just as important is finding a crew of waiters who are outgoing, theatrical, and have friends with money to donate. “The most successful waiters invite people to their table who are going to tip, have fun, and play with the waiter,” says Velazquez. “They’re close friends and people with deep pockets.”

On the night of the event, waiters decorate their tables in different themes ranging from circus to baseball to Hollywood. They also meet beforehand for some training on serving and being interactive with guests.

And, to stir the competitive juices, the waiter who earns the most tips gets a small silver tray as a trophy and has his or her name engraved on a large silver tray displayed at the San Francisco Education Fund offices.

“There’s a lot of competitiveness among the celebrity waiters,” says Velazquez. “They all want to know how much they personally brought in.”

A GOOD TIP

Normally, a waiter showing off his tattoo of a fish eating a person to a customer would be grounds for a stern reprimand. But last December, at the San Francisco Education Fund’s Tipping for Teachers Celebrity Waiter Dinner, it resulted in a $10,000 tip.

The Knights played—and defeated—a team of coaches, teachers, and administrators from the Claremont School District.

Athletic Director Rick Dutton coached the Claremont team and while he was hoping to win, that was the least important aspect of the evening.

“It was an absolute blast, even for an old timer like me,” Dutton says. “Hollywood Knights had a local radio station there, and they did a great job playing music and throwing T-shirts into the crowd. The celebrities were hamming it up and creating a lot of energy in the gym.”

In addition to the game, the celebrities signed autographs for fans at halftime. In the future, Mullinix would like to have more merchandise on hand to sell and possibly add a cookout before the game as an added fundraiser.

But, overall, both Mullinix and Dutton agree that the first run couldn’t have gone much better. “It worked because it was so much fun to put together, and everyone— community members and sponsors—was excited for something different,” Mullinix

FUNDRAISING

says. “It wasn’t your typical high-end event and it was affordable for families. I’m sure next year it’ll sell out.”

PERSONAL TOUCH

A dinner auction may not be a unique or new idea, but the Petaluma High School Athletic Booster Club has put its own spin on the concept and brings in $30,000 a year for its athletic department every spring. The secret to its success? Offer items that have a personal touch.

“Our biggest sellers are when families or groups offer to come to the winner’s house and cook them a themed dinner,” says Booster Club Board Member Debbie Raffaelli. “For example, a group of firemen will put on a barbecue or a family will do an abalone feed. And a mom who lived in Japan for a while has put on a Japanese dinner.”

The dinners go for hundreds of dollars, and one eight-person meal even drew $1,200 two years ago. Another item that has garnered a large bid is a unique collection of wine.

“Two years ago, I started calling the parents of athletes to ask them to donate a bottle of their favorite wine,” Raffaelli says.

“I tag each bottle with their child’s name and the sports they play and put them all in a big galvanized tub. The 40 or 50 bottles we get range from $10 up to $50 in value, and two years ago the tub went for $1,200.”

Along with the live auction, there is a silent auction that includes gift certificates donated from area restaurants and event packages the booster club board members put together. One of the items up for auction this year was a date night that included dinner at a local restaurant, tickets to the movies, and a one-night stay at a hotel in town.

The club’s board also sends a letter to each sports team asking that the families get together to create a themed basket to donate to the silent auction. Going for $150 to over $250 each, ideas have included a martini basket, a coffee basket, and ones with heritage-based themes containing food from a specific country or culture.

The dinner event centers around a crab feed. The hands-on eating—crab is traditionally eaten with your hands after breaking the shell with a wooden mallet on a newspaper-covered table—gives the event a fun, casual feel. The dinner also includes

pasta, salad, and bread, and over 250 people typically show up, each paying $50 a head.

Raffaelli and the three other booster club board members do all of the organizing, including soliciting donations for the auctions, renting the venue, and spreading the word. The local paper runs an announcement about a month before the event, and school administrators put a notice in the school newsletter.

“We get most of the credit, but it takes the kindness of a lot of people to pull this event off without a hitch,” Raffaelli says.

“With smaller paychecks and fewer jobs last year, we were surprised we still made as much money as we did. But I think people are committed to this because without the club, our kids won’t be able to continue playing sports.” n

> For more information on Mt. Diablo’s efforts, go to: www.unitedmtdiabloathletics.org. > For more information on Paradise High’s house for sale, visit: www.keepoursports.com.

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Fundraising

Circle No. 146 AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 59

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Penn State Abington added men’s and women’s lacrosse last year as part of its upgrading efforts.

LEADERSHIP

On Offense As more and more small colleges look for the right moves to advance their goals, they are turning to their athletic departments for an assist.

This author shares what she’s learned navigating the process.

By Dr. Karen Weaver

MIKE LEVIN

Traditionally, the job of athletic director is very straightforward: oversee athletics at an institution. Hire good coaches, get schedules in place, make sure everything runs smoothly—and you’re set for life.

But on some campuses, we are being asked to do more. The role of athletics is being examined in a new way, and athletic directors are being included in a school’s overall strategic plans.

I’m not talking about the big-time schools, but rather the small college or university that is interested in expansion or attracting a different population. Over the past few years, small college presidents with big ideas are turning to their athletics programs and making them a key component to advancing their institutions.

Here at Penn State Abington, I’ve had the opportunity to be part of such a transformation. In 2006, I joined the staff as its first-ever full-time athletics director. My charge was to grow and change the athletic program so that it benefited the entire campus community.

IDENTITY NEEDED

Abington’s athletics upgrade story began prior to my arrival on campus, when ChancelAthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 61

lor Karen Wiley Sandler commissioned a committee of faculty, staff, and students to examine the role athletics might play in enhancing campus culture. Over the previous decade, Abington had transformed itself from a two-year to four-year school and was ready to take another step forward in its progress.

Since the 1950s, the school had been called Penn State Ogontz. It was known for providing access to Penn State’s 2+2 program— students who were denied admission to the University Park (main) campus as high school seniors could enroll, spend two years taking general education classes, and then transfer to the “main” campus at the beginning of their junior year. In 1996, our campus was renamed Penn State Abington and began to offer fouryear undergraduate degrees. We now have 16 majors for undergraduates, and more students Karen Weaver, EdD, is the Director of Athletics, Intramurals, and Recreation at Penn State Abington.

Her last article for Athletic Management, “At Your Fingertips,” focused on the ways she uses social media to promote her department. She can be reached at: kew21@psu.edu and followed on Twitter at: @abingtonsports and @collegeathlete.

choose to stay at Abington rather than go to University Park. But our athletics program had not changed much over the years.

The committee examining athletics came to an overwhelmingly strong conclusion that Penn State Abington should move its athletics program from the Penn State University Athletic Conference, a collection of Penn State campuses not affiliated with a national governing body at the time, to NCAA Division III. I was hired to achieve that goal.

Having been part of an athletic department that experienced monumental change in a previous job, I understood that this decision would have far-reaching ramifications that weren’t yet apparent. There were obvious flashpoints: facility needs, hiring new coaches while letting some current coaches go, dramatically altering game schedules, and finding a new conference to compete in. But doing this within the tolerance of a community that had known success on a smaller scale became the larger, unspoken challenge. After all, we were winning—why should we change anything?

The main reason was that while Abington teams were bringing home victories, their

success was not helping the college in any significant way. We were mostly competing against other schools under the Penn State umbrella, which made us one of many, with nothing unique. The cheer, “We are ... Penn State!” at games took on a clumsy feel. Abington athletics lacked an athletic identity.

One problem was obvious from the beginning—we have no on-campus housing. While housing options do exist nearby, we have the challenge of engaging our students when there is no residence life. Without housing, how do we make Abington feel like a real college campus?

We believed we could accomplish this by creating a strong athletic identity. By making athletics more significant and cohesive, a stronger community could emerge. Then, our academic and campus culture profile would compare more favorably to the other small colleges in the area, making Abington a more attractive option for high school students and helping us retain those students all the way to graduation.

When I consider the question, “How can an athletics program change a campus culture?” I answer by considering the larger

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LEADERSHIP

picture. Abington, like any other college campus, operates in a highly competitive marketplace. We are all working hard to recruit students to our campuses, and that can and should include athletes. It is no longer true that Division III rosters are filled with athletes who just show up for the first day of practice. Indeed, many campuses need their coaching staffs to bring in a certain number of recruits each year to hit their enrollment targets.

The best student-athletes have multiple colleges to choose from. For Penn State Abington to be in the mix, we have to be seen as competitive—in academics, access to postseason championships, scheduling, facilities, and coaching.

dents we were looking for was not hard. It also became the selling points I used when trying to hire good coaches.

Our major weakness was not being a part of a recognizable athletic conference or association. For years, our admissions staff, coaches, and even student-athletes had struggled with explaining who we were athletically. If it wasn’t a prospective athlete’s first question, it came soon after.

The NCAA brand is a powerful, well known one, and we needed to become part of it. I remember so vividly the day I asked

my chancellor what her number-one goal was for the athletics program. “Get us into the NCAA!” she told me. Okay, I thought, I can do that. Having worked in NCAA programs for most of my career, and having my roots in Division III as a coach, I understood the value the NCAA brand would bring to our campus.

There was one small problem, however.

A few short months before my arrival, the NCAA membership had instituted a moratorium on accepting new applications for Division III. Worse still, there was no timetable on

STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES

Of course, there were many skeptics, but I wasn’t one of them. I had a fresh set of eyes and did not see the obstacles from the same vantage point as those who had been on campus for a long time. What I saw, knew, and heard well before my first interview on campus left me very hopeful that not only could we do this, but that we could eventually be a very good Division III program.

Here is what I saw as our strengths: > A recognizable name (Penn State), known throughout the world for delivering a great education and quality graduates— all available on a smaller campus of 3,400 Untitled-13 students. > A campus community that understood and appreciated the value of athletics, located in an area full of absolutely rabid sports fans. > A faculty of practitioners and scholars who focused on teaching—we do not have any graduate assistants teaching our classes and most faculty members come to Abington to be teachers first. > A very affordable price of tuition, currently around $12,000 per year—one-third the cost of most other NCAA Division III schools. We are also the only public Division III school in the Philadelphia area. > A great location. Our campus sits 15 miles from the most populous city in Pennsylvania—Philadelphia. > A diverse student body. Abington serves three counties that are among the most diverse in the state. We draw our students from wealthy, public suburban high schools, private schools, Catholic high schools, and inner city public schools.

These strengths became the basis of our talking points to prospective student-athletes and their parents, and helped differentiate us from the vast number of choices they have in our marketplace. With a long list of positives, recruiting the types of stu-

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when it might be lifted. Just as frustrating was that many current members of the NCAA we wanted and needed to add to our schedule were not automatically willing to schedule a non-NCAA school.

Every cloud has a silver lining, though.

While we had to wait until 2009-10 to begin our provisional membership in Division III, it gave us time to ramp up. We needed to

add sports, full-time staff members, and an academic eligibility infrastructure, improve some of our outdoor facilities, and upgrade our weight training and conditioning rooms to attract todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recruits.

When the moratorium was lifted 18 months ago, we were much more prepared for the more demanding standards the NCAA had implemented for new appli-

W

hile Penn State Abington may be unique in some ways, it is not unique in its idea to use athletics to help with enrollment challenges. Over the past few years, more and more enrollment and athletic staffs at small colleges have been working together to help their schools. Enrollment terms like â&#x20AC;&#x153;paid admitsâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;yieldâ&#x20AC;? are becoming part of the athletic directorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vocabulary.

A recent problem for many institutions is not knowing how many students will show up on the first day of class. More students are applying to multiple colleges and delaying their deposits. Many enrollment managers speculate that this could be because students and their families are waiting to see what the financial aid packages turn out to be.

cants. We take great pride in the fact that we were one of only three schools in the country invited to join the NCAA after the moratorium was lifted.

GETTING TO WORK

As I began the transformation process, I knew the goal and I knew our strengths and weaknesses. That was the easy part. The

Athletics can help with this through their recruitment of studentathletes. In most cases, if a coach has developed a relationship with an incoming student-athlete and knows that athlete will be a member of the team, the student will be on campus the first day of classes.

A strategy some private campuses are using is to turn a portion of their enrollment goals over to their coaching staffs. For example, a coach must bring in five, 10, or 15 new students per year, and that goal is tied to their retention as coaches or their bonus.

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LEADERSHIP

hard part was getting everyone to buy into the changes.

Having a vision and being effective at communicating that vision to every stakeholder is critical to the success of any project.

Most strong leaders know this intrinsically.

Without the financial and programming support of key campus leaders (both formal and informal), no matter how hard I tried, an upgrade would not happen.

Many of us believe, especially if we are former athletes, that if we just work harder, we can achieve a goal. But getting others to come on board is not so much about hard work as it is about communicating well and reaching out to others. Penn State Abington would not be where it is today without a collective team effort.

Who were the key campus leaders we needed on board? The easier question might be, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Who didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t we need?â&#x20AC;? On a small campus, where one voice can ring loudly, I had to knock on doors in every campus building.

Obviously, there are some who must be part of the process: the chancellor, the vice president of student affairs (to whom athletics reports), the current athletics staff, and

student-athletes. But like any major change, I needed to look beyond a tight inner circle to others: > The faculty and faculty senate (including the chair) > External advisory board members > Academic advising center employees > Finance and operations personnel > Student affairs personnel who interact with students in a variety of groups and organizations and can help spread the word > University relations, which can help broadcast the new identity > Enrollment management personnel > The student government association.

I realized that every stakeholder had to be engaged in some form. I made formal presentations with the chancellorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s involvement, made myself accessible, and talked to people.

This included everything from sitting down for a cup of coffee with a faculty member to e-mailing an important group with an update.

It helped a lot that I have interests and goals beyond athletics. I was more than willing to participate on campus committees, and did so whenever asked. Serving as the

campus co-chair for the â&#x20AC;&#x153;No Place for Hateâ&#x20AC;? committee, and on the campus-wide Strategic Planning Committee were two ways that I engaged folks apart from athletics. It was important for my colleagues to see me as multi-dimensional. I think that added credibility to my thoughts on advancing the role of athletics on campus.

One thing I did a lot of was answer questions. Some of the initial comments I heard from long-standing faculty and staff included the following: > Will our athletics program look like the program at main campus? No. > Then what will our athletics program look like? I explained Division III athletics and its goals and philosophies. > How will you get anyone to come here to play sports when our facilities arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t very good? Compared to some campuses, our facilities are quite adequate. > Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never been able to recruit athletes TO the student body, only FROM the student body. Our recruiting strategies are going to change drastically. > Are you going to charge admission to games? No.

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Getting coaches on board was just as important. Over the phase-in period, I slowly raised expectations and provided more training (on recruiting, scheduling, hiring assistant coaches, and so forth). If coaches were not managing their team dynamics effectively, or refusing to get out and recruit to make the

of my coaches that I will not be evaluating them on wins and losses. They do a fine job of placing that pressure on themselves.

Instead, I will evaluate them based on the quality of the student-athlete experience.

I do that in several ways. First, I look at the academic trends of each team to determine if

game. I watch the competitive effort that each team gives and the ways the studentathletes engage with their coaches, their teammates, and the opposing team. You can tell a lot about a player’s satisfaction level by just paying attention to their interactions on game day. I also try to get to know the

Throughout the transformation, I have tried to lead in a way that takes into consideration the difficulty of change. One quote stayed with me: “Leaders who can stay optimistic and upbeat, even under intense pressure, radiate positive feelings that create resonance …

They craft an environment of trust, comfort, and fairness.” team’s talent better, then we met individually until it became obvious the coach didn’t fit.

When hiring new coaches, I made a deliberate effort to find those who met three values: highly ethical, good teachers of the game, and concerned about the development of the whole person. I have told all

coaches are recruiting student-athletes who can be successful at Abington. Second, I examine the retention of players from year to year. As I say to my coaches all the time, “You don’t win with freshmen and sophomores, you win with juniors and seniors.”

Third, I try to attend nearly every home

Circle No. 155 66 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

student-athletes and be approachable and supportive.

Finally, we have begun using a postseason survey that measures student-athletes’ satisfaction with every aspect of their experience. I use this feedback constructively to improve the student-athlete experience the next season.

LEADERSHIP

I see our coaches as my team, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my job to help them grow.

I preach that building a team first is more important than wins and losses. My philosophy is that if you create a positive team environment where everyone believes they are contributing, winning will eventually take care of itself.

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ADDITIONS

Another important part of the plan was adding sport teams and staff. NCAA Division III schools are required to offer a minimum of 12 sports by 2010-11, and we were at eight with menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soccer, menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s golf, menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball, womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s volleyball, baseball, softball, and co-ed tennis.

To decide what to add, we tried to be logical and discover what would be most attractive to our current and prospective students.

Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soccer existed as a club sport, so it made sense to immediately elevate it to varsity status (although it took four years to find a conference for them to play in). The NCAA does not recognize co-ed tennis, so we separated into menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teams. That put us at 10 programs.

Suburban Philadelphia has long been known as a hotbed of high school lacrosse, and a stroll through the Penn State Abington student parking lot told us that our students were no exception. There were lacrosse decals plastered on every third car. The fact that we shared our fields with the Abington boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lacrosse club made it that much easier. Also, the typical lacrosse student-athlete tends to be an above average student, satisfying my desire to raise our athletesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; academic profile. Adding menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lacrosse was an easy decision.

Finally, we all agreed that adding another individual sport made sense, and again, one that tends to produce highly motivated studentathletes. While we did not have access to a decent track, there are tons of places to run in our area. In the fall of 2009 we began womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cross country and in the fall of 2010, we will begin menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cross country. In three short years, we had grown to 14 teams.

As part of our NCAA compliance, I also hired a sports information director, a full-time athletic trainer, and a compliance officer.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to imagine a college athletics program without any of those positions, but I did have to explain the importance of each to constituents.

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LEADING CHANGE

Throughout the transformation, I have tried to lead in a way that takes into consideration the difficulty of change for most people.

The book Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence (Harvard Business School Press, 2002) by Goleman, Boyatzis, and McKee states that how leaders behave is more important than the process of change.

One quote from the book has always stayed with me: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Leaders who can stay optimistic and upbeat, even under intense pressure, radiate positive feelings that create resonance. By staying in control of their feelings and impulses, they craft an environment of trust, comfort, and fairness.â&#x20AC;?

I often refer back to the vision I had for the program from the day I stepped on campus, and I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wavered from it. In return, I think that gives my staff and colleagues a sense of groundedness and a confidence that we are making progress. It also reminds coaches why working at Abington can be a good career move for them. They have an athletics director, an administration, and a community that supports them as they learn and grow on the job.

For both me and my staff, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great to be part of a growing campus. At Abington, everyone in athletics understands and is excited about the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission. And that makes it an exciting place to work. n

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AMERICAN SPORTS BUILDERS

Grand Opening

Despite two hurricanes, Louisiana State University finished its baseball stadium on deadline, earning top honors for new outdoor facilities.

F

or 70 years, the original Alex Box Stadium was the home of Louisiana State University baseball, five-time NCAA Division I champions and the nation’s leader in attendance for the last 13 years. Named for an LSU outfielder who died in World War II, “The Box” was the heart of the program, but after countless renovations, athletic administrators agreed it was time for a new baseball home.

How do you replace a legend? By building on tradition. “There was never any question whether we’d keep the name,” says Eddie Nuñez, Associate Athletic Director of Operations and Project Development at LSU, who oversees all athletic construction. “Alex Box is synonymous with LSU baseball, and even though we were moving out of the old building, it was important to stay true to our history.

We wanted to build a state of the art facility and make sure Alex Box was given the honor and recognition he deserves.”

Inaugurated on opening day in 2009, the new Alex Box Stadium retains the dimensions of the old playing field while gaining almost 2,500 seats, for a total capacity of 10,150. It has dramatically increased amenities for players and fans, more than doubling the space for concessions and restrooms, and adding club lounges, suites, playgrounds, a Hall of Fame, a press area, and a 500 square foot concourse featuring live television coverage of the game.

For student-athletes, there’s an additional 6,000 square feet of locker and meeting room space, plus expanded facilities for equipment storage and athletic training.

Most impressive of all, the new stadium was completed on time—despite the technical challenges of draining a field that’s below sea level and some of the worst weather on record, including two hurricanes that threatened construction.

68 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

In recognition of those accomplishments, the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA) has honored the project with its top award for a new outdoor sports field facility.

Planning for the new Alex Box started in early 2007 with meetings between Nuñez, then-Athletic Director (and current Athletic Director Emeritus) Skip Bertman, Manager of Athletic Facilities Terrance Bold, Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities and Grounds Ronnie Haliburton, and Assistant Director for Athletic Facilities Todd Jeansonne. To begin, they tackled the question of whether the old stadium could be expanded through another renovation.

“We wanted to increase the number of seats, but there wasn’t room to extend the footprint of the old stadium, because there’s a railroad on one side, a highway on another, and a street on a third,” says Nuñez. “The only option was to build upward, which would have hindered multiple baseball seasons, from practices to games. We did a feasibility study, and also found that expanding the old stadium wouldn’t be cost-effective.

“The decision to move was difficult, but we knew we needed to give our fans the great stadium they deserved,” he continues. “And once we made that decision, the floodgates opened up and the ideas for new amenities started flowing.”

To make those ideas a reality, Nuñez reached out to Grace & Hebert Architects, based in Baton Rouge, who had previously designed the LSU Student Union and the LSU Agricultural Center. With G&H as lead architects, he proposed a joint venture with Omaha’s DLR Group, which had more experience in baseball stadium design, including new facilities at Penn State University and the University of Nebraska. From there, Nuñez hired North Kansas City’s Jeffrey L. Bruce & Company to design the playing field—no small feat in a subtropical area with heavy rainfall and frequent hurricanes.

“The field presents an enormous challenge because we’re below sea level,” says Nuñez. “If you dig a foot into the ground, you hit water, and the drainage had to be designed to withstand this region’s weather and terrain.”

After much discussion, they designed

A S S OCI AT ION AWA R DS

a drainage system that included layers of sand-based rootzone, lime-stabilized subgrade, geotextile filter fabric, and gravel, with smooth-wall pipe and a system of pumps to carry water away from the surface. To irrigate the space, they chose a network of rotors in a head-to-head coverage pattern connected to a variable drive booster pump. For the playing field, LSU chose California-grown Bull’s eye Bermuda grass, an exceptionally tough, easily maintained blue-green surface that thrives in high heat and humidity.

With team members working closely together, the design stage proceeded quickly, and in July 2007, LSU broke ground for the new facility, which is located 300 yards south of the original stadium. By the following summer, the project was moving forward on schedule. But before work could be completed on the field’s subgrade preparation, disaster struck.

Hurricane Gustav reached Baton Rouge Aug. 31, scattering construction materials from one end of the new field to the other.

Hurricane Ike followed two weeks later, setting back the project at least another month. “It was like getting hit with a onetwo punch right to the head,” says Nuñez.

“Everything that wasn’t bolted down landed on the field—chairs, bleachers, oak trees, you name it. All over Louisiana, people were dealing with the aftereffects of two hurricanes in two weeks, and standing in the middle of the field, we had to ask ourselves, ‘Where do we go from here?

What do we do next?’

“Our backs were against the wall, because our first game was scheduled for February 20, and there was no way to change it,” he continues. “Our only course of action was to do everything in our power to open on time.”

Over the next few days, contractors began clearing debris and redoubled efforts to get back on schedule. “Ninetynine percent of the workers on this project were from Louisiana, so there was a lot of pride going into this project,” says Nuñez.

“Everybody on-site understood our deadline and wanted to meet it.”

In the midst of the delays, Nuñez found a silver lining. “There was standing water in other places on campus, but the surface had drained very well,” he says. “We were seeing that field at the worst possible time, right after 10 inches of rain, and the pumps were doing exactly what they were supposed to do. The field was dry and we were ecstatic.”

Work continued the next four months, and a huge effort got everything done on time. In fact, workers packed up the last of

their gear at 4 a.m. the night before opening day. Twelve hours and 30 minutes later, the gates of the new Alex Box Stadium opened for the first time, drawing a crowd of 9,054 attendees for an evening that featured fireworks, commemorative pennants for the first 5,000 fans, live radio and television coverage, and a 12-3 victory over Villanova.

By the end of the season, an NCAArecord 403,056 spectators had enjoyed games at the new Alex Box—and phase two could begin. In the off-season, the athletic department raised the batter’s eye in the outfield seats to 35 feet, installed taller foul poles, added 960 seats in right field, expanded interactive areas within the concourse, and created a National Championship Plaza outside the entrance to the stadium. Plans are currently underway to construct another dozen suites

and add even more amenities, including a motor home parking lot to accommodate some of the Fighting Tigers’ most dedicated fans.

“We’ve made the decision that any new athletics facility at LSU has to include the infrastructure for expansion,” says Nuñez.

“If we intend to keep competing at the national level, we need to design buildings that are capable of growing into the future.”

As Nuñez continues to plan for the future, the most important lesson he learned from the Alex Box project is to be ready for the unpredictable. “On any project this large, you’re going to have ups and downs, with some things you can control and some things you can’t,” he says. “But if you prepared for anything and everyone is working to reach the same end result, you’ll overcome any challenge that comes your way.” n

Around the Ballpark

Advertisers in this issue of Athletic Management furnished several products to outfit the new Alex Box Stadium.

Scoreboard: The facility’s new Daktronics video display measures approximately 19’ x 34’. The university also installed an additional fullcolor display and two baseball scoreboards for showcasing statistics and other information. These installations were part of a major campuswide upgrade. All integrated systems were engineered with Daktronics’ industry-leading light emitting diode (LED) technology.

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Lighting: Musco’s Green Generation Lighting meets all the needs of the new stadium. Green Generation Lighting provides superior viewing conditions for spectators, quality lighting for television broadcasts, and exceptional playing conditions for athletes. Musco’s innovative lighting reduces energy consumption by as much as half, eliminates 100 percent of maintenance costs, and cuts spill and glare light in half compared to typical floodlighting technology.

Musco Sports Lighting • www.musco.com • Circle No. 621

Field Prep: Southern Athletic Fields provided Mar Mix infield mix, MuleMix field conditioner, Mar Mound Clay, and SAF Trac. The infield mix was applied at four-inch depth, and graded and smoothed to match the grass level. MuleMix field conditioner was added to the top inch of the infield mix and all clay areas. Mar Mound Clay was used in the full construction of the mounds and plate areas. SAF Trac was utilized to create the warning track around the perimeter of the field, at a depth of two to three inches.

Southern Athletic Fields, Inc. • www.mulemix.com • Circle No. 622

Turf Protection: BP Zone infield protectors from Aer-Flo are used to guard the premium infield grass during batting practice. Made of Vipol matrix mesh, these turf protectors are resistant to heavy spike traffic, plus they allow air and sunlight through, eliminating the problems of compaction and smothering. The LSU logo is permanently displayed on the protector using Aer-Flo’s exclusive Chroma-Bond multi-color imprinting.

Aer-Flo, Inc. • www.aerflo.com • Circle No. 623

AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 69

Transforming What America Plays On

North Collins High School Eagles – North Collins, NY

Obtain LEED® Credits By Using A-Turf Products.

A-Turf® Louisville Slugger® System: Engineered Specifically for Baseball & Softball

Our comprehensive choice of synthetic turf systems gives you options to match an A-Turf surface to your needs and preferences.

• Corporate Strength & Financial Capability • Commitment to Superior Quality • Proven Systems for Multiple Sports • Higher Level of Client Satisfaction

Synthetic Turf Athletic Field Builder

888-777-6910 • www.aturf.com

Louisville Slugger® is a registered trademark of Hillerich & Bradsby Co.

Circle No. 157

Str a ight Talk

Joining Forces

Here’s a look at how two high schools worked with others in their community to make the goal of installing a synthetic turf field a reality

C

ommunities come together for a lot of reasons. Some need to heal from a tragedy while others want to build for the future.

And in some cases, people rally around a synthetic turf field. While such stories won’t earn a green light for a major movie deal, it doesn’t take away from their significance.

A small Nevada city brought a football team back from a 64-year absence. An Ohio high school resolved to make its school the community’s central hub, offering a multitude of services and activities. And integral to both stories was a new turf field and an inspired local population.

For Community, By Community When Lake High School’s Blue Streak Stadium was first built in 1987 in Uniontown, Ohio, it was due in large part to a group of private citizens who created the “1-2-3-4 Project,” to raise funds.

When that same stadium, which has since grown rich in tradition, needed a new field surface, it was the spirit of that group that was reborn in Lake Building Committee Inc. (LBCI), which consisted of community members and students’ parents.

“We were not in a situation where we could go to the tax payers and voters and say, ‘We want to put this turf field in,’” says LHS Athletic Director Bruce Brown. “The only way this was going to happen was if we had a group of broad-minded visionaries that could support the drive to fund this.”

Expansion of the middle and high school buildings in 2000 ate up areas used for team practice and many youth sports programs. “During that construction, we added a YMCA, a county library branch, and a medical facility,” says Brown. “So we had gotten into collaborating with many of our community partners. We thought of our school district as the centerpiece of the whole community.

A multi-purpose field was one more opportunity for us to solidify that and enhance services for our whole community.”

The new field certainly was not presented as just a new home for the football team. The stadium hosted several summer concerts and aims to include everything from school band practice to community lacrosse leagues.

“We used the theme in our fundraising that this is the largest classroom in Lake Township,” says Brown. “We held many non-profit events in the stadium. The more times we can get people to walk through the gates and see what’s there, not to collect their money, but just to show that it truly is a resource for our community, it helps sell that concept back to our community that we are all united in this.”

Fundraisers put on by LBCI were many and included stand-bys such as a phone-a-thon and a car wash. But the group also made a point to hold events that highlighted the many roles the new surface and stadium could fill. Their version of “Friday Night Lights,” was an outdoor wrestling tournament with mats on the new field under the lights. Brown and LBCI also decided on a local sub-surface contractor and a local synthetic turf company owned by four brothers native to a nearby town.

“We did some of the typical things, but the bulk of the donations came from face-to-face conversations with people we thought were going to be vested in it,” says Brown. “We haven’t explored all the things we can do on the field, and that’s exciting.”

Historical Impact When the Muckers of Virginia City (Nev.) High School got ready for an outdoor home game they suited up just like everyone else. And then they got on a bus and drove 20 minutes away. It certainly wasn’t the school’s preference, but it simply had no place for their football, softball, and baseball teams to play. In fact, the football team hadn’t played anywhere since 1943.

In this section...

73 Guide to Synthetic Turf 78 Outdoor Facilities 82 Football & Soccer Equipment 85 Scoreboards

86 Bleachers & Seating 89 New Products 91 Fundraising Solutions 94 More Products

AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 71

Str a ight Talk “The kids always felt odd that we had to get on the bus to go to home games,” says VCHS Athletic Director and Principal Patrick Beckwith. “There was always a sense that we were the home team but it didn’t feel like a home game.”

Virginia City is an old gold and silver mining town so storied that the entire town is a National Historic Landmark. While that helps draw tourists, it also makes it hard to change anything in the town, especially dropping a football field in the middle of a small town.

“Anytime we want to do something we have to go through the Bureau of Land Management

and the Historical Society,” says Beckwith.

These challenges thwarted past efforts, but when Beckwith took over in 2005, he made a strong push. “We called Senator John Ensign and his representative, Kevin Kirkeby, who deals with rural counties,” says Beckwith.

“Kevin was our liaison with all these different agents. He made a visit to our site and arranged a meeting in Carson City. He was always on top of the process and for someone to be so invested was tremendous for us.

But it was not just beaurocratic challenges Beckwith had to overcome. There is not much flat land in Virginia City, so he thought of the idea of filling a gulley next to the school with dirt that was left behind from miners in the 1800s.

All Beckwith had to do was hire trucks to move it across the street and he would save a quarter million dollars over importing fill from Reno.

960 Penn Avenue, 8th Floor • Pittsburgh, PA 15222 • 1-866-270-6003 • www.prograssturf.com

ProGrass, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA provides the nation’s nest synthetic turf solutions for high schools, colleges, and universities.

From Youth Football to College Football, ProGrass features three product lines engineered specically for the game of football.

Once the Environmental Protection Agency deemed the dirt safe for kids to play on, the turf was installed on top and the Muckers played eight-man football in 2007. The school made certain concessions to the Historical Society, such as painting the fence brown and making the press box look like an old house, so the field didn’t take away from the old-time feel.

“The school looks better and that’s an important thing in running a school,” says Beckwith.

“There has to be a sense of pride and excitement. Now that we have football and a field, everyone wants to be part of it.

If kids are involved in activities and athletics they do better in school.”

72 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

Circle No. 158

Guide to Synthetic Turf

More Fibers, Better Performance

A Trusted Worldwide Leader

Outstanding in All Conditions

Footing. Traction. Shock absorption. Playability. A-Turf, a leading synthetic turf field builder, understands what’s most important to coaches and athletes. A-Turf’s dense, plush systems have the most fiber strands per square yard. More fibers mean less infill movement and greater consistency and durability.

Ask about the company’s industryleading warranty.

Mondo is a global leader in the sport flooring market, manufacturing flooring surfaces for virtually every sport. The company invests heavily in research and development to produce cutting-edge products that meet the highest quality standards and are environmentally safe. More than 1,100 Mondo tracks and 800 Mondo artificial turf fields have been installed worldwide.

ProGrass is a relationship-driven company specializing in the design, installation, and repair of synthetic turf fields.

Primary Advantages: Safety is at the forefront of every A-Turf field that’s built. As a member of the Synthetic Turf Council (STC), A-Turf uses high-quality fibers from only the top STCapproved fiber producers and infill materials that are tested and proven.

With an experienced installation team and superior craftsmanship, each field is custom-built to accommodate field markings and graphic design. A-Turf’s commitment to quality sets the company apart in the industry.

Primary Advantages: Mondoturf Ecofill infill delivers the appropriate amount of shock absorption and energy return for optimal, grass-like athletic performance. An environmentally friendly material, Ecofill retains less heat than traditional black rubber granules, so it reduces the potential for athletic fatigue and dehydration. The Mondoturf fibers have the optimum level of resilience, dimensional stability, and recovery. With their increased resilience and structure, the fibers’ translational and rotational friction characteristics lend themselves to easy pivots and turns, even in hightorque situations.

Recent Installations: Depew High School, NY Alvernia University Buffalo State College Shenandoah University Grand Haven High School, MI Half Moon Bay High School, CA

A-Turf 888-777-6910 www.aturf.com See our ad on page 70 Circle No. 500

Primary Advantages: Harsh weather and overuse can destroy a natural grass field.

ProGrass field surfaces allow excellent drainage and offer consistent G-Max ratings. This can reduce the number of rotational injuries and concussions. ProGrass provides a turnkey operation and will assist customers in designing the most eye-pleasing and cost-efficient field possible. The company has a special team that produces logos for installation.

Recent Installations: University of Akron Ronan School District, MT Pine Richland High School, PA Ozark High School, AR First Baptist Academy, FL Hope College

Recent Installations: Rockford High School, MI Loyola Academy, IL Elk Grove High School, CA West Liberty State College North Carolina Central University Ferris State University

Mondo 800-361-3747 www.mondoworldwide.com See our ad on page 16 Circle No. 501

ProGrass, LLC 866-270-6003 www.prograssturf.com See our ad on page 72 Circle No. 502

AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 73

Guide to Synthetic Turf

A Tradition of Quality

The Ultimate Home Field Advantage

A Better Infill Option

A world leader in synthetic turf and track installations, Polytan is the only truly vertically integrated producer and installer in the marketplace. The company's range of products is designed to suit your specific application, and with over 300 million square feet of sports surfaces installed since 1969, its heritage and expertise is a testament to the quality and value it provides to customers.

With 20 years of experience, Shaw Sportexe is a true veteran in the sports surfacing industry. The company’s turf is scientifically tested and battle-proven. Fair pricing, superior quality, installation expertise, and customer support all work together to give you and your program the ultimate home field advantage.

Mineral Visions provides specialty coated quartz products for a wide range of industries. FlexSand Action was specifically developed for improved technical and health/ safety properties over traditional synthetic turf infill materials. The company adheres to sustainable development principles that address social responsibility to families and communities, environmental stewardship, and economic prosperity.

Primary Advantages: Polytan’s goal is to provide fields with firm and fast footing and a very safe G-Max rating (a measure of surface hardness). Polytan synthetic turf systems have highly durable monofilament fibers and latex backings to ensure long-term performance and an optional e-layer below the turf for shock absorption with minimal deformation of the surface. The combination of proper force reduction and low surface deformation provides athletes with the feel they want in a quality turf surface.

Recent Installations: Prince of Peace High School, TX Bishop Lynch High School, TX University of Tennessee Indiana University Depew High School, NY University of Alabama

Polytan-USA 877-POLYTAN www.polytan-usa.com See our ad on page 46 Circle No. 503

74 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

Primary Advantages: You want a turf field that looks natural, keeps your athletes injuryfree, and gives you the best platform for performance. Shaw Sportexe is dedicated to designing and constructing the best surface for your needs. While capturing the natural aesthetics of grass, Shaw Sportexe has engineered turf systems that excel in durability and consistency as well as safety characteristics such as good traction and shock absorbency.

Recent Installations: University of Arkansas New York Jets Louisiana Superdome Louisiana State University Dayton High School, NV Big League Dreams Sports Parks, NV

Shaw Sportexe 866-703-4004 www.shawsportexe.com See our ad on page 60 Circle No. 504

Primary Advantages: FlexSand Action synthetic turf infill combines engineered elastomers and high-purity quartz sand to improve performance and safety. It combines the shock absorption performance of crumb rubber and the ballast of raw sand, and contains no lead or other potentially hazardous metals. It reduces kick-out by staying in place at the turf base, keeps fields cooler, has an ultra-low abrasion index, and won’t cling to skin or uniforms.

Recent Installations: Vancouver College Helen Bernstein High School, CA East L.A. High School #1, CA Thomas Jefferson Park, NY GaREAT Sports Center, OH

Mineral Visions, Inc. 800-255-7263 www.flexsand.com See our ad on page 27 Circle No. 505

Guide to Synthetic Turf

A Firm Foundation

All About the Fibers

Focus on Maintenance

Synthetic Surfaces, Inc. is a 37-yearold company that specializes in outdoor adhesives for installing artificial turf, sports flooring, and other recreational surfaces.

DOMO® is a manufacturer that develops unique fiber combinations to create sports grass with the highest level of playability. The DOMO® Group has been manufacturing synthetic turf and carpet worldwide for more than 40 years. DOMO® Sports Grass has supplied more than 60 million square feet of synthetic grass for football, soccer, baseball, field hockey, and golf since 1993.

Since 1996, GreensGroomer has manufactured turf conditioning equipment for both natural and synthetic turf sportsfields for all levels of play. The GreensGroomer line of products has been designed with the turf manager and athlete in mind, keeping the operation and maintenance simple while providing an optimum, safe turf surface for athletes. To date, GreensGroomer has provided turf conditioning equipment to more than 7,000 natural and synthetic turf venues worldwide.

Primary Advantages: Nordot® Outdoor Turf Adhesive has a high green-strength (grab) to prevent unwanted movement during installation. Its wide working window means long open-time in both hot and cold weather. Nordot Adhesive is one part urethane—no two part mixing/premature gel waster. It can be used in hostile weather—apply in wind, hot, cold, damp, or dry conditions. Nordot Adhesives has a long history of successful worldwide outdoor use.

This photo shows Nordot Adhesive being airless sprayed for bonding synthetic turf to a porous e-layer. It is used worldwide more than any other adhesive for both the total glue-down and/or seaming of synthetic turf. These key handling properties, along with over 30 years of successful outdoor installations, are why professionals use Nordot Adhesives.

Primary Advantages: DOMO® Sports Grass offers hybrid monofilament systems with high fiber density that produce more fiber tips and require less rubber infill. On a typical DOMO® field, infill settles and is not highly visible. This also helps reduce the heat that occurs on standard monofilament field systems that have a high amount of rubber exposed. DOMO® Sports Grass also offers non-infill systems for facilities where infill is not wanted. DOMO® Sports Grass tests its products to meet the most stringent standards in the world: ASTM International (U.S. standards), FIFA (soccer), and IRB (rugby). This ensures that clients receive products that are safe and have consistent playing qualities.

Recent Installations: University of Hawaii University of Puget Sound Los Angeles County Parks, Soccer Complex New York City Parks, Van Cortlandt Park Multi-Use Field Helen Bernstein High School, CA

Primary Advantages: Removal of surface debris from synthetic turf has never been easier.

The LitterKat synthetic turf sweeper is a commercially built, ground driven sweeper designed to remove debris from the turf surface without displacing infill material. With dual 12-volt vibrators in the collection baskets, any infill material that is collected is quickly returned to the field. All-aluminum construction with a durable powder-coat finish allows the LitterKat to be towed by even the smallest of utility vehicles.

The LitterKat is also equipped with a powerful six-foot tow-behind magnet that pulls unwanted ferrous material from deep within the infill.

LitterKat keeps your turf clean, safe, and ready for action.

.

Synthetic Surfaces, Inc. 908-233-6803 www.nordot.com See our ad on page 11 Circle No. 506

DOMO® Sports Grass 877-880-4258 Customer Service 949-226-7199 Sales www.domosportsgrass.com See our ad on page 33 Circle No. 507

GreensGroomer WorldWide, Inc. 888-298-8852 www.greensgroomer.com See our ad on page 49 Circle No. 508

AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 75

Guide to Synthetic Turf

Turf-Friendly and Budget-Friendly

Global Influence

A Family-Centered Approach

When Bannerman’s customers aerate, seed, topdress, edge, groom, or line their fields, they do it with confidence. When your players’ safety comes first, look to Bannerman. The company has been performing sports turf magic for nearly 50 years, helping turf managers save time and money while maintaining safe and attractive facilities. Contact Bannerman today for a demonstration of what the B-MG-6 Master Groomer can do for your synthetic and natural turf fields.

TigerTurf Americas offers advanced synthetic sports field, landscape, playground, and play area products throughout North America and Latin America. As a member of TigerTurf International, one of the largest turf manufacturers in the world, the company produces specifically what you need at its fullservice, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Austin, Texas.

Over the past several years, Boone Action Turf has worked with many manufacturers to develop a product line designed for the specific needs of all sports. Aligning with the leading turf manufacturers has enabled the company to develop an excellent product line. Former athlete Matt Boone has combined his knowledge with that of his father and two brothers to provide the highest-quality turf products at some of the most affordable prices on the market.

Primary Advantages: The B-MG-6 Master Groomer allows you to “broom in” crumbed rubber, sand, or a combination of both into artificial turf. It’s towable with any lightweight turf vehicle, and treadless turf tires ensure minimum PSI on synthetic and natural turf to leave no tire marks or signs of compaction on a field. Three rows of specially designed bristle brushes are fitted into recyclable mounting blocks, so there’s no fear of bristles pulling and falling out like with wood-mount blocks.

The three-wheeled carrier frame permits short turns without marring or scuffing grass surfaces, and the towing/working width is six feet, which allows for fast, efficient grooming. The brush is mounted on calibrated screw jacks for the correct contact with grass fibers to “tickle the turf,” and brushes can be raised for transport and storage when not in use.

Bannerman Diamond Groomers 800-665-2696 www.sportsturfmagic.com See our ad on page 43 Circle No. 509

76 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

Primary Advantages: TigerTurf’s ultimate goal is to provide children and athletes at all levels with innovative, quality, safe places to play. TigerTurf is dedicated to product development to keep customers abreast in the latest and safest technology available, with one of the largest research and development departments in the industry and affiliations with stringent governing bodies such as FIFA and IPEMA. In addition, with the opening of the company’s new full-service manufacturing facility in Texas, TigerTurf produces everything from lush, multi-colored lawns to two-tone sports fields.

Primary Advantages: Boone Action Turf prides itself on the quality of its turf and the relationships it maintains with its customers. When the company completes a project, the customer is happy and the fans who attend the games can see the pride that B.A.T. takes in field aesthetics. B.A.T. helps generate school pride with logos on halos or tufted into the Elite Sports Turf. The company also manufactures many highquality synthetic landscape products and putting greens that meet safety and environmental needs.

Recent Installations: Cardinal Newman High School, CA Parc Felix Leclair, Canada Gainesville High School, TX Eastern Kentucky University Summit County High School, CO

Recent Installations: San Diego State University University of Southern California California State University-Fullerton Pepperdine University Angel Stadium, CA UCLA

TigerTurf 512-782-8175 www.tigerturfworld.com See our ad on page 67 Circle No. 510

Boone Action Turf 888-528-TURF www.booneactionturf.com See our ad on page 80 Circle No. 511

Guide to Synthetic Turf

The Most Trusted Name in Water Reels

All About the Fibers

A Legendary Brand Name

Whether you need to irrigate your natural grass athletic field or cool, rinse, and condition your synthetic turf, a Kifco Water Reel is the ideal choice to help maintain your athletic fields. Water your football, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, or field hockey field in a single pass, then move on to other fields or put the unit away. Kifco offers numerous models of various sizes, so you can pick the best reel for your application and budget.

FieldTurf offers industry-leading engineering and manufacturing resources and leads the synthetic turf industry with regard to setting higher environmental standards.

FieldTurf is a global market leader in terms of synthetic sports fields, with more than 3,500 fields installed.

The AstroTurf brand offers advanced, state-of-the-art multi-sport and specialized synthetic turf systems with proprietary engineered technologies, leveraging the industry’s only vertically integrated manufacturing system. AstroTurf is positioned again as a leading innovator in the synthetic turf industry, with a growing number of high schools, colleges, pro teams, and municipalities selecting AstroTurfbranded products for their premium quality, technical superiority, and safety.

Primary Advantages: Kifco Water Reels are portable, reliable, simple, automatic, and affordable, and they have many advantages over other systems. One machine can irrigate numerous fields, and it’s made of the highestquality materials in the U.S. by skilled craftsmen. Only a single pass is needed to irrigates your field, and the unit shuts off automatically.

There are no in-ground heads to repair or winterize, and the product is more affordable than in-ground systems or stationary guns. Kifco Water-Reels also soften the field and enhance surface conditions to reduce player injuries.

Recent Installations: Messiah College, PA Aurora University, IL NW Missouri State University, MO Adelphi College, NY Players Development Academy Soccer, NJ

Kifco Irrigation 800-452-7017 www.kifco.com See our ad on page 53 Circle No. 512

Primary Advantages: The findings of long-term testing programs at the college and high school levels show that FieldTurf is safer than any other synthetic turf system and equal to, if not better than, natural grass in most critical areas of player safety. No other company can make this claim.

Aesthetically, FieldTurf’s Duraspine PRO turf system is leaps and bounds ahead of the competition because of its natural grass feel and look. The most durable spined monofilament fiber in the industry is also the softest fiber and provides for a perfect balance between aesthetics and performance.

Recent Installations: Princeton University University of Delaware University of Toledo University of Mississippi University of Pittsburgh Colorado State University

FieldTurf 800-724-2969 www.fieldturf.com See our ad on page 20 Circle No. 513

Primary Advantages: All AstroTurf fields are available with a choice of sport-specific field markings, including custom decorations such as team logos and lettering.

AstroTurf is the only synthetic turf provider that offers a field manufacturing process called PreFabrication, which eliminates variables affecting consistent quality and on-time field installation. In addition, AstroTurf continues to be a leader in proactive safety measures, offering a factoryapplied TurfAide antimicrobial treatment on every field.

Recent Installations: Wichita State University Bloomfield High School, NM Northern Michigan University St. Louis Rams’ Russell Training Center University of Oregon Calhoun High School, GA

AstroTurf 800-723-8873 www.astroturfusa.com See our ad on page 2 Circle No. 514

AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 77

outdoor facilities

Everything Under the Sun

Powerful Motivation

Athletic record boards from Austin Plastics are a great way to motivate your athletes to do their very best. The company’s boards are easy to install, made of durable plastic, and available in your school colors.

Track record boards are available in three standard sizes and can be customized to fit your needs. Record plates can be engraved, or you can print your own using Austin Plastics’ printing program and perforated card stock. Custom and standard boards are available for all sports.

Austin Plastics & Supply, Inc. 800-290-1025 www.athleticrecordboards.com Circle No. 520

The Name Says It All

Bright Idea

Control-Link is the reliable, cost-effective system that helps control, monitor, and manage your recreational facility lighting. Whether it’s for a new lighting system or as an upgrade to existing lights, the Control-Link system includes Musco’s Control-Link Central team, available 24/7; the on-site Control-Link equipment; field usage data by facility and user group; and an industry-leading warranty. Control-Link can even help reduce energy usage by operating lights and equipment only when needed.

Musco Lighting 800-825-6030 www.musco.com Circle No. 524

BigSigns.com is a national leader in stadium graphics. With its top-notch design team, you can create a brand for your program that helps to promote team spirit.

Coaches across the country have found that the company’s Dura Mesh product not only beautifies their stadiums, but also helps in recruiting and building team pride. Call a BigSigns.com national sales rep and get started on changing the plain chain-link areas of your stadium into sources of pride for your school.

BigSigns.com 800-790-7611 www.bigsigns.com Circle No. 521

Great Grooming

Who’s Got You Covered?

Improve Your Mound

CoverSports USA’s Spot Cover Kits are designed to protect bases, pitching mounds, home plate areas, and bullpens.

Each spot cover is made from highstrength, long-lasting 16-ounce reinforced vinyl or six-ounce polyethylene fabric to stand up to baking sun and drenching rain. Standard-size spot covers are available from stock, or CoverSports can customize kits by shape, size, fabric, and color. They’re available for hardball, softball, and Little League fields. Stakes are included to hold the covers in place, and round and square shapes are available.

CoverSports USA 800-445-6680 www.coversports.com Circle No. 522

Outstanding in Its Field

Don’t subject your field to just any field conditioner. The White Line Equipment Deluxe Field Conditioner is a multi-use tool that breaks up hard, compacted infields for improved sliding comfort and levels the field at the same time for player safety. The dual-action design can be used teeth-down for scarification, or flip it over for a twin-bladed leveling box for leveling and smoothing. It’s available from M.A.S.A., Inc. White Line Equipment Co. 877-717-2892 www.whitelineequipment.com Circle No. 523 78 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

The all-new Dirt Medic infield groomer from Newstripe is designed specifically for use with garden tractors, light-duty utility vehicles, and ATVs. Built with the durability of larger units, it features a four-foot-wide grooming path and 10-inch pneumatic tires for easy transport. A hand crank conveniently adjusts both the angle and depth of the harrow teeth and reversible cutting bar from the driver’s seat. An optional broom kit provides a finished surface.

Newstripe, Inc. 800-624-6706 www.newstripe.com Circle No. 525 Pro Mound, a unique blue gumbo packing clay from Pro’s Choice, delivers allstar performance on the mound and in the batter’s box. It bonds to form a solid subsurface that allows players to dig in and establish footing without leaving holes, and it holds up season after season.

Pro’s Choice 800-648-1166 www.proschoice1.com Circle No. 526

A Wind Breaker

Aer-Flo’s Tuffy windscreen will last for years because it’s made of exclusive Vipol matrix mesh. This is the official windscreen of the U.S. Professional Tennis Association—a super-premium product but surprisingly value-priced. Used by major colleges and world-class clubs, it’s available in 16 standard colors, including purple (pictured), burnt orange, and new dark brown. Durable Chroma-Bond imprinting technology produces sharp multi-color logos that can match your team’s PMS colors. This product is protected by a four-year factory warranty.

Aer-Flo, Inc. • 800-823-7356 www.aer-flo.com Circle No. 537

Save 20 Percent Off Retail

Game-On is a sports field soil conditioner that will not break your budget and will

Everything Under the Sun provide excellent results. It is a lightweight, expanded-shale product that absorbs more than 20 percent of its weight in water.

Game-On is more durable than clay products and tends not to break down into fine particles. The Game-On product line also includes Game-On Red topdressing, GameOn warning track mix, and Game Dry drying agent. From now until May 31, save 20 percent on any bagged Game-On product.

DiGeronimo Aggregates • 888-593-0395 www.hayditegame-on.com Circle No. 546

Let Fans “Feel” the Game

outdoor facilities

baseball spikes and football steel-tipped cleats, plus it makes the world’s toughest windscreen for tennis and all sports fields. Available in 16 colors, Vipol mesh is used exclusively in Aer-Flo brands: Bench Zone, BP Zone, Tuffy, and Landing Zone. It lasts much longer than other mesh fabrics and gives every field and court a professional appearance.

Aer-Flo, Inc. • 800-823-7356 www.aer-flo.com Circle No. 538

From Mow to Snow

A G2L® window system from RGC brings the game to life. This weather-tight, virtually seamless skybox window system allows fans to feel the game—not just see it—with a simple sliding-glass design.

The cost of G2L is significantly lower than comparable window systems, and a complete G2L system can be installed in a skybox within a matter of hours. For more information, visit G2L’s Web site.

RGC Glass • 479-444-6214 www.g2lwindows.com Circle No. 531

The Toro Groundsmaster 7200 and 7210 are zero-turn rotary mowers with powerful Kubota 28 hp and 35 hp three-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel engines to get the job done. They feature durable heavy-duty seven-gauge welded deck construction with the industry’s toughest spindle assembly. Use QAS attachments for tasks and convert from mowing to snow removal with the patented Polar Trac system. Go online to see them in action.

The Toro Co. • 800-803-8676 www.toro.com/PolarTrac Circle No. 532

Superior Performance

Cap It

With 50 percent more micro-fibers than conventional mesh, Aer-Flo’s Vipol matrix material protects grass from

Add safety, reduce player injuries, increase visibility, and enhance the beauty of any field by purchasing Poly-Cap from M.A.S.A. You don’t have to blow your

“America’s Finest”

Speedy Bleacher

PARK EQUIPMENT Since 1954 Jiffy Mover

Kay Park Recreation Corp.

1301 Pine St. Janesville, IA 50647 1-800-553-2476 Fax#319-987-2900 E-Mail: sales@kaypark.com

Website:http://www.kaypark.com Circle No. 159

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Outdoor facilities

Everything Under the Sun

entire budget, because Poly-Cap is very affordable. It’s manufactured with the thickest wall, creating unequaled durability and UV protection. The four-inch-diameter polyethylene construction offers years of protection. Poly-Cap is still the original fence cap and still considered the best.

M.A.S.A., Inc. • 800-264-4519 www.sportsadvantage.com Document1 12/20/02 3:10 PM Circle No. 533

Go Green

Light-Structure Green, Musco’s complete foundation-to-poletop lighting system, provides significant advantages for your budget and the environment.

Operating costs are cut in half through reduced energy consumption. All maintenance costs are eliminated for 25 years, including lamp replacements, through Musco’s Constant 25 product assurance and warranty program. Off-site spill lighting and glare are reduced by 50 percent, and constant light levels are guaranteed.

Musco Lighting • 800-825-6030 www.musco.com Circle No. 534

Go Deep

Pro’s Choice is proud to have Pro Red topdressing on its all-star roster of sports field products. This infield topdressing

boasts the company’s deepest red color, which will give your fields the appearance you want and the conditioning you need. Pro Red is specially formulated to provide long-lasting red color and all the advantages you have come to expect.

Pro’s Choice • 800-648-1166 www.proschoice1.com Page Circle1No. 535

They Stay Put

Now offered in 11 standard colors at the same low price, Aer-Flo’s Wind Weighted Baseball Tarps are the patented mound and base rain covers used by Major League, college, and high school teams throughout the U.S. With 100-percent edge weighting with galvanized steel chain for the perfectly engineered ratio of fabric to ballast weight, they stay down even in very high winds. The 100-percent double lock-stitched edging cannot unravel like competitive chain-stitched tarps. This product is available from the very best sports equipment dealers.

Aer-Flo, Inc. • 800-823-7356 www.aer-flo.com Circle No. 539

Tough, Durable, Versatile

The new Toro Workman HD Series can enhance your productivity with an indus-

Want Quality Turf?

Join the many players already on the B.A.T. TEAM. With three generations around turf, we know what products are worth standing behind.

888-528-TURF

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Circle No. 161

Everything Under the Sun try-leading total capacity of up to 3,002 pounds. A DeDion rear axle, integrated wheel bearings, and disk brakes make the Workman extra tough. With dozens of attachments and accessories, the HD Series can tackle a wide variety of jobs.

The Toro Co. • 800-803-8676 www.toro.com Circle No. 536

Performance in All Weather

The 112IM Sub is the newest member of One Systems’ family of premium-quality all-weather sound products. It easily withstands extended exposure to rain, snow, UV radiation, and temperature extremes, and its stellar performance and flexibility make it ideal for indoor and outdoor facilities. The 112IM Sub utilizes a single 12-inch high-output, low-frequency subwoofer to provide improved reliability and extended bass response when used in combination with One Systems’ 112IM or 212CIM enclosures. Go online to learn more.

One Systems, Inc. • 866-846-1284 www.onesystems.com Circle No. 541

Save Your Grass

EnkamatPlus from Colbond is an innovative product that provides protection for natural and synthetic turf fields in some of the most high-traffic areas, such as the sidelines during football games. It can withstand the pounding of cleats and heavy equipment and won’t crush or suffocate the grass. Made of a tough polyester fabric bonded to a specially constructed threedimensional nylon core, EnkamatPlus is the solution for protecting turf fields.

Colbond, Inc. • 800-365-7391 www.colbond-usa.com Circle No. 542

That Professional Look

Aer-Flo’s exclusive in-house proprietary imprinting technology produces sharp single- or multi-color images that do not fade, flake, or scuff off like digital printing or conventional hand-stenciled lettering. Chroma-Bond imprinting is available on all Aer-Flo brands for baseball, softball, football, track, and tennis, including Wind Weighted, BP Zone, Bench Zone, Cross-Over Zone, Tuffy, and Landing Zone. It’s used by Major League Baseball and the NFL, and endorsed by the USPTA. Chroma-Bond adds a professional touch to fields and courts.

Aer-Flo, Inc. • 800-823-7356 www.aer-flo.com Circle No. 543

Reduce Hazard Risk

Porous, recycled rubber drain covers from

outdoor facilities

Markers provide excellent water flowthrough while keeping debris out. They’re easy to install, economical, long-lasting, and available in grass green. The beret is held securely to the field drain assembly.

Standard sizes are 30” OD or 37” square, and custom sizes are also available.

Markers, Inc. • 800-969-5920 www.markersinc.com Circle No. 544

Be Heard

One Systems, a leading manufacturer of direct-weather loudspeaker systems, is introducing a new product called the Powered Outdoor Presentation System (POPS). It’s designed for use at outdoor sporting events and other venues that require a high-output, wide-range system that’s easy to move, quick to set up, and capable of withstanding all weather extremes. The POPS sound quality and vocal intelligibility make it perfect for any facility. The system includes a 15-inch two-way system, 18-inch subwoofer, and 100 feet each of mains cables and XLR connecting cables. Visit One Systems online for product details.

One Systems, Inc. • 866-846-1284 www.onesystems.com Circle No. 545

Many Satisfied Customers

Beam Clay has supplied products to every Major League Baseball team, more than 150 minor league teams, more than 700 colleges, and thousands of towns and schools from all 50 states and worldwide. Beam Clay supplies special mixes for infields, pitcher’s mounds, home plate areas, red warning tracks, infield conditioners, and drying agents, plus more than 200 other infield products, including regional infield mixes blended for every state and climate from bulk plants nationwide.

Beam Clay • 800-247-BEAM www.beamclay.com Circle No. 530

Topdressing Saves the Day

What do you do if you’re hosting a regional baseball tournament, it has been raining all morning, and four of your five infields are mud? You move the tournament to the field that has the Game-On product applied. This scenario played out at a baseball tournament in Stark County, Ohio, this past June. The only playable field was the one that had been treated with Game-On Red topdressing.

Using that field, the tournament was completed as scheduled. From now until May 31, save 20 percent on any bagged Game-On product.

DiGeronimo Aggregates, LLC • 888-593-0395 www.hayditegame-on.com Circle No. 547 AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 81

Taking the Field

Football & soccer Equipment

One Goal for Multiple Sport-

When soccer, football, or rugby teams share space, Combo Goals are the answer. They provide an official 24’ x 8’ soccer goal, an official 10-foot high football crossbar, and 10-foot uprights that install at high school and college widths or rugby width. Combo Goals are constructed of weatherproof four-inch square aluminum extrusions with large corner radii and include the QwikTrack net attachment and Torque Tested backstays. Choose the in-ground permanent/semi-permanent or portable model.

Future Pro 800-328-4625 www.futureproinc.com Circle No. 551

The Infinity Advantage

Improve your speed, strength, and overall fitness with this comfortable new form-fitting vest from Power Systems. The breathable design offers adjustable quick-release buckles, reflective stripes, and a secure pocket for your phone, ID, or mp3 player. One size fits most, and it’s available in sixand 10-pound models. Do not wash it or soak it in water.

Power Systems, Inc. 800-321-6975 www.power-systems.com Circle No. 552

Less Trouble, More Touches

The Pro Trainer soccer machine builds skills quickly because players can get hundreds more touches per practice session—quality touches that only the tirelessly accurate passes and shots from a machine can provide. Now, practicing headers and traps is fun instead of frustrating with the consistent passes from the Pro Trainer. It can serve rolling, bouncing, driving, or high-arching shots at distances of up to 40 meters. Plus, it is powered by a rechargeable battery that will last up to two hours on a charge and can be recharged overnight with the included battery charger.

Sports Tutor 800-448-8867 www.sportsmachines.com Circle No. 553

Half the Cost

The new GearBoss II storage system improves inventory management, space utilization, and sanitation of athletic equipment at half the cost of the premium GearBoss solution.

Requiring significantly less space than traditional shelving, these flexible, high-density carts are easily configurable for a variety of equipment. The 82 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

carts roll along a fixed track in the floor, allowing easy access and minimizing wasted space. The open design enables equipment to dry quickly, improving sanitation.

Wenger Corp.

800-4-WENGER www.wengercorp.com Circle No. 554

Safety and Convenience

Bison’s new No-Tip wheels have molded polyethylene rear drums that provide anti-tip ballast to meet ASTM F-2056 and double as 12-inch wide transport wheels. No-Tip wheels are standard on many Bison Portable ShootOut soccer goal packages and can be retrofitted to any four-inch square, four-inch round, and 2” x 4” Portable ShootOut goal. Retrofit kits can be installed in less than 30 minutes. Customers supply 250 pounds of dry sand.

Bison 800-247-7668 www.bisoninc.com Circle No. 557

Padding with Pride

Show school pride and build spirit with graphic wraps custom-made to fit your goalpost pads. Wrap these heavy vinyl graphics around existing padding or order new padding from Future Pro at the same time. Easy Velcro™ attachments and a convenient storage bag are included. Full-color printing options allow for almost any photo or illustrated graphic and lettering. The company will even help you with the artwork. Future Pro is an authorized Bison dealer.

Future Pro 800-328-4625 www.futureproinc.com Circle No. 555

In Any Weather

The Donkey by AAE is a portable, elevated multi-purpose center with a long list of uses. It’s a scorer’s table, observation center, video station, broadcast booth, coach’s station, penalty bench (optional), and additional on-field storage unit (optional). No matter the sport—track, lacrosse, soccer, field hockey, baseball, or tennis—everyone benefits from what the Donkey has to offer. It’s fully portable, easy to move, features lockable wheels, and offers protection from wind, weather, and sun. Constructed of durable aluminum, it stands nearly 11 feet high and comfortably seats six people.

Aluminum Athletic Equipment (AAE) 800-523-5471 www.aaesports.com Circle No. 559

The Safe Choice

SafeSoccer Goals has introduced truly safe, easily moveable goals.

The simple but unique patentpending design is available in full size and youth size models. It utilizes durable sand-filled polyethylene rear rollers that provide the proper ballast to prevent all accidental tip-overs. The front of the goal can be lifted off the playing surface, and the rear rollers allow for easy transport. This innovative design exceeds the ASTM F-2056 recommendations for soccer goals.

SafeSoccer Goals 877-311-8399 www.safesoccergoals.com Circle No.558

Don’t Lose Your Equipment

Earn CEUs by taking online coaching courses through ASEP and MSU! Through a partnership between the American Sport Education Program (ASEP) and Michigan State University (MSU) and its Institute for the Study of Youth Sports, faculty-coaches can earn continuing education credit by taking ASEP online courses through MSU.

For more information or to register, visit www.HumanKinetics.com/Continuing-Education-for-Coaches Or call 800-747-5698

AAE manufactures and sells numerous styles of BallStopper systems—high ones, low ones, offset posts, straight posts, small netting, large netting—but each serves the same function: to prevent balls from escaping the field of play. They’re perfect for fields that are surrounded by parking lots, ASEP_AthleticMgtAdAprMay201.indd 1 residential areas, or steep embankments.

BallStopper systems are especially useful for adjoining fields, because they prevent ball interference when multiple practices or games are being held in close proximity to one another. gRAHAM Aluminum Athletic Equipment (AAE) INdEPENdENT 800-523-5471 SCHOOL www.aaesports.com Circle No. 560 dISTRICT

Circle No. 162

s ta d i u m s G r a n d s ta n d s Bleachers

Prepare for Battle

Battling Ropes by Power Systems are a great tool for increasing the intensity of your normal workouts. You’ll obtain vast improvements in strength, endurance, and core performance.

They are also great for tug-of-war competitions. Made of non-shedding braided polyester, they are non-abrasive and perfect for indoor use. The poly ropes feature a plastic boot on each end to prevent fraying. Battling Ropes are available in 1.5- and two-inch diameters and 16.5-, 50-, and 100-foot lengths.

Power Systems, Inc. 800-321-6975 www.power-systems.com Circle No. 556

3/3/10 10:56

from SOUTHERN BLEACHER COMPANY

Graham, Texas 750 Elite seat mitered design softball stadium.

The home of Lady Blues softball.

Since 1946 family owned

www.southernbleacher.com 800.433.0912 Circle No. 163

10SB_AMBG_4.625x4.8125_KAd.indd 1

AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 83 12/7/09 10:09:54 AM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

Announcing 2010 Athletic Field Maintenance Forums

by Paul Zwaska of Beacon Athletics

This year marks the fourth consecutive year that Beacon Athletics, Diamond Pro and Toro have partnered to bring education in sports field management to the turf industry. Athletic Field Maintenance Forums, feature both classroom and on-field education. What makes the program unique is that it’s taught by industry professionals with backgrounds in all levels of grounds and sports field management including; Major League Baseball, NFL football, golf, Little League Baseball and softball, municipal and institutional ball fields. “We want to give those who come to our events field-tested solutions to the problems they encounter out on their fields. That’s the benefit of all our combined experience.

We provide real-world strategies, so attendees can improve both the safety and playability of their fields.” said Tom Burns, former groundskeeper for the Texas Rangers who now works for Diamond Pro. The forums typically involve a classroom session in the morning before participants head outside in the afternoon for field demonstrations.

Topics covered include best practices

in mowing, aerification, topdressing, irrigation, infield preparation, and mound and home plate management.

Boyd Montgomery, one of two educators from Toro says, “The networking and educational knowledge shared at these athletic seminars is captured for each participant in 84 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

an informative binder with reference materials discussed throughout the session. These are not only assets for those participating, but also for peers in their respective organizations.”

“I jumped right from getting my turf degree in college to working in Major League Baseball,” said Paul Zwaska of Beacon Athletics and former Baltimore Orioles head groundskeeper. “Back then I was hungry for information on maintaining infield skins, but nothing was out there in print or being taught. So for me it is truly rewarding to be out at these forums teaching and giving back to these groundskeepers and coaches who are as hungry for information as I once was.” One portion of the forum, called the “Bullpen Session,” is a 45-minute Q & A open to any question dealing with athletic field management or past experiences of the event’s educators.

It’s very popular in that it helps create a synergistic discussion between the educators and attendees, and on rare occasions, a possible appearance from a special guest from the MLB. With all the discussion during the forum, attendees begin to create friendships with each other as they realize their common professional goals. These friendships become the foundation of a “network” to which the attendees are able to tap for information, resources and help.

STMA members, who are Certified Sports Field Managers (CSFM), may use the forum to assist in accumulating 0.6 CEU’s in order to keep their CSFM status. Despite the fact that these three companies are sales based, they strive to keep the forum strictly educational with very little sales-related activities.

“The importance of fostering and

improving professionalism within the sports turf industry and the need to promote safer sports turf areas is the focus of these forums.” says Dale Getz from Toro.

The 2010 Athletic Field Maintenance Forums are scheduled for: • San Francisco – April 13 • New York – May 12 • St. Louis – June 9 • Chicago – September 29 Individuals can register at www.beaconathletics.com/seminars

Inform and Entertain Choose a Leader

Daktronics offers a complete line of scoring and timing systems, which includes scoreboards, electronic message centers, large-screen video displays, and sound systems. Transform a basic scoreboard into a visually dominant part of any arena with Daktronics’ endless variety of scoreboard enhancements. Choose Daktronics for its local service and unmatched technical expertise.

Daktronics 800-325-8766 www.daktronics.com Circle No. 570

An Integral Part

When Middletown School District voted to revamp its athletic facilities, it was looking for a scoreboard that would enhance its new football, soccer, lacrosse, and track and field stadium. Eversan provided a state-ofthe-art scoreboard with the latest HD technology. The screen is capable of showing instant replays, and it connects directly to a computerized track so it can instantly report the names of race participants and their times.

Eversan energizes the game.

Eversan, Inc. 800-383-6060 www.eversan.com Circle No. 571

In the Palm of Your Hand

This season, take control of your game with a Fair-Play MiScore wireless scoreboard control. Now, controlling your Fair-Play football scoreboard is as easy as changing channels on your TV. MiScore football is the next generation in wireless scoreboard controllers from Fair-Play. These portable devices are a perfect fit for facilities where portability is key and operation from the sideline is essential. MiScore controls are also available for basketball and baseball scoreboards. Nothing but Fair-Play on your field or court.

Fair-Play Scoreboard 800-247-0265 www.fair-play.com Circle No. 572

Light Up the Night

Daktronics is recognized worldwide as a leading designer and manufacturer of scoreboards, timing systems, electronic message centers, large-screen video systems, and sound systems.

Light up your stadium on Friday night with Daktronics’ extensive line of

scoreboards

options to enhance your scoreboard.

The Daktronics team is dedicated to providing local service and helping customers create lasting solutions.

Daktronics 800-325-8766 www.daktronics.com Circle No. 573

Light-Sensitive Brilliance

When the Auburn Doubledays were looking for a quality, durable LED scoreboard that would meet their budget and sponsor needs, Eversan provided a model 9872 baseball scoreboard that utilizes ultra-bright LED digits. These digits are highly advanced, with light-sensitive brightness controls to ensure high visibility and clarity. The durable aluminum case with a long-lasting powder coat is exactly what was needed for the severe upstate New York weather conditions.

Eversan, Inc. 800-383-6060 www.eversan.com Circle No. 574

It’s About Time

Fair-Play has answered the call with its latest wireless handheld control that operates football field timers. On playing fields across the country, game officials are taking more control of time operation, and Fair-Play has put that control in the palm of their hands.

MiTime controls feature two userprogrammable reset times that can be used for 25- or 40-second time-outs and have an operating range of 450 feet. Operating field timers has never been this easy.

Fair-Play Scoreboards 800-247-0265 www.fair-play.com Circle No. 575

Great Products and Service

Spectrum Corp. is a national manufacturer of scoreboards, timers, clocks, Horizon marquees, full-color animation displays, and video screens for all athletic and commercial applications. The company has combined product knowledge, customer support services, technology, and materials to produce some of the highest-quality and longest-lasting products in the industry since 1971.

Spectrum Corp.

800-392-5050 www.spectrumscoreboards.com Circle No. 576 AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 85

ble achers & Se atings

Sitting Pretty

Use Your Existing Structure

Avcon’s Perma-Plank is engineered with a galvanized steel core surrounded by a heavy-duty layer of weather-resistant vinyl, which replaces a wood bleacher while reusing the existing bleacher structure. There are 13 standard colors to choose from.

Avcon 800-242-8266 www.perma-cap.com Circle No. 580

A Distinctive Look

Fiberglass players’ benches from Kay Park Recreation add team color to your field and enhance team spirit. They come in six-, eight-, and 15-foot lengths (with or without backrests) and with your choice of stationary or portable lets. Many colors are available to meet your needs. Custom school colors can be matched, and emblems can be inlaid for a distinctive look. Other products offered

by Kay Park include bleachers, tables, bike racks, planters, and more. Call today for a free catalog.

Kay Park Recreation Corp.

800-553-2476 www.kaypark.com Circle No. 581

Seating that Moves

TranSport mobile bleachers are the only 10-row mobile bleachers available that offer seating for 180, 260, or 300 spectators.

One person, one truck, and 10 minutes are all you need. Simply disconnect the unit from the towing vehicle, swivel and snug the jacks, and push the remote button— that’s it. When not in use for your events, TranSport bleachers can be rented to outside municipalities to earn revenue dollars. See the bleachers operate at Century Industries’ Web site.

Century Industries 800-248-3371 www.centuryindustries.com Circle No. 582

Hattiesburg Upgrade

The University of Southern Mississippi needed to replace its dilapidated softball grandstand and incorporate ADAcompliant seating. Southern Bleacher helped meet this need by installing its award-winning galvanized steel substructure with a tongue-and-groove aluminum decking system. Today, the 521-seat mitered grandstand is the pride of the Golden Eagles, where fans can watch nine innings in greater comfort.

Southern Bleacher also supplied a 14’ x 45’ pressbox.

Southern Bleacher Co. 800-433-0912 www.southernbleacher.com Circle No. 583 86 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

More Seats, More Revenue

Samuel Clemens High School in Texas needed an innovative idea to alleviate overcrowding in its stadium by students and band members. Sturdisteel suggested installing a 15-row, 105-foot elevated angle-frame bleacher in the end zone, which moved the band and students to their own area and freed up approximately 1,000 additional seats to be sold. This added comfort for the paying customers and generated revenue for the school.

Sturdisteel 800-433-3116 www.sturdisteel.com Circle No. 584

A Step Up from Wood

Triad Technologies offers the Team Bench for indoor or outdoor use. These benches are constructed of durable fiberglass, so they stand up to harsh weather and rough sports use. They far outlast typical wooden benches that can rot or splinter, and look much better in your school colors with your team logo. They are lightweight, stackable, and easy to move and store. Call for your free brochure and pricing guide.

Triad Technologies, Inc. 877-224-3512 www.triadtec.com Circle No. 585

A Fresh Look

The Perma-Cap line from Avcon is an acrylic-based maintenance-free seat cover, made to go over existing wood or aluminum bleachers. Accessories include end caps and seam covers, riser covers, and trim clips for a complete indoor or outdoor bleacher seat remodel. There are 13 standard colors to choose from.

Avcon 800-242-8266 www.perma-cap.com Circle No. 586

For Greater Comfort

The Eagle Model Series 3000 backrest from Seating Services can be installed on your plank bleachers using stainless-steel bolts. This polyethylene blow-molded backrest is designed with compound contours for comfort and compound bends in the stanchion for ergonomic support. You can use it with your existing bleachers, or combine it with the Eagle Model Series 1000 seat, which can be installed over plank bleachers. Both products feature UVresistant material and can be personalized with name plates.

Seating Services, Inc. 800-552-9470 www.seatingservices.com Circle No. 590

Sitting Pretty A Fast Solution

Save time and labor expenses with Speedy Bleachers from Kay Park Recreation. These bleachers can be easily transported by a pickup truck, and once their leveling jacks are set, the push of a button hydraulically unfolds the lower rows in just one minute.

Safety features include a movable tongue that pushes in to avoid protrusion, and vertical-bar guardrails with four-inch spacing to prevent youngsters from falling through the bleachers. The seats are made of anodized aluminum, and the foot boards are mill-finished aluminum for unbeatable protection against weather, wear, and tear.

Kay Park Recreation Corp.

800-553-2476 www.kaypark.com Circle No. 587

Printed Just for You

Dress up your court with imprinted SidelineChairs. The chairs feature thick vinyl-covered foam for comfort,

ble achers & Se atings

and imprinting is available on the chair back and seat cushion. SidelineChairs have the durability and quality you’d expect from much higher-priced chairs. The extra-sturdy powder-coated frame comes with dual-reinforced steel support bars on the back legs and carries a 10-year limited warranty.

The Stadium Chair Co. 800-242-7757 www.stadiumchair.com Circle No. 591

Extra Comfort

Seating Services is proud to announce the newest product in its seating line, the Eagle Model Series 1000 plastic bench seat module. This seat is designed to be bolted to existing or new bench seating to provide a more comfortable individual seat for your spectators and create enhanced VIP seating that can be sold to raise revenue for your complex.

Seating Services, Inc. 800-552-9470 www.seatingservices.com Circle No. 592

web news

Multi-Functional and Easy to Navigate

At the BigSigns.com Web site, users can learn about the company’s newest and most popular products, see its proven versatility in design, and understand why it is a trusted national leader in stadium graphics. The user-friendly site showcases an electronic portfolio of projects with sharp photos and in-depth product detail. There are product installation manuals and instructions, tabs for art uploading and proofing, and a link for a quick quote. While online, see how BigSigns.com can help build your sponsorship revenue and elevate your stadium graphics. Get inspiration for your latest projects today! www.bigsigns.com

Do Your Whiteboards Promote Team Spirit?

Personalized for any high school, college, or professional team’s needs, EverWhite custom printed whiteboards are used for strength and conditioning charts, field and court diagrams, team lineups, offensive and defensive play charts, and more. Provide your own design or have EverWhite design a graphic for you. Vibrant, photo-quality graphics will display your team’s logos and mascots, and the graphics are embedded under the dry-erase surface so they won’t wear away over time. Visit the company online to learn more. www.everwhiteboards.com

Catch the Spirit of Fair-Play Sports fans, athletic directors, and administrators have relied on the style, performance, and innovation of Fair-Play scoreboards to stay on top of their game for more than 75 years.

Fair-Play’s Web site offers a number of features to help end users make the right choice for their venue. Check out detailed product listings with descriptions, scoreboard renderings, specification sheets downloadable in multiple formats, and installation galleries searchable by model, sport, and geographic location. Locate a FairPlay dealer near you by simply entering your zip code. www.fair-play.com

Plenty of Flooring Information and Resources at Centaur’s Online Home

Centaur Floor Systems’ Web site offers a downloadable corporate brochure, which briefly describes each product. Each page of the site also has a downloadable brochure, a photo album of recent installations, and maintenance and specs regarding product care. In addition, the site offers customer testimonials and local references in your area for you to call and see a Centaur installation. There’s even a “to do” checklist and an information request form you can use to request samples. Sign up for the monthly e-newsletter to stay informed with the latest product information, tips, special promotions, and more. www.centaurfloors.com AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 87

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AAE (The Donkey) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 AAE (Ball Stopper systems). . . . . . . . . . . 83 A-Turf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Aer-Flo (Alex Box Stadium). . . . . . . . . . . 69 Aer-Flo (Chroma-Bond imprinting) . . . . . 81 Aer-Flo (Tuffy Windscreen) . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Aer-Flo (Vipol mesh). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Aer-Flo (Wind Weighted Baseball Tarps). 80 American Sport Education Program . . . . 94 Austin Plastics & Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Avcon (Perma-Cap) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Avcon (Perma-Plank). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Bannerman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Beam Clay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 BigSigns.com (Dura Mesh). . . . . . . . . . . . 78 BigSigns.com (ModStar A Frame System).91 Bison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Boone Action Turf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 California University of Pennsylvania. . . . 94 Century Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Colbond. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 CoverSports USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 CushionFall Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Daktronics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Daktronics (Alex Box Stadium). . . . . . . . 69 Daktronics (product line) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Daktronics (Sportsound 500HD) . . . . . . . 89 DOMO Sports & Leisure Grass. . . . . . . . . 75 Eversan (Middletown School District). . . 85

88 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

Advertisers Directory Circle Company No.

116.

130.

103.

102.

122.

101.

145.

138.

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143.

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108.

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128.

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135.

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Future Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 G2L Window Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Game-On Field Conditioners. . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Gatorade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 GearBoss by Wenger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 GeneralSports Venue/AstroTurf . . . . . . . . . 2 Gold Medal Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 GreensGroomer WorldWide. . . . . . . . . . . 49 HighSchoolSports.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Kay Park Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Kifco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 M.A.S.A. Products (catalog) . . . . . . . . . . 10 Markers, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 MilkPEP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Mondo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Musco Sports Lighting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 myTEAMBOOK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 New York Barbells of Elmira . . . . . . . . . . 45 Newstripe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 NFHS Coach Certification . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 One Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Perform Better. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Perform Better (seminars). . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Products Directory

Circle Company No.

574.

572.

575.

513.

505.

551.

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546.

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531.

550.

554.

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600.

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533.

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Eversan (model 9872 baseball scoreboard) . . 85 Fair-Play (MiScore). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Fair-Play (MiTime). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 FieldTurf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 FlexSand Action/Mineral Visions . . . . . . . 74 Future Pro (Combo Goals). . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Future Pro (graphic wraps) . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Game-On Field Conditioners (Game-On). . 79 Game-On Field Conditioners (Game-On Red).81 G2L Window Systems (RGC Glass) . . . . . 79 GearBoss by Wenger (AirPro lockers). . . 94 GearBoss by Wenger (GearBoss II). . . . . 82 GeneralSports Venue/AstroTurf . . . . . . . . 77 Gold Medal Products (fundraising guides).91 Gold Medal Products (online profit guide).91 GreensGroomer WorldWide. . . . . . . . . . . 75 Kay Park (fiberglass players’ benches). . . 86 Kay Park (Speedy Bleachers). . . . . . . . . . 87 Kifco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 M.A.S.A. (Poly-Cap). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Markers, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Mondo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Musco (Alex Box Stadium). . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Musco (Control-Link). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Musco (Light-Structure Green) . . . . . . . . 80 Newstripe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 One Systems (1121M Sub) . . . . . . . . . . . 81 One Systems (POPS). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Perform Better (catalog). . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Circle Company No.

120.

148.

136.

129.

158.

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141.

123.

113.

147.

134.

163.

125.

137.

153.

107.

146.

156.

100.

133.

155.

Perma-Cap by Avcon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Plus5 Field Marker (Imerys). . . . . . . . . . 62 Polytan-USA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Pro’s Choice Sports Field Products. . . . . . 41 ProGrass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 SafeSoccer Goals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Salsbury Industries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Samson Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Seating Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Shaw Sportexe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Southern Athletic Fields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Southern Bleacher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Spectrum Scoreboards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Sports Tutor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Sturdisteel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Synthetic Surfaces, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 The StadiumChair Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 TigerTurf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Toro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC Triad Technologies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 White Line Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Circle Company No.

615.

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Perform Better (Vertical Mat Rack) . . . . 94 Polytan-USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Power Systems (Battling Ropes) . . . . . . . 83 Power Systems (Infinity Vest). . . . . . . . . . 82 Pro’s Choice (Pro Mound) . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Pro’s Choice (Pro Red topdressing). . . . . 80 ProGrass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 SafeSoccer Goals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Salsbury Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Schedule Star/HighSchoolSports.net. . . . 94 Seating Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Seating Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Shaw Sportexe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Southern Athletic Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Southern Bleacher (Elite Seat II) . . . . . . 89 Southern Bleacher (U. of Southern Mississippi).86 Spectrum Scoreboards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Sports Tutor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Sturdisteel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Synthetic Surfaces, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 The Stadium Chair Co. (Sideline Chairs). 87 The Stadium Chair Co. (Fundraiser). . . . . 91 TigerTurf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Toro (Groundsmaster 7200/7210). . . . . . 79 Toro (Pro Force). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Toro (Workman HD Series). . . . . . . . . . . 81 Triad Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 White Line Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

product l aunch CushionFall ® Sport

Unique features: • Vibrant, durable and safe rubber infill coating that delivers outstanding aesthetics • Unique encapsulation process reduces VOCs by 71 percent and heavy metal content by 80 percent, making synthetic playing surfaces safer

Benefits for the user: • Green colorant protects the properties of the rubber crumb, thus extending longevity and shock-absorption properties of the infill • Helps lower the temperature of synthetic playing surfaces; extends turf life CushionFall Sport www.CushionFallSport.com 888-434-0333 Circle No. 566

Toro Pro Force™

Unique features: • The most powerful single-nozzle turbinetype debris blower in its class • Wireless remote control with unmatched functionality

Unique features: • High-definition audio solution for outdoor venues with less than 3,000 seats • Three interchangeable announcer’s racks • Single or dual horn options and full-color printable front mesh

Benefits for the user: • Future expandability • Equal coverage for one or both sidelines • Increased ad space for sponsors

Daktronics www.daktronics.com 800-325-8766 Circle No.567

Elite Seat II

Benefits for the user: • Air power provides fast removal of grass clippings, leaves, aeration cores, and other unwanted debris from your golf course, sports fields, maintained turf areas, or paved areas Toro www.toro.com 800-803-8676 Circle No. 568

Sportsound 500HD

Unique features: • Affordable enhancement for new or existing venues • Can be installed on indoor and outdoor grandstands • Constructed with UVprotected, blow-molded plastic seats with pads • Mechanically fastened to the aluminum bench

Benefits for the user: • Comfortable option for day-long events

Southern Bleacher Co. www.southernbleacher.com 800-433-0912 Circle No. 569

AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 89

case study

A Track That Will Stand the Test of Time ...And a New Surface That’s Fit for a Tiger

C

lemson University’s outdoor track needed a makeover. The renovation called for nothing short of the best: A track that would stand the test of time, and more importantly, enable Clemson’s athletes to perform at their best.

The renovation called for the BSS 2000 with Hobart Texture from Beynon Sports Surfaces. Today, the Tigers train and compete on the fastest surface on the market. The BSS 2000 locks embedded granules in place without the encapsulation process, providing a surface that is simply unmatched. But you don’t have to take the company’s word for it. Lawrence Johnson, Director of Track and Field at Clemson, was more than willing to share his thoughts in thanking Beynon for its work on the facility. “Thank you so much for your excellent work on the renovation of Clemson University’s outdoor track and field facility. The surface you have designed, manufactured, and installed for us is tremendous—extremely fast, but unlike the sheet good rubber products on the market today, it is very trainingfriendly.

“Beynon Sports Surfaces has really done an outstanding job developing state-ofthe-art track and field surfaces that allow my athletes to spend more time competing

90 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

and less time in the training room addressing hamstring and joint stress injuries.

“What made this experience even greater for us was the relentless emphasis your company put on offering top-rated customer service and the workmanship you have demonstrated to us at Clemson.

Beynon Sports Surfaces is known for supporting our sport, and we appreciate everything you have done for the university.

“Thank you for developing such a fast but training-friendly track and field surface and working tirelessly to provide the highest level of customer service in the track and field surfacing market today.”

The BSS 2000 is a superior surface that can only be offered by Beynon Sports Surfaces as part of the company’s longstanding culture of outstanding products, customer service, and work ethic. It’s a track surface manufactured with the utmost attention to detail and with every intention of making each athlete faster and safe from injuries.

Beynon’s commitment to all clients is its commitment to their athletes. The company believes that the best athletes demand the best surfaces.

The BSS 2000, with its proprietary Hobart Texture, is unique to Beynon Sports Surfaces and no other manufacturer in the industry can imitate it. The surface texture allows for maximum athletic performance and the longest life cycle of an embedded track and field system by eliminating granule migration. In addition, the pigmented ultraviolet protective finish and stainresistant coating will prevent discoloration from sports drink and soda spills—a problem that often plagues rubber sheet good products. This exclusive texture can only be found on Beynon Sports Surfaces’ IAAF-certified, BSS 300, BSS 1000, and BSS 2000 track and field surfaces.

Beynon Sports Surfaces 16 Alt Rd. • Hunt Valley, MD 21030 888-240-3670 • Fax: 410-771-9479 www.beynonsports.com

fundr a ising solutions

For Your Bottom Line

Read All About It

Gold Medal has free guides to increase fundraising profits. Materials include a step-by-step Guide To Easy Profits and resources for a wide range of concession treats, like 101 Ways To Promote Popcorn and Other Fun Foods, How To Make Money with Snacks, and How To Reach Peak Profits. Exclusively from the concession food leader, these materials contain simple ways—backed by more than 78 years of experience—to make more money for your school.

Gold Medal Products Co. 800-543-0862 www.gmpopcorn.com Circle No. 600

Economical and Player-Friendly

Need a cost-effective yet professional way to display sponsor advertisements and stadium graphics? The ModStar A Frame System is made with playerfriendly coroplast and is one-third the cost of saggy padded systems. Bold, UV fade-resistant graphics are printed to a Tru-Satin premium banner using a Turbo Jet printer so your message is seen where you need it most.

BigSigns.com 800-790-7611 www.bigsigns.com Circle No. 601

They Sell Themselves

StadiumChairs are perfect for fundraisers.

The unique two-piece back can be printed on both sides—print your team mascot on the front, and sell sponsor logos on the back. Booster clubs and schools can easily earn high returns for minimal effort, as the products almost sell themselves. Fans will notice the soft cushioning and back support. This is among the most comfortable and durable seats on the market.

The Stadium Chair Co. 800-242-7757 www.stadiumchair.com Circle No. 603

Not Sure What to Sell?

Find free information on the profits and food costs of the top-selling concession foods with Gold Medal’s Profitability Guide. It paves the way to more revenue, and the Online Profit Calculator helps you tailor your fundraising using your product’s retail price, supply costs, servings per day, and days open per week/ month. You’ll get real-time projected profits. This information and more is available online, and hard copies can be requested.

Gold Medal Products Co. 800-543-0862 www.gmpopcorn.com Circle No. 602

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performbetter.com/seminars Circle No. 165

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AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 91

Storybook Moments Let us create a book for your program that preserves all of the great memories

Honor a championship season or banner year.

Celebrate an anniversary or milestone. Make a special event or tournament even more special.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll create a customized book for your team or athletic department that will be the pride of your programâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;a keepsake your athletes and community supporters will cherish forever.

Call 607-257-6970, ext. 11 or E-mail mg@momentummedia.com for more information myTEAMBOOK.net 92 AthleticManagement.com Circle No. 166 APRIL/MAY 2010 |

TESTIMONIALS

“A Wonderful Experience with a Professional Company”

Customers Enjoy Legendary Quality

The Field Maintenance Solution of the Pros

“The company representative was extremely helpful. The entire experience from start to finish was wonderful. All of my questions and concerns were answered promptly. This was a wonderful experience with a professional company.

The process was smooth and we had a new floor very quickly.”

“We wanted versatility with a clean look. Our CaptiVue full-color display is extremely versatile and user-friendly. We are able to personalize messages before, during, and after the game. And our fans have all the stats they need during play.”

Sports field professionals look to Pro’s Choice to deliver top-performing products for all types of fields. An all-star product lineup provides the tools needed to keep sports fields in top condition season after season. Pro’s Choice provides top-quality clay products that are manufactured to exacting standards and optimized to keep fields in championship shape. At Pro’s Choice, experience is key.

It starts with a company that pioneered the sports field industry and a group of dedicated people who know sports fields inside and out. A knowledgeable staff, a nationwide network of distributors, and an advisory board made up of professional groundskeepers and turf specialists are available to serve your needs.

Pro’s Choice maintains an impressive roster of customers. Among them are many MLB teams: Los Angeles Angels Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox Chicago Cubs Chicago White Sox Cincinnati Reds Colorado Rockies Detroit Tigers Florida Marlins Houston Astros Kansas City Royals Milwaukee Brewers New York Mets New York Yankees Oakland A’s Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates San Francisco Giants St. Louis Cardinals Toronto Blue Jays Texas Rangers

—Kristin, Hollister Middle School, MO Product: Gymlastic flooring

“We were very satisfied. Excellent customer service, and they had products for a wide range of applications.”

—Renee Wiggs, En-er-gy, CA Product: Boflex for the weightroom, aerobics, and group fitness

—Justin TeBrake, Facility Manager, Calvin College

“Buena Vista is very pleased with our Fair-Play CaptiVue message center. It has greatly enhanced the football gameday atmosphere. It is easy to operate and has endless possibilities. We are able to do instant replays, run graphically designed messages, and market campus events throughout the season. Fair-Play is excellent to work with and their support staff is only a phone call away.”

—Jan Travis, Director of Athletics, Buena Vista University

“Coming over from a 74-year-old stadium in 2007, our fans didn’t quite know what to expect upon entering Dickey-Stephens Park for the first time.

The biggest initial eye-catcher for our fans had to be the scoreboard upgrade and the way it is now utilized for in-game entertainment. Our Fair-Play CaptiVue sports display provides our fans with the quality ballpark experience that is now synonymous with new stadiums.”

—Pete Laven, General Manager, Arkansas Travelers Baseball Club

Centaur Floor Systems, LLC 135 Chapala St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101 800-536-9007 Fax: 805-957-0125 www.centaurfloors.com

Fair-Play Scoreboards P.O. Box 1847 Des Moines, IA 50306 800-247-0265 Fax: 515-265-3364 www.fair-play.com

Pro’s Choice 410 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 400 Chicago, IL 60611 800-648-1166 • Fax: 312-321-9525 proschoice@oildri.com www.proschoice1.com

AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 93

more products

Great Ideas, Great Values

Know the Ropes

In the 2010 edition of the Perform Better catalog, you’ll see a great selection of jump ropes, including leather, nylon, and licorice ropes. They’re all inexpensively priced from $4.95 to $14.95. All are nine feet long. The nylon and leather ropes have wooden handles, and the popular licorice rope, which is faster, has contoured handles. Other types of jump ropes are also available, including weighted ropes, power ropes, and super speed ropes, all reasonably priced as well. See the rope selection in the 2010 Perform Better catalog. Request your copy by phone or online today.

Perform Better 800-556-7464 www.performbetter.com Circle No. 610

An Educational Leader

For nearly 30 years, American Sport Education Program (ASEP) courses and resources have been used and recognized by state high school associations, school districts, and state departments of education in certifying scholastic coaches. In a new initiative, faculty-coaches can take ASEP online courses for continuing education credit through ASEP’s partnership with Michigan State University. For more information, contact ASEP today.

American Sport Education Program 800-747-5698 www.humankinetics.com/ continuing-education-for-coaches Circle No. 611

Never Stop Learning

California University of Pennsylvania has helped build the character and careers of its students for more than 150 years. Cal U’s dedication to providing high-quality, in-demand programs to its students continues through the University’s Global Online 100-percent online programs of study. Through an asynchronous format, Global Online allows students the opportunity to complete coursework anytime, anywhere. All that’s required is a computer with Internet access. Go online for more information.

California University of Pennsylvania 866-595-6348 www.cup.edu Circle No. 612

Give Your Teams More

Salsbury Industries’ standard lockers are too small for some football, baseball, and softball teams, so the company offers Open Access Lockers to provide a large vented space for 94 APRIL/MAY 2010 | AthleticManagement.com

clothing, uniforms, and many other applications. Salsbury’s Open Access Lockers include a coat rod and feature a lockable upper shelf and foot locker for secure equipment storage. Salsbury Industries’ trained and knowledgeable staff can get you what you need on time and on budget. Call or go online for a free catalog.

Salsbury Industries 800-LOCKERS www.lockers.com Circle No. 613

Film Study Made Easy

Use HighSchoolSports.net to manage your team’s schedules, scores, and stats, and to communicate with parents, fans, and local media. Click on “Coaches” to get started, or call to learn more. HighSchoolSports.net now offers QuickEdit EZ, an economical and easy-to-use video editing system.

The Film Room is a fast and easy way for your players to get unlimited online film study from home, and it’s free.

Schedule Star/HighSchoolSports.net 800-258-8550 www.highschoolsports.net Circle No. 614

A Neat Idea

Perform Better has introduced a Vertical Mat Rack with wheels, making it easy to move the unit around your facility. It is a free-standing, doublesided rack that holds up to 24 mats of every size. Sturdy 10-inch storage pegs on both sides can easily be adjusted to hold mats of different widths and sizes.

The unit is 82” high x 30” wide, and you’ll see it in the 2010 Perform Better catalog. Request your copy by phone or online today.

Perform Better 800-556-7464 www.performbetter.com Circle No. 615

Lockers to Be Proud Of

AirPro lockers from GearBoss strengthen program pride with distinctive features and rugged durability to enhance team room functionality and aesthetics. The open grid design promotes airflow, sanitation, and visual inspection. An integrated hinged seat saves valuable floor space and is lockable over a security box and footlocker.

Mounting options keep floors easy to clean and sanitize, and there is a variety of color and finish choices, from school colors to wood-grain laminates.

Wenger Corp. • 800-4-WENGER www.wengercorp.com Circle No. 550

National Federation of State High School Associations

NFHS Coach Certification www.nfhslearn.com NFHS Certification Program Designed to deliver the highest-quality professional development online at an affordable cost, this certification will: • Help coaches minimize the inherent risks faced by participating students • Improve the sport experience of participating students • Recognize coaches nationally • Develop a sense of personal and professional accomplishment • Enable coaches to increase liability insurance coverage through membership in the NFHS Coaches Association Level 1 – Accredited Interscholastic Coach

Get Certified!

� The coach must complete the following courses: �

NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching

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� NFHS First Aid for Coaches (American Red Cross) or its equivalent

� Fundamentals of Coaching (Sport-specific) or Teaching Sport Skills Level 2 – Certified Interscholastic Coach

� Level 1 Completion + (Core Courses and Elective Courses)

Level 3 – Master Interscholastic Coach

� Level 2 Completion + (Core Courses and Elective Courses)

Elective Courses: • Engaging Effectively with Parents • Teaching and Modeling Behavior • Teaching Sport Skills

Take Part. Get Set For Life.™

Circle No. 168

AthleticManagement.com | APRIL/MAY 2010 95

OVERTIME

Next Stop: Web Site Our editorial continues on www.AthleticManagement.com Here’s a sampling of what’s posted right now:

Join us on Facebook and Twitter

Whether you want to read what your peers are saying about hot topics in athletic administration, or you want access to the latest news affecting the profession, the Athletic Management social networking community will get you plugged in. Don’t be left out—visit AthleticManagement.com and click the Facebook and Twitter icons at the top of the home page.

Web Exclusives Maximizing Social Media In today’s athletics landscape, Facebook and Twitter have evolved into valuable tools for marketing and communication. But are you getting the most out of your social media presence? Don’t miss these tips for cultivating social networking success.

AthleticManagement.com/blogs.php

A Do-It-All AD

Lenoir-Rhyne Launching Lacrosse

Mike Ruble, Athletic Director at Bradshaw Christian High School in Sacramento, Calif., is a man of many hats and titles. In addition to leading a successful upand-coming athletic department, Ruble is also Head Coach of the school’s girls’ and boys’ basketball teams. A former professional basketball player, Ruble shares his secrets for program building and time management.

Lenoir-Rhyne University, an NCAA Division II school, is adding men’s and women’s lacrosse to its 2011 sports lineup. We talked to Lenoir-Rhyne Athletic Director Neil McGeachy about the process and how he convinced the institution’s president, cabinet, and board of trustees that adding a new sport will bump up interest in athletics and attract more students to the university.

AthleticManagement.com/features.php

AthleticManagement.com

Make Your Stadium POP With DURA-MESH™ Banners

Bradley University project completed August 2008. To see more of this project, go to www.BigSigns.com.

Marietta College project completed April 2009. To see more of this project, go to www.BigSigns.com.

More schools like Bradley University and Marietta College are trusting BigSigns.com to help brand their athletic programs.

Many are wrapping their blank walls, bleacher backs, bleacher tops and chain link fences with our proprietary Dura-Mesh™ Banners. Dura-Mesh™ Banners have 30% wind pass-thru, heavily reinforced 2” hems and are digitally printed with UltraBrite™ inks, so your stadium graphics will POP like the smile on your face after your next championship.

Call us today to find out how we can help make your stadium pop by using outstanding design, manufacture and installation of Dura-Mesh™ Banners.

1.800.790.7611 Circle No. 169

What goes in the turf is as important as what happens on it.

If you’re installing synthetic turf, don’t settle for anything but the best — ask for CushionFall® Sport for your infill.

Vibrant — CushionFall Sport delivers a bright and colorful appearance all season, every season, and is ideal for sporting events televised in HD. Durable — With its UV resistance, CushionFall Sport helps rubber fields retain flexibility and elasticity, with minimized static cling effect.

Safer — CushionFall Sport is eco-friendly and takes safety further by encapsulating the recycled rubber crumb infill and reducing dangerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metal run-off.

The turf is always greener on the CushionFall Sport side.

www.CushionFallSport.com Circle No. 170