Athletic Management 25.5

› New Ideas in Fundraising › Conducting an Audit

August/September 2013

› Team Equipment Innovations

Vol. XXV, No. 5

› Going Green with Eco-Reps

$7.00

Looking Downfield

1988

2013

CELEBRATING

YEARS

A YEAR OF CELEBRATION

Assessing the future of educational athletics

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GATORADE SPORTS SCIENCE INSTITUTE NUTRITION FOR THE TEAM SPORT ATHLETE Susan Kundrat, MS, RD, CSSD, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Nutritional Sciences Program Director

Competing in team sports requires dedication to teamwork, on and off the field. To work together, all team members must come to practices and competitions prepared to succeed. Choosing the right foods and fluids to prepare for competition and to provide proper energy during and after competition can make all the difference. No matter the sport, getting the sports nutrition advantage puts the team one step closer to the “W.”

• Players should eat foods they know work well for them pre-exercise.

Trying a variety of foods before workouts can help determine the best combinations for pre-game meals.

• Athletes should not be afraid to salt food because they can lose lots of sodium through sweating—especially if they’re heavy crampers.

Sometimes, that sodium loss can be the cause of cramping.

FLUIDS: HYDRATION IS KEY Water is an important part of the working body, making up 60 to 65 percent of total body weight.

• If athletes lose too much fluid in sweat without replacing what they’ve lost in both fluids and important electrolytes (like sodium and chloride), they risk becoming dehydrated.

• Dehydration can diminish energy and impair performance. Even a 2-percent loss of body weight through sweat (i.e. 3 1/2 pounds for a 180-pound player) can put athletes at a disadvantage.

PRE-WORKOUT MEAL IDEAS

HOW TO COMBAT DEHYDRATION Athletes, especially those who train in hot and humid weather conditions or in hot gyms or training facilities, run a risk of dehydration. The risk becomes greater the longer an athlete practices or plays at one time, or when there is more than one competition in a day, such as a weekend basketball or tennis tournament, or two-a-day workouts. Dehydration can be prevented--here’s how: • Stay well hydrated all day. Start with extra fluids like milk and juice at breakfast. Then, drink fluids throughout the day, using water bottles, water fountains and cafeteria beverages as triggers for drinking. Soup and some water rich foods (like yogurt, watermelon, grapes and tomatoes) can also contribute to proper daily hydration.

• Have a pre-game plan and hydrate 2 to 3 hours before practices and games. Athletes should aim for at least 16 ounces (2 cups) of fluid at this time and an additional 8 ounces (1 cup) 10 to 20 minutes prior to playing.

• Drink during workouts or games. Sports drinks, like Gatorade, can help ward off dehydration and muscle cramps because they help replenish both fluid and electrolytes lost in sweat. Encourage sports drinks when workouts last an hour or longer, especially for heavy sweaters. Sports chews or gels can add an extra “energy boost” during intense activity.

• Prioritize post-practice hydration. Athletes should weigh themselves before and after activity and consume enough ounces of water, sports drinks or other fluids to replace what they’ve lost.

FOODS: PRE-WORKOUT FUEL Athletes should fuel their bodies 3 to 4 hours before practices and games with a high-carbohydrate meal or snack (see “Pre-Workout Meal Ideas”).

This will give the body enough energy to make it through the workout.

To do this: • Team leaders can organize pre-game meals for the whole team 3 to 4 hours before competition, including high-energy foods like breads, bagels, cereals, pasta, potatoes, rice, fruits, fruit juices and vegetables— as well as lean sources of protein like chicken breast, turkey, lean deli meats, fish and yogurt. For quick energy, athletes should fill 2/3 of their plates with high carbohydrate options. Drink plenty of fluids with the meal to optimize hydration.

MENU #1

MENU #2

MENU #3

Pasta and red sauce

Turkey and cheese sandwiches

Baked chicken tenders

French bread

Bananas and orange slices

Mashed potatoes

Fresh fruit plate

Baked chips or pretzel chips

Green beans

Steamed vegetables

Cereal bars

Fruit and yogurt smoothies

Cookies Water, skim milk, fruit juice, and sports drinks

Water, skim milk, fruit Water, skim milk, fruit juice, and sports drinks juice, and sports drinks

RECOVERY FOODS: POST-WORKOUT FUEL To maximize the body’s ability to refuel muscles after every workout, athletes should consume a “post-workout snack” as soon as possible after practice or games. This helps restock the muscle energy used in practices quickly.

Tips for Recovery: • Have snacks like trail mix, sports chews and bars, cereal mixed with peanuts and raisins or peanut butter and crackers within reach after workouts.

• Encourage athletes to eat a meal within 1-2 hours after workouts to continue muscle energy recovery.

LOCKER OR BACKPACK SNACKS Many athletes run from school directly to practices, with limited time to get energy to working muscles before hitting the field or court. They often miss out on a high-energy snack to help boost energy for performance. To combat this, keeping easy-to-grab snacks in the locker or in the backpack is a must.

Quick locker or backpack snacks: • Granola bars, cereal bars and sports bars • Energy chews • Trail mix • Dry cereal and pretzels • Pressed fruit or fruit rolls • Juice boxes There is research that supports that prioritizing nutrition on a daily basis can potentially enhance success for athletes. Make sports nutrition a priority for your teams and you’ll see the difference.

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Contents Aug/Sept 2013

1988

Vol. XXV, No. 5

2013

CELEBRATING

YEARS

Join Us In celebrating our 25th year of publication!

Look for this special logo throughout the issue.

53

37 28

COVER STORY

Looking Downfield

As the athletic landscape continues to shift, the future promises changes and challenges. In this 25th anniversary article, we ask veteran athletic directors to look ahead and offer advice on what to expect.

WARMUP

7 High School News

A little job protection

9 Career Advice Catching up with Jim Livengood

11 Student-Athlete Support Helping through a health crisis

37

53

PROGRESSIVE PROGRAMS

The Green Team

At the University of Pennsylvania, a unique new program is helping the athletic department implement sustainable practices.

LEADERSHIP

Ready for an Audit?

Looking for ways to improve, this school district audited its four high schools’ athletic programs—without spending a dime.

59

STUDENT-ATHLETE WELFARE

There are likely student-athletes in your program suffering with a mental health issue.

Here’s how to develop procedures so that staff can help them.

64

TEAM EQUIPMENT

Recognizing the Signs

The Tools to Play

These equipment innovations over the past 25 years have helped athletes improve their performance and reduce their risk of injury.

74

PRODUCT NEWS

Surfaces & Gymnasiums

A look at the latest products in indoor and outdoor surfaces, floor and field covers, and gym equipment, plus sections focused on the locker room and scoring tables.

SPECIAL SECTION

43 Focus on Fundraising And Promotions

Searching for a unique idea to boost money-making efforts? Read how eight schools made innovative events work for them and learn more about products and services that can help you with fundraising and promotions.

COVER PHOTO: AP Photo/Rainier Ehrhardt

13 Community Relations Expanding your reach

Q&A

15 Fred Balsamo Connecticut Association of Athletic Directors GAMEPLAN

21 When Home is Away

By Stephanie Hare 25 Giving Athletes Ownership

By Erik Nedeau

70 Salute to Champions 72 Advertisers Directory On the cover Clemson University’s Tajh Boyd looks at his options, while our team of experts aims to provide insight into the future of high school and college athletics in our cover story, starting on page 28.

AthleticManagement.com | AUG/SEPT 2013 3

Editorial Board VOL. XXV, NO. 5

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

Elizabeth “Betsy” A. Alden, PhD, President, Alden & Associates, Inc. Dan Cardone, Athletic Director, North Hills High School, Pa.

PUBLISHER Mark Goldberg

James Conn, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Health & Human Performance, Central Missouri State University Robert Corran, PhD, Director of Athletics, University of Vermont James Cox, Facilities and Events Coordinator and Adjunct Professor, Barry University

EDITOR IN CHIEF Eleanor Frankel ASSOCIATE EDITOR Dennis Read ASSISTANT EDITORS RJ Anderson, Patrick Bohn, Kristin Maki, Mary Kate Murphy

Joan Cronan, Former Women’s Athletic Director, University of Tennessee Roger Crosley, Director of Communications, ECAC Bernie DePalma, Assistant Athletic Director/Head Athletic Trainer/Physical Therapist, Cornell University

ART DIRECTOR Pamela Crawford CIRCULATION DIRECTOR David Dubin

Tom Douple, Commissioner, Mid-Continent Conference

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Maria Bise

Jay Gardiner, Commissioner, Southern Athletic Association

GRAPHIC ARTIST Trish Landsparger

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

PREPRESS MANAGER Neal Betts

Tom Gioglio, EdD, Director of Athletics, East Stroudsburg University Mike Glazier, Partner, Bond, Schoeneck & King

BUSINESS MANAGER Pennie Small

Steve Green, Deputy Director of Athletics, Northwestern University

SPECIAL PROJECTS Natalie Couch, Dave Wohlhueter

Kevin Hatcher, Athletic Director, Cal State San Bernardino

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Sharon Barbell

Phillip Hossler, ATC, Athletic Trainer, East Brunswick High School, N.J. E. Newton Jackson, Jr., PhD, Associate Provost, University of North Florida

MARKETING DIRECTOR Sheryl Shaffer

Dick Kemper, CMAA, Executive Director, Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association 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, Chairman of the Board, College Athletic Trainers' Society Robert Mathner, PhD, Assistant Professor, Sport Management, Troy University Tim Neal, Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Medicine, Syracuse University Fred Nuesch, Coordinator of Athletic External Affairs, Texas A&M-Kingsville Jamie Plunkett, Head Athletic Trainer, Allegheny College Chris Ritrievi, Vice President of Development, Indiana University

BUSINESS & EDITORIAL OFFICES 20 Eastlake Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850 Phone: (607) 257-6970, Fax: (607) 257-7328 e-mail: info@MomentumMedia.com ADVERTISING SALES ASSOCIATE Diedra Harkenrider, (607) 257-6970, ext. 24 ADVERTISING MATERIALS COORDINATOR/ SALES Mike Townsend, (607) 257-6970, ext. 13

Matthew J. Robinson, EdD, Associate Professor/Director of Sport Management Program, University of Delaware Calli Theisen Sanders, EdD, Senior Associate Athletics Director, Iowa State University Terry Schlatter, EMC, Equipment Manager, University of Wisconsin Tim Slauter, CMAA, Assistant Principal, West Lafayette High School, Ind. Michael Slive, Commissioner, Southeastern Conference Donald Staffo, PhD, Professor, Health, Phys. Ed., & Rec., Stillman College Ellen Staurowsky, EdD, Professor of Sport Management, Drexel University 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 Illinois Troy Tucker, Athletic Director, Northampton Community College Michael Vienna, PhD, Athletic Director, Salisbury University Randy Warrick, Athletic Director, University of South Carolina at Aiken William Whitehill, EdD, ATC, Director, Athletic Training Curriculum, Middle Tennessee State University Sister Lynn Winsor, BVM, CMAA, Athletic Director, Xavier College Preparatory, Ariz.

Tom Yeager, Commissioner, Colonial Athletic Association

4 AUG/SEPT 2013 | AthleticManagement.com

Athletic Management (ISSN 1554-2033) is published bimonthly for a total of 6 times a year, by MAG, Inc., 20 Eastlake Rd., Ithaca, NY, 14850. Athletic Management is distributed without charge to qualified high school and collegiate athletic program and athletic facilities personnel. The paid subscription rate is $24 for one year/six issues in the United States and $30.00 in Canada. The single copy price is $7. Copyright ©2013 by MAG, Inc. All rights reserved. Text may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without permission of the publisher.

Unsolicited materials will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Periodicals postage paid at Ithaca, NY, and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Athletic Management, P.O. Box 4806, Ithaca, NY 14852-4806.

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WarmUp Minnesota high school coaches should have a little more job security after a new law was enacted prohibiting schools from firing them solely based on parent complaints. In the last five years, nearly 40 hockey coaches said they lost jobs due to such criticism.

ment outlining the reasons for their nonrenewal and a chance to appeal their firing in front of the school board.

High School News

PROTECTING COACHES It’s no secret that today’s parents want a say in their children’s high school athletic teams. But what happens when their voices lead to coaches being fired? In Minnesota, state legislators have tackled this issue by introducing a law that makes it illegal to fire a coach entirely because of parent criticism.

Most recently hired coaches get to know their new communities through speaking engagements and a lot of hand shaking. Dave

ap photo/ben garvIN (top)

Doeren, first-year Head Football Coach at North Carolina State University, learned how to knock one out of the park, swing himself out of a sand trap, and shoot a bulls-eye in order to introduce himself to Wolfpack fans and alumni.

Through a promotion titled, “Dare Coach D,” Doeren was challenged to keep up with the athletes on six N.C. State teams—softball, bass fishing, women’s golf, rifle, men’s soccer, and men’s basketball. After capturing a few strikeouts and missed putts, one video compilation of each experience was posted weekly in June and July on

A statement reading, “The existence of parent complaints must not be the sole reason for a board to not renew a coaching contract,” was added to an existing piece of legislation and signed into law on May 22. The original bill, passed a decade ago, provides coaches with certain rights upon their termination, such as a docu-

the athletic department’s Web site, generating over 10,000 hits.

The idea came from Annabelle Myers, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications, after she learned about a similar promotion Doeren did as Head Coach at Northern Illinois University.

“We wanted a more personal way to introduce him to our fans and community, because people rarely get to see what coaches are like off the field,” says Myers.

“Coach Doeren also wanted to get to know the studentathletes and coaches of other sports. Because we knew he was willing to try some outside-the-box ideas, the Dare Coach D project seemed like a good fit.”

Promotions

According to John Erickson, Executive Director of the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association (MSHSCA), the number of non-renewed coaching contracts in the state has risen steadily over the past decade. In ice hockey alone, he says, 110 coaches were let go in the past five years, with 38 claiming parental complaints were to blame.

“We have found that a lot of terminations were driven by parents,” says Erickson. “Their involvement was putting unfair pressure on school boards and athletic directors, and coaches had no way to defend themselves.”

Besides affecting current coaches, Erickson worried the frequent terminations and public attacks would deter future individuals from joining the profession, and he believes the new legislation can help prevent this. “We fear that young men and

Although Doeren says he thoroughly enjoyed participating in all six activities, he did have a favorite. “I love to fish, so spending the day with the bass fishing team was the most relaxing and enjoyable,” he says. “We ended up seeing more fish than we caught, but everybody hooked at least one.”

The inaugural Dare Coach D promotion was considered a success, and the athletic department is looking to incorporate fans’ challenges next summer. “If I can connect with other people, get them laughing, and allow them to see our program in a different light, I think it’s worth it,” says Doeren. “Even if I look bad, at least people see what N.C. State athletics are all about.”

Dave Doeren, the new Head Football Coach at North Carolina State, got acquainted with the school by playing with six other Wolfpack squads, including the women’s softball team.

Up FOR A DARE AthleticManagement.com | AUG/SEPT 2013 7

women who were considering coaching will take one look at the hostile work environment and say, ‘I don’t want any part

to limit what school boards can and cannot consider when evaluating coaching contracts.

Additionally, according to Kirk

“We fear that young men and women who were considering coaching will take one look at the hostile work environment and say, ‘I don’t want any part of this.’ But coaching needs to remain an attractive position so we can continue to draw from a wealth of talent.” of this,’” he says. “But coaching needs to remain an attractive position so we can continue to draw from a wealth of talent.”

The Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) sent a letter to the House and Senate Education Committee chairs stating its opposition to the bill, arguing it is unnecessary

Schneidawind, MSBA’s Deputy Executive Director for Governmental Relations, restricting the influence of parents’ concerns in the process will close school board members off from the wishes of their constituents.

But Erickson sees it differently. “We are not questioning the school boards’ author-

®

ity in any way,” he says. “We want them to have the same latitude they’ve always had. It just seems that school boards and administrators are under incredible pressure when parents are unhappy, and we are trying to make sure that stress doesn’t influence a decision.

The boards are compelled to investigate any complaints they deem legitimate, but they are not required to follow the demands of parents.”

Erickson adds that the bill was never meant to silence parents. “This isn’t about getting parents out of athletics, because the vast majority are supportive and encouraging,” he says. “But it does give coaches the freedom to do their jobs without worrying about being unfairly attacked and fired.”

Although he says there are still aspects of parental interactions with coaches that could be improved, Erickson considers this bill a step in the right direction. “We certainly weren’t going to back down when it came to supporting our coaches, so we feel like we have made our point,” he says. “With this law on the books, hopefully it makes our coaches’ jobs easier and better.”

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The bill was introduced and co-authored by a former high school cross country coach, Rep. Dean Urdahl, and passed through the Minnesota House of Representatives 78-56 as part of the Omnibus Education Bill. After a joint Conference Committee between House and Senate members agreed on a final version, the bill moved through the Senate 41-26 on May 19. The governor signed it into law three days later.

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WarmUp Career Advice

Hiring & Retiring Back in 1991 when Jim Livengood was Athletic Director at Washington State University, he wrote

an article for Athletic Management about hiring coaches titled, “The Perfect Pick.” While much of the advice—such as keeping a list of potential candidates ready and developing a thorough interview process—still holds true, there’s a lot more to bringing a new coach on board today, says Livengood, who retired in June as Athletic Director at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

1988

2013

CELEBRATING

YEARS

“Now, there are more stakeholders who want to have their finger in the pie, so to speak, and sometimes there is a need to use search firms to provide some level of confidentiality,” he says. “But the latest development is the

importance of a thorough background check. There’s so much scrutiny from the press and others on social media.

They’re going to see if they can find anything on that person, even if it’s just a parking ticket they got when they were 22.”

Despite these changes, Livengood says he always relied on one consistent measuring stick from his very first search to his last. “I decided I would never hire a coach that I wouldn’t want coaching my own kids,” he says. “Obviously, there are a lot of other factors but that was always the biggest one.

“Now there have certainly been hires I’ve made that didn’t work out,” Livengood continues. “Hiring coaches is probably the most inexact science in intercollegiate athletics. Much of our duties can be quantified and stratified a thousand different ways, yet the hiring of a coach is such

Wi-Fi enabled busses have been a big hit among softball players and other athletes at Oswego (Ill.) High School.

Team Travel

busier bus rides Long bus rides have always been part of the high school athletic experience.

At Oswego (Ill.) High School, administrators are helping athletes and coaches make this time more productive by installing wireless Internet access on some of their busses.

As part of a pilot program, four of the school district’s busses were equipped this past winter, aimed at helping students complete homework on their commute to and from school and when traveling to away athletic contests. Oswego Athletic Director Darren Howard has nothing but praise for the initiative.

“We’ve had students tell us they can now get much more done on the bus than just reading a hardcover book,” he says. “They’re able to finish assignments or work on a project, so they have less to do when they get home.”

Coaches are using the service to complete postgame tasks on the bus ride home, such as compiling statistics, processing game video, and sending information to local media. “Our coaches are thrilled because they are now able to get all their postgame duties done on the bus, rather than having to wait until they’re back at the school,” Howard says. “They’re trying to get home and be with their families after teaching and coaching all day, so anything we can do to help them save time is huge.”

Reflecting on a career that saw him lead four NCAA Division I athletic programs and concluded with his retirement from UNLV in June, Jim Livengood wonders if athletic directors would be best off limiting their tenure at any one school to five to seven years.

The system uses a small device installed on the bus that connects to the Internet through cell phone signals, a feature available on many smartphones and tablets. The box also includes a wireless hot spot that allows any Wi-Fi-enabled device within range to connect to the Internet.

AthleticManagement.com | AUG/SEPT 2013 9

a crapshoot. There’s never a guarantee that a coach will work out even if he or she has had a lot of previous success.”

Livengood has also noticed that once hired, coaches now have a much shorter time frame in which to prove themselves. “There is so much expectation for immediate success,” he says. “We see football coaches nowadays who don’t last a full year. There’s an expectation in society that if success isn’t happening right now, it’s never going to happen and we need to make a change.

“But as an athletic director, you have to look past the howling for change and consider what kind of base is being built,” Livengood continues. “When I was at Washington State, I hired Kelvin Sampson as our head men’s basketball coach, and in his third year he won his first conference game and then

lost 17 in a row. But the thing I remember most about that season is going to one of his practices before the last game, and you couldn’t tell whether we had won or lost 17 in a row. The next year things turned around, and a couple of years later, we were in the NCAA tournament.”

Livengood has had an interesting career path himself.

He started as a high school coach and athletic director in Washington before becoming Associate Athletic Director at Washington State in 1980.

He was hired as Athletic Director at Southern Illinois University in 1985 then returned to Washington State as Athletic Director in 1987. In 1993, Livengood moved to the University of Arizona, where he spent 16 years as Athletic Director, serving as President of the Pac-10, chairing the NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee, and keeping the Wild-

cats among the top 20 in the NACDA Directors’ Cup standings. It came as a surprise to many when Livengood moved to UNLV in June of 2009.

“I think athletic directors, especially in Division I, are going to be much better served in the future by having shorter tenures, maybe in the range of five to seven years,” Livengood says. “In that length of time, you’re inevitably going to offend and upset some people just because of the decisions you have to make, whether it’s hiring, firing, re-seating, or any number of things. If you make decisions based on trying to keep your job, I don’t think anybody wins—not the athletic director or the institution. If you make them based on the proper course, regardless of who it upsets, I think you’re doing the right thing.

“Any Division I athletic director who says, ‘My fan base is

behind me 100 percent,’ just isn’t telling the truth,” he continues. “We all have our detractors. The key to being successful is to not internalize the criticism and not allow it to change the decisions you know to be best. But eventually the number of detractors adds up to the point where it becomes harder to get things done.”

As he settles into retirement, what is Livengood most proud of in his career? “Our value in intercollegiate athletics comes from what the young people in our programs do after they leave school,” he says. “Are they going to assume leadership roles? Will they be on school boards and city councils? Are they going to make a difference? I’m most proud of the many examples of young people who have gone through our programs and are making a difference in their communities.”

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WarmUp Student-Athlete Support

back on the track

Getting a team to focus on academics can be a tough task for many coaches. Matt O’Brien, however, finds it a breeze ever since he’s put in place a specific strategy. Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Southwestern College, O’Brien’s squad has won an NAIA Team Scholar Award for the past two seasons and he has some great advice to pass on.

Andrea Nuss/Southwestern College Sports Information (BOTTOM)

“It has been said by many coaches that you are what you emphasize, so I have chosen to emphasize academics,” O’Brien says. “I address the team a few times every week formally in the locker room about their academics and have daily conversations with my players about their upcoming assignments and tests. I look at their syllabuses, put their tests on my calendar, and make sure I tell them good luck or ask them how they did.”

He also gives his athletes some incentives. “If we achieve a 3.0 team GPA, they will receive new uniforms.

I have found that even 21-year-old college players get excited about this,” O’Brien says. “I also tell them the GPA they need to obtain in order to be recognized by the institution, by the conference, and nationally. It is amazing how many players strive to achieve a 3.5 GPA for a chance to be an Academic All-American. I make sure each player who achieves academically is praised and receives as much attention as possible via our Web site, local newspaper, and other campus media.”

Study hall on Sunday nights is required for all freshmen and those who have below a 3.0 GPA, and O’Brien’s players are required to complete grade check sheets throughout each semester. “Along with their current

The final home track meet for Olympic High School in Charlotte, N.C., started off like any other. Athletes warmed up, fans filled the stands, and timers were at the ready. But on this day, a special announcement drew everyone’s attention to a student-athlete standing in the center of the field before the first event could begin.

and field season, and this was his first week back at school.

Aware of Kapange’s return, Craig Bollinger, Head Track and Field and Cross Country Coach at Olympic, wanted to find a meaningful way to support his student-athlete. So Bollinger decided to honor Kapange and his struggle through a ceremony with his teammates all around him.

In February, Gideon Kapange, one of Olympic’s top middle distance runners in 2012, was diagnosed with T-cell leukemia. He had been undergoing chemotherapy treatments for the past three months, foregoing his junior outdoor track

“The announcer shared Gideon’s story and the whole stadium erupted,” says Bollinger.

“Then, in full uniform, Gideon went out on the track with the entire Olympic team— sprinters, throwers, everybody—and they all ran a slow lap around it.

Craig Bollinger, Track Coach at Olympic (N.C.) High School, honored Gideon Kapange, who missed his junior season while receiving leukemia treatments, by having him take a lap around the track during a home meet.

“He was smiling from ear to ear the whole time,” Bollinger continues. “After he ran, Gideon spent the rest of the meet sitting in the infield surrounded by his teammates.

Being able to step on the

grade, we want to know a few key things about each student’s progress in their classes,” he explains. “Have they submitted all of their assignments? Have they missed or have been tardy to any classes?”

Academics

One more important element is relaying the why behind great academic effort. “We talk to our players about how we all have a continuing responsibility to be a part of the total picture of Southwestern College, which means strong academic and athletic performance,” O’Brien says.

THE RIGHT FOCUS

The men’s basketball team at Southwestern College has won a pair of NAIA Team Scholar Awards thanks to Head Coach Matt O’Brien’s continual emphasis on academics and incentives, including new uniforms for a 3.0 team GPA.

AthleticManagement.com | AUG/SEPT 2013 11

track again kept a grin on his face all afternoon.”

At his full-time job as pastor of a local church, Bollinger often meets with individuals experiencing a health crisis, making sure they never feel alone. So throughout the good and bad days of Kapange’s early chemotherapy treatments, Bollinger kept in frequent contact.

It was a routine phone call to Kapange’s father that tipped Bollinger off on the studentathlete’s plan to return to school. “Gideon’s dad said that he was having a good week and felt ready to come back,” Bollinger says. “Our last home track meet of the season was just a couple days away, so I asked if Gideon would be able to come cheer for the team and take a tribute lap. His father gave me the okay.”

If Kapange was going to be at the meet, Bollinger wanted

I called him the day before the meet and asked, ‘Are you good with this? Do you want to do this?’ He said yes right away.”

still care even when they’re not performing. Don’t walk away from them just because they can’t give you something back.”

However, the most important piece of the plan was getting approval from Kapange himself. Bollinger was prepared to call the event off if Kapange—a shy, quiet individual—exhibited any discomfort with the idea.

After seeing Kapange’s meetday emotions, Bollinger knew he had done the right thing.

But it was the reaction of the other six teams at the meet that astonished him.

“They weren’t aware of what was going to happen until it was announced and Gideon started running around the track,” Bollinger says. “The meet was about to start, but all the athletes stopped what they were doing, gathered around the track, and applauded as Gideon jogged by.”

The Olympic team has embraced this mindset as well. “I’ve made sure my athletes don’t forget about Gideon just because he’s not around,” Bollinger says. “It would be easy for them to move on and forget about a struggling teammate. But when opportunities have been provided to support Gideon, our athletes have really come through for him.”

“Gideon and I have a lot of relational capital built up,” says Bollinger. “I know him pretty well because he has run for me for three years, we train together, and we’ve attended camps together.

Bollinger advises coaches and athletic directors faced with a similar situation to stay present in the athlete’s life.

“Remain engaged with the individual who is struggling,” he says. “Let them know you

to make sure there would be plenty of people there to support him. With only a few days to organize the event, he consulted with Olympic’s athletic director to pack the stands. “I sent him a note detailing what I had in mind,” Bollinger says. “He told me to go for it and invited the entire school to attend. I also put an announcement in the local newspaper to help get the word out.”

With his chemotherapy treatments scheduled to continue for the next two or three years, Kapange may not be able to compete in high school again. “It’s difficult for chemotherapy patients to train at high levels,” says Bollinger. “We have no idea what to expect, but we’ll support him no matter what.”

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kicking up attention Hosting a tournament is a surefire way to raise money. Penin-

sula Community College in Port Angeles, Wash., found out that such an event can also build community when it hosted “Rumble in the Rainforest” this past spring.

A one-day fundraiser for the men’s and women’s soccer programs, the tournament brought together teams that don’t normally play against each other and fans of all ages. “It was primarily a fundraiser, but beyond that, I saw it as a way to get the community excited about the soccer programs on campus and in the area,” says Andrew Chapman, Head Men’s Soccer Coach at PCC. “I wanted to find a way to get people involved, while at the same time improving the fan experience.”

Chapman’s first step was lining up a diverse array of teams. Along with PCC’s men’s and women’s soccer squads, the competition included a professional team, a semi-pro team, the men’s teams from the University of Washington and Seattle University, and the men’s and women’s teams from Saint Martin’s University, an NCAA Division II school.

the squads arrived at different times, we set up four team rooms,” Chapman says.

“One was located near the field, and three others were in the gym. I assigned our players to be liaisons to each squad.

They were responsible for making sure the rooms were stocked with Gatorade, water, and towels, and for showing the players around if they needed something.”

PCC also erected tents near the main field where the teams could rest in between games. Visiting athletes could order food from a nearby restaurant, which was then picked up and delivered by a PCC player.

“It was pretty easy to get buy-in from our players,” Chapman says. “They understand that fundraising is a critical part of our team. It also helped that the coaches were involved. Kanyon Anderson, our Head Women’s Coach, was in charge of making sure everything went off without a hitch at the front gate, and my assistant coach handled the vendor areas and the stands.”

When the day was over, 400 fans had come and gone, seven soccer games had been played, and a profit of $4,000 had been realized. Adults paid $10, kids were $5, and those fans wishing to watch online were charged $10—action was filmed by PCC players, and the live stream was hosted on an alum’s Web site.

The feedback from the event was universally positive. “The teams all told me they had a great time, and they’re eager to do it again next year,” Chapman says. “Our administration was also over the moon about it. The president was there almost all day, asking us if there was anything we needed help with.

“Most importantly, the community loved the event,” he continues. “All the groups that helped us appreciated the opportunity to make some money and promote what they do. An employee of the bar and grill that ran the hospitality tent told me, ‘This is what it’s all about when it comes to community involvement.’”

From there, Chapman worked on developing fan-friendly activities. He convinced the college’s auto shop to put on a show, which included a lineup of 15 classic cars outside the stadium entrance.

The Peninsula Boys & Girls Club set up a Kids’ Zone near the field featuring playground equipment, soccer goals, and a cake walk. A hospitality tent sold hot food, beer, and wine from a local bar and grill and fare from an area soup kitchen. One concession stand offered PCC apparel, and another, manned by the Port Angeles Youth Soccer Club, served food and drinks provided for free by a local Pepsi bottling company.

“The vendor setups were mutually beneficial,” Chapman says. “They didn’t cost us anything, and we got a percentage of the profits from the hospitality tent. We’re fortunate to have good relationships with businesses in the community, and people were willing to help us.”

A third critical element was serving as gracious hosts to the visiting teams. “Because The “Rumble in the Rainforest” at Peninsula Community College reached far beyond the school’s soccer teams. Several local groups, including the local Boys & Girls Clubs, joined in to offer fan-friendly activities.

AthleticManagement.com | AUG/SEPT 2013 13

WarmUp

The Salina (Kan.) School District faced that question last year and responded by establishing a new policy.

“We’ve had a couple of parents buy helmets for their children that we didn’t find out about until after the fact,” says Ken Stonebraker, Athletic Director at Salina South High School, who helped write the guidelines. “With all the attention on concussions in football, we felt we needed to get out in front of this and establish rules so we have some control over the helmets our players wear.”

The Salina policy requires that any personal football helmets have current NOCSAE certification, be approved for use by the coach or athletic director, and be fitted for the player by the coach. The parents must also purchase a mainte-

nance kit for the helmet if it requires different hardware or accessories than those supplied by the school.

In addition, the helmet becomes the property of the football program for as long as the athlete is involved with the team, after which it will be returned to his family. “We don’t want a helmet to sit in a kid’s room for the offseason,” Stonebraker says. “Since we’ll have possession of them, we can store them properly and take care of recertification and reconditioning, if needed.”

A Kansas school district has enacted a policy that requires parents to give up custody and control of any personal football helmets they want their children to wear.

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As parents become more concerned about concussions, some are refusing school-issued football helmets and purchasing personal helmets for their children instead. How should schools react?

Q & A

Fred Balsamo CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION OF ATHLETIC DIRECTORS

1988

2013

CELEBRATING

YEARS

Fred Balsamo has a history of transforming programs. When he became Athletic Director at Middletown (Conn.)

High School in 1979, he introduced new policies and athletic participation tripled. When his school merged with another in 1983, he used athletics to ease the tension between the two student bodies.

Leaving Middletown in 1996 for East Haven High School in New Haven, Conn., he took over a brand new athletic program. Three of his teams made state championship appearances and the program swelled to include 20 varsity and 25 sub-varsity squads.

Since 2006, Balsamo has served as Executive Director of the Connecticut Association of Athletic Directors (CAAD). In 2007, he helped create the Connecticut Coaching Education Program (CCEP) and became its director.

Recently, Balsamo was a key player in the passage of Connecticut House Bill 6383, which established hiring standards for athletic directors. He was elected into the NIAAA Hall of Fame in 2011.

AM: What has been the biggest change in athletics over the past 25 years?

Balsamo: I think the perspective of parents has changed drastically, and their need to be involved in their children’s sports teams has hindered the profession of athletic administration. We now have to deal with parents who think everything revolves around their child. The “there is no ‘I’ in team” mentality has gone out the window.

What advice do you give your membership on establishing a good relationship with parents?

One of our more successful strategies was creating a 14-minute video called “Parenting Your Student-Athlete” for athletic directors to play at preseason meetings. It shows different scenarios of parents acting inappropriately at games, confronting their child’s coach, and trying to get their kid preferential treatment. Then, the video explains how this behavior impacts the child, coach, and team and gives advice on better ways for parents to handle these situations.

Watching the video gets parents asking themselves, “Gee, do I act that way?” It also starts a dialogue early on and makes parents realize that neither the school administration nor their own children appreciate their antics.

And it gives athletic directors a helpful point of reference with parents if any problems arise during the season.

How have parents responded to the video?

Two weeks after it came out, I got a call from a colleague who said, “‘Parenting Your StudentAthlete’ is amazing. I screened it for a group of parents, and one woman stood up and said, ‘I want to commend you for showing this, and I want to tell the other parents in the auditorium that some of you behave like the people in the video.’”

It woke up everyone and got parents to police each other. In the past, when someone was causing a scene, most parents would sit back and say, “It doesn’t involve my child, so I’m going to keep my mouth shut.” Now they approach unruly individuals and say, “Hey, let’s remember this is about the kids. Let them have fun, and let the coach run things.”

You were featured in a 1991 Athletic Management article about recruiting. How have high school athletic directors’ roles in the recruiting process changed?

Now more than ever, athletic directors have to make sure their student-athletes are keeping up with the NCAA’s academic guidelines if they want to compete in Division I or II. In the past, you could sit a sophomore down and say, “You could play in college, but you need to do this and this in the classroom over the next two years to be eligible.”

With some of the changes the NCAA has made regarding the required core courses, a student-athlete now has to be put on the right path starting in ninth grade. You don’t

We first spoke with Balsamo in 1991, during Athletic Management’s third year of publication, for a cover story on recruiting. In this interview for our 25th anniversary, Balsamo talks about the changes of the past quarter-century and how he is preparing his members for the future.

Fred Balsamo addresses a meeting of the Connecticut Association of Athletic Directors.

AthleticManagement.com | AUG/SEPT 2013 15

want to have to face a senior student-athlete and say, “Well, you have the grades, but you took the wrong courses.”

Additionally, the NCAA has made it so students can’t retake courses—whatever grades

bound athlete and their parent. We wanted to make sure our athletic directors were not caught behind the eight ball regarding the NCAA’s recent changes, so we brought them in to train them as “faculty.” Then they can go back to their schools and teach the course to their coaches and guidance counselors. We also told them to educate people at the high school and middle school levels to make sure student-athletes are as prepared as possible.

“If coaches want to use Facebook for team communication, they should add the team as a group, not as individuals. Allow parents and school administrators to have access, and don’t let other students from the school join.” a kid earns in his or her first two years of high school are frozen. Before, a studentathlete who did poorly in a class could take it again and use the better grade.

What is your organization doing to make sure athletic directors are prepared for these new NCAA rules?

Every year, CCEP unveils a new course. This year’s topic was working with the college-

What issues is CAAD currently dealing with?

The athletic administration turnover rate has been ridiculously high in Connecticut. Currently, 67 percent of our members have five years of experience or less.

There are several factors causing this. Some individuals who become athletic directors have the wrong expectations of the position’s demands and aren’t prepared to give up so many nights and weekends. Parents drive others out. But I think the biggest issue has been districts hiring unqualified candidates.

There have been instances of parents think-

ing they would make good athletic directors despite no administrative background. We’ve also seen districts hire candidates that already had a full-time job elsewhere. These types of hires never work out for long.

In response, for the past few years, we’ve been lobbying our state legislature to pass a law requiring new athletic directors to meet certain qualifications. This legislation was passed on May 28 and is the first of its kind in the country.

It states that in order to be hired as an athletic director, an individual must have a coaching permit and be certified by the State Board of Education or the NIAAA by taking a course. Not only will the law require these credentials coming into the position, it also states that athletic directors must continue their education by taking courses in such topics as leadership training.

What is CCEP working on?

Last year, we developed a course on electronics and social media. For many of our coaches, this is uncharted territory and they are learning as they go.

We have also developed electronic and social media guidelines for our coaches to follow.

We tell them not to allow cell phones in

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Q & A locker rooms because they can be used as cameras. Coaches are also advised against electronically communicating one-on-one with a student-athlete. Sending a blast e-mail or tweeting to the world is fine. However, if one player responds and a coach has to reply, they should copy their athletic director or other supervisor.

A simple comment can spiral out of control so quickly. For example, let’s say an athlete texts, “Coach, I did terrible in the meet today,” and the coach responds, “Don’t be ridiculous. You looked fantastic.” A parent could view that as the coach commenting on their child’s physical appearance. But if the coach copies his athletic director throughout the entire conversation, he or she will have seen both sides of the story.

What advice do you give coaches who want to use social networking sites like Facebook?

We tell them right off the bat: Never friend a student-athlete on your personal Facebook page and never let them friend you. That’s forbidden.

If coaches want to use Facebook for team communication, they should get approval from their school. When they set up the

page, they should add the team as a group, not as individuals. Allow parents and school administrators to have access, and don’t let other students from the school join. Once the page is created, it should only be used for team-related communication.

How did you triple student-athlete participation during your time at Middletown?

First, I asked myself, “What are some of the things that are keeping kids away?” One answer was the cost and logistics of getting a preparticipation physical. So I convinced a doctor to come in and conduct free physical examinations for anyone who wanted to go out for a sport. We’d do that before each sport season.

My next step was making sure coaches at all levels understood their role, and for those at the sub-varsity level, that meant development. I always encouraged j.v. and freshman coaches to keep extra kids. If cuts needed to be made a few years later at the varsity level, so be it, but give the varsity head coach the ability to select their team from a bigger group of players. Don’t cut athletes before their sophomore year, because you never know what they could grow into with a few years of practice.

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What are the pros and cons of working for an organization compared to being a building athletic director?

One of the pros is that I still feel like I’m making an impact on student-athletes, and that has always been my goal. When I was a coach, it was incredibly satisfying to work with the kids on a daily basis, and I struggled with giving that up when I had the opportunity to become an athletic director. But I told myself, “You can have a bigger impact as athletic director, because your decisions will affect the coaches who then work with the kids.” Being the Executive Director of CAAD is just the next step up on the ladder. We’re trying to influence athletic directors, who impact coaches, who ultimately make athletics better for the kids.

However, I do still miss the daily interaction with student-athletes. But this profession is a labor of love, and as long as I think we are doing good things, I’m going to stick with it.

> For more information on the video, “Parenting the Student-Athlete,” read our blog on it by searching “A Message for Parents” at:

www.athleticmanagement.com

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GamePlan GamePlan RiskSpecial Management Events

gary hovland

ing up the concession sales and gate of a home game could be detrimental to our boosters and athletic department.

A school can only absorb so much loss of revenue while making a memorable event for students.

Fortunately, my financial fears were put to rest after a first meeting with Fifth Third Ballpark. They offered to split all profits from the game, including revenue streams we don’t normally tap into, such as parking fees, suite rentals, and banner and video advertising. In term of advertising, the ballpark would take care of all the selling so we could just sit back and enjoy the shared profits.

When Home is Away

With student-athletes on board, this high school transformed an away venue into a home-field advantage.

By Stephanie Hare In the fall of 2012, I was approached by the West Michigan Whitecaps, a nearby Class A minor league baseball team, with an intriguing proposition. The management at its facility, Fifth Third Ballpark, asked if it could host one of our Forest Hills Northern High School home football games during the 2013 season. They wanted to promote the ballpark experience and thought we’d enjoy the chance to play in the stadium.

Many questions immediately arose. How hard would it be to transport all aspects of a home game from our school to the park? Would coaches, boosters, and fans balk at the idea? Would we lose revenue? Based on my initial brainstorming, I was hesitant.

Before thinking any further about the negatives, I decided to find out how the players felt. That night at a home volleyball game, I asked the captain of the football team for his feedback on

the possibility of playing at Fifth Third Ballpark. His eyes lit up right away. He was excited about the opportunity, and everyone else on the squad began pulling for it as well.

It has always been our school’s philosophy that anything students put enthusiasm behind can and will be successful.

So, I threw my hesitations out the window and determined we would make a home game at an away facility a reality.

Putting the Pieces Together Fifth Third Ballpark has been renovated several times in its 19-year history and features updated amenities for spectators, such as a video board, suites, and great concessions. It’s no surprise our football team wanted to play in such a professional venue.

But there were a lot of details to work out before I could make their dreams come true. The financial weight of giv-

For our booster club, this made it an easy sell. They would not have to work a home game and they’d still get a significant concession check.

My next step was talking with our opponent for that date, Greenville High School. It turns out that Greenville had played a game at Fifth Third Ballpark previously and had a very positive experience, so they were excited about the opportunity to do it again.

Moving all the hoopla and atmosphere of one of our home games to Fifth Third was another hurdle. This would include transporting our team, athletic trainer, band, cheer and dance squads, and all of their necessary equipment, and making sure no important detail is left at home.

With enough preplanning, I felt we could pull it off. Just as important, I quickly gained confidence in the Ballpark’s management team to do their part, noting their efficiency and attention to detail.

One last obstacle was our coaches. Initially, they had some hesitations about playing in a venue they were not familiar with. But this was fairly easily remedied by the excitement of the players and Stephanie Hare is Athletic Supervisor at Forest Hills Northern High School in Grand Rapids, Mich., where she will be starting her third year this fall.

She can be reached at: share@fhps.net.

AthleticManagement.com | AUG/SEPT 2013 21

GamePlan Special Events parents. In addition, the Ballpark is allowing us to practice in the facility the day before the game to get more comfortable with the field.

A Community Event With everyone on board, we are now working on making the game something

to watch their high school football team in a professional stadium. We are encouraging our supporters to purchase suites to watch the game from, which will allow them to order food and (nonalcoholic) drinks brought directly to their box. We also hope that watching a game from a suite during the month

One last obstacle was our coaches. Initially, they had some hesitations about playing in a venue they were not familiar with. But this was fairly easily remedied by the excitement of the players and parents. our community will support and attend.

Our job over the next few months is to promote the game to help bring in revenue and create an atmosphere the student-athletes will always remember.

Our approach is to get fans excited by selling the same things our athletes were pumped up about—a rare chance

of October in Michigan will appeal to our fans.

Another way we are involving the community in this event is through acknowledging our youth football program. At halftime, each youth team will be introduced and will run out onto the field.

We do this yearly at our home stadium,

Circle No. 113 22 AUG/SEPT AUG/SEPT2013 2007| AthleticManagement.com ATHLETIC MANAGEMENT.COM

but Fifth Third should enhance the experience.

Our band members and our dance and cheer teams will also play a big part in this special night with pregame and halftime performances. Their parents are very excited to see them perform at Fifth Third.

One last challenge is making sure fans understand their individual costs will increase. The price of a ticket is slightly higher, no season passes will be accepted, and fans will be charged for parking. We are communicating these changes ahead of time through e-mail and the school’s Web site. Coaches, band directors, and students are also being asked to share this information with their families so there are no surprises.

With most of the pieces in place, we are looking forward to watching our studentathletes take the field at Fifth Third on Oct. 11. I am excited to see our players and their supporters on the big screen and a huge crowd enjoying the atmosphere of a professional park. We hope for good weather and the community to show up in droves. But we are very confident the number one goal—a positive experience for our students—will be realized.

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0 2626 64 100 0 1078 2289

PMS Cool Gray 9 0/1/0/51 PMS BLACK 1118

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GamePlan Leadership 1988

2013

CELEBRATING

YEARS

cal in athletics. It’s something I try to do continually with my student-athletes in a number of ways.

Ownership = Responsibility gary hovland

During my time with the SAAC, I developed a much deeper appreciation for what goes on behind the scenes in college athletics. I was able to better understand why certain decisions were made and the reasons behind various rules and regulations. This helped change the way I viewed my team and my role as a studentathlete.

Pride in Ownership In 1995, we interviewed NCAA SAAC President Erik Nedeau for a cover story on student-athlete leadership. This anniversary year, we asked him to revisit the topic from his perspective as a coach.

By Erik Nedeau Like most coaches, I look back on my experience as a student-athlete fondly.

As a track and field mid-distance runner at Northeastern University, I earned All-American honors three times and was an Academic All-American. I had a great coach and loved my teammates.

But the best part of my experience took place off the track. From 1993-96, I served as a regional representative to the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). This was a great opportunity in so many ways. I got to share ideas with a diverse group that was looking to establish its voice in the world of college athletics, and the responsibility to represent fellow student-athletes was awesome.

During that time, I was interviewed for an article in this magazine titled “Flex-

ing Their Vocal Muscles” that ran as the August/September 1995 cover story. It examined the growing desire of studentathletes to have a say in the policies and decisions made regarding college athletics. The article also relayed how empowering it was for me, as a 23-year old, to address assembled administrators and presidents at the NCAA convention.

Those experiences set me on my career track, as I earned my Master’s Degree in Sport Management two years after graduating from Northeastern, and then became a head coach at a top NCAA Division III institution. They also helped me formulate a student-centered coaching philosophy. I believe strongly that allowing student-athletes ownership of their team and their experience is criti-

I also realized that understanding these inner workings can help student-athletes make the most of their experience.

Instead of disregarding or disrespecting a rule, you buy into it. You might disagree with it or even fight it (which can even be a positive). But most importantly, you work through it and it becomes part of the learning experience.

That’s why, as a coach today, I give my student-athletes ownership of their team.

I have a good idea of how I want to run my program but will always ask for input from my athletes about topics such as meet schedules, competition venues, and some workout choices. I encourage them to come in with questions and I listen to any and all ideas my student-athletes have.

Involving them in these conversations helps create a sense of ownership of what we are trying to accomplish. Taking ownership then fosters a sense of responsibility. When someone’s ideas are incorporated, that person will work harder to make them successful.

The culture becomes one of going the extra mile because everyone buys in, and athletes start leading by example.

Whether that means going on an early Erik Nedeau is the Head Men’s Track and Field and Cross Country Coach at Amherst College, where he has worked since 1996.

He can be reached at: elnedeau@amherst.edu.

AthleticManagement.com | AUG/SEPT 2013 25

GamePlan Leadership morning run, lifting on your own, or acting with respect and responsibility towards everyone else, any of these actions show others the required dedication and commitment.

will randomly call out someone within the huddle to say a few words. While it puts that person on the spot, I am impressed with what gets said and how their teammates react.

Everyone Can Be a Leader

Structured Program

I also work hard to bring out every athlete’s leadership abilities. Some are born leaders, but the majority need coaxing.

In addition to what I do within my team, our school has a three-tiered program for student-athletes that focuses on developing leadership abilities—Amherst LEADS. Tier one, called First Years, involves every new student-athlete and is introductory in nature. It encourages the students to be engaged in their sport, school, and community, teaches the history of Amherst, and discusses what it means to be a student-athlete at our school.

Helping each individual find their voice is one of the biggest ways I unlock leadership potential. When people have new ideas, I work with them to incorporate the plan into what we are doing. However, I insist that the athlete is the point person and help them develop strategies to get everyone’s support.

To truly lead, you can’t be afraid to say what needs to be said. I love to see an underclassman who doesn’t worry about stepping on veterans’ toes. I try to develop a culture where it’s okay for one team member to call others out. Too often kids don’t want to criticize their friends for fear of backlash.

For example, at the end of practices, we will huddle up and do a quick recap. I

The next tier, Futures, is for sophomores and juniors who apply, and promotes the many concepts of leadership and responsibility. The Captains program is for the respective captains of each team and is designed to challenge them to become leaders in all aspects of their lives.

Each tier holds six programs a semester.

Some feature speakers, including CEOs, coaches, and athletes (Greg Louganis, Julius Achon, and Ruthie Bolton to name

a few). Others provide community service opportunities. The athletes learn about everything from sports psychology to how to be more effective communicators.

The Captains program also includes a two-day symposium just prior to the start of school in the fall, where a variety of exercises instill the importance of teamwork, leadership, and communication. It is highlighted by the athletes’ participation in “The Program”—a leadership development company comes to campus and puts our captains through a range of grueling mental and physical challenges that require teamwork to succeed.

At the biggest companies, leaders look to the consumer for feedback about their product. Likewise, college athletics should be seeking the voice of its student-athletes when making decisions.

I feel strongly that both coaches and administrators should do all they can to incorporate student-athletes’ ideas into their operations. It will lead to better decisions, more involved and responsible participants, and camaraderie throughout the team and department. And best of all, you will also be developing the next generation of leaders.

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26 AUG/SEPT 2013 | AthleticManagement.com

Circle No. 116

11/22/11 7:09 PM

Benefits of NIAAA Membership Ad 2012_Layout 1 9/24/2012 1:07 PM Page 1

Benefits to NIAAA Members The national professional organization dedicated solely to services, assistance and development for the providers of secondary school “Education Based Athletics” programs.

Opportunities

Professional North Central Accreditation NIAAA is the first association accredited by NCA CASI. Leadership Training Institute Educational curriculum of 36 courses taught at national and state conferences, institutes and NIAAA webinars. Students can earn CEUs, through a master’s degree through select universities.

Certification Program Four levels of professional certification including Registered, Certified and Certified Master Athletic Administrator.

National Athletic Directors Conference Annual Conference hosted in cooperation with the NFHS offering educational, services, informational leadership and networking opportunities.

Hall of Fame Induction and recognition of individuals that have strongly impacted the profession of athletic administration.

• NIAAA Committee Membership – 12 committees plus, 2 ad-hoc committees.

• Field Renovation Program – Members may apply for consideration to have an outdoor field renovated by members of the Sports Turf Committee.

• IAA – Opportunity to submit articles for publication.

• Student Scholarship/Essay Program – Open to students in schools where the Athletic Director is an NIAAA member. Female and male recipients at State, Section and National levels.

• NIAAA/Mildred Hurt Jennings Endowment – Opportunity to contribute.

Portion of funds utilized for professional growth outreach initiatives.

• In-Service Program – Offering selected LTI courses adapted in 90 minute or 4 hour presentations. Available to school or district staff. Topics include14 legal duties, time management and interpersonal relationships.

• Quality Program Award – Option after having taken LTC 799 to participate in a process of athletic program assessment offering Exemplary Program recognition.

• Invited Assessment Program – Opportunity to have team of professionals evaluate each facet of a school or district athletic program.

Web Site Benefits at : www.niaaa.org

Interscholastic Athletic Administration Magazine Professional journal providing high school and middle school leadership practical assistance from athletic administrators in the field, research based study, NIAAA member information, regular columns and best practices.

Awards Program Recognition levels for athletic administrators at both state and national levels.

Media Materials Electronic and print materials available to assist the professional in a number of areas.

Professional Outreach Program Conducted in cooperation with state athletic administrator associations as outreach to targeted demographic areas through the NIAAA Endowment. Offering of LTI (501-502), RAA Certification, one year NIAAA membership, with 10 percent of participants receiving registration and lodging scholarship to the national conference.

Public Service Announcements Promoting education based athletic programs.

• Dedicated to NIAAA information and program offerings. Links to key affiliates.

• Member Services – Online opportunity through NIAAA database to view personal account, find members, order materials or initiate/renew NIAAA membership. Opportunity to post a resume, open dates, job openings and equipment for sale. Use “message board” to post questions, share ideas and gather information, as well as respond to questions posted by other members.

• Registration and information regarding the annual National Conference.

• Athletic Administrators Outfitters (AAO) is a shop offering logoed NIAAA apparel.

• Buyers Guide – Online site for preferred companies with contact information and links.

• The Role of the Principal in Interscholastic Athletics – Free 12 minute video through link on the NIAAA Web site. Produced in cooperation with the NASSP and NFHS. • Calendar of scheduled events for both state and national athletic administrator associations.

• State Leadership Directory – Listing of key contact individuals within states.

• Archived IAA magazine for research and reference.

Direct Benefits to Members • $2,000,000 liability insurance.

• IAA is a quarterly magazine provided as part of membership.

• $2,500 Life Insurance.

• Membership kit for first-time registrants.

• A Profile of Athletic Administration – 28 page booklet available at no cost, providing purpose of position and description of how AD position should be structured and supported.

• National Emergency Network – Assistance available in cases of accident or medical emergency while traveling.

• Continued cutting edge development through NIAAA 3rd Strategic Plan.

• eNews – Electronic newsletter offered 10 times annually at no cost.

• Numerous educational print materials.

• Research expressing importance of education based athletics.

• Direct communication to members through social media.

Cost Reductions • Lower registration cost for National Conference.

• Reduced premiums on AFLAC cancer and accident insurance.

Circle No. 135

• Reduced cost for certification applications.

• Discounted rates offered on Mutual of Omaha Long Term Health Care.

Added inclusion in Tuition Rewards and Care Options Assistance.

1988

2013

CELEBRATING

YEARS

The year was 1989 and the topic was working with your school’s president.

The advice: “It’s a two-way street. An athletic program must work at being an integral part of the university, and the chancellor needs to feel that a sound athletic program is a plus for the university.”

Those words were offered by John Swofford, then the Athletic Director at the University of North Carolina, in the fourth issue of Athletic Management. At the time, working closely with your university president was not on every athletic director’s radar. Our article examined how those in athletics could collaborate with upperlevel administrators and communicate with them effectively.

Times have certainly changed—university presidents are now charged with being intimately involved in athletics, both in NCAA governance and on their individual campuses. Yet things have also stayed the same—Swofford’s advice still rings true, no matter who has ultimate control of athletics within an institution.

How will things change and how will they remain the same over the next 25 years? While we’ve spent much of our 25th anniversary looking back, for this article, we look ahead. We’ve

As the athletic landscape continues to shift, the future promises changes and challenges.

In this 25th anniversary article, we ask veteran athletic directors to look ahead and offer advice on what to expect.

AP Photo/Rainier Ehrhardt

By Mary Kate Murphy

COVER STORY

Clemson University quarterback Tajh Boyd assesses his options during a game last year.

His conference commissioner, the ACC’s John Swofford, assesses what conference shifts and new technology will mean for athletics in this annniversary article.

COVER STORY

asked veteran athletic administrators who have contributed to Athletic Management over the past quarter-century—including Swofford, now Commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)—to gaze into their crystal balls and provide insights on how to prepare for the future of athletics.

ATHLETES FIRST

At its core, high school and college athletics have always been about providing a great extracurricular experience for students. A big trend for the future, say many athletic directors, is that the “student-athlete experience” will become more closely scrutinized. From safety to off-field success, athletic administrators will be expected to pay increased attention to the welfare of their student-athletes.

For many, this starts with making athletic departments more responsible for student-athletes’ academic achievement. With all three divisions of the NCAA focused on academic integrity and GPA requirements being raised at the high school level, the impetus is on athletic directors and coaches to work harder to ensure athletes’ success in the classroom.

In 1992, Kevin Buisman, who was then the Intercollegiate Program Associate at the University of Northern Iowa, co-authored an Athletic Management article titled “Risk Management.” Today, Buisman is Athletic Director at Minnesota State University, Mankato, which finished fourth in the 2013 NCAA Division II NACDA Directors’ Cup standings. He plans to answer increased academic demands by investing equally in both athletics and academics.

“We will continue to devote resources to our sports programs, but we are also going to expand our student-athlete support services and add staff to help our participants with life skills development,” he says. “Our focus will be on enhancing the total student-athlete, not just the part that performs on the field.”

Part of Buisman’s plan involves celebrating academic achievements as much as athletic ones. “About 40 percent of our student-athletes make Dean’s List every semester, and we take out a full-page ad in the school newspaper to highlight this success,” he says.

“In addition, one of our baseball players won the Elite 89 Academic Recognition Award [an honor bestowed by the NCAA upon the student-athlete with the highest GPA at the finals site for each sport] in 2012 and 2013 and his teammate was named first-team AllAmerica. One accomplishment is not greater than the other, and we put them both up on the same pedestal.”

Bill Groth has been Athletic Director at Riverhead (N.Y.) High School for more than 30 AUG/SEPT 2013 | AthleticManagement.com

30 years and has received awards for his service and contributions to the profession from the NIAAA and New York State Athletic Administrators Association. He first appeared in our pages for a 1997 feature about working with parents, and the Riverhead athletic department was given an Athletic Management Award of Excellence in 1998.

He agrees with Buisman that athletic administrators will need to continually upgrade their academic focus and feels athletic staff members and faculty need to work more closely together. “Teamwork should be present on the field and in the hallways,” Groth says. “The best people to keep the studentathletes on track academically are the ones in the trenches with them everyday—the teachers and coaches.

The more these two groups communicate, the more effective we will become.”

Much of this communication can be informal as opposed to weekly meetings or extensive progress reports. “It does not have to be complicated,” Groth says. “For example, a teacher simply has to tell a coach, ‘One of your players isn’t doing their homework and has been late for class.’ Then, it’s the coach’s responsibility to follow-up with that student-athlete.”

After 43 years in high school athletics, Sheila Baize retired in 2009, finishing her tenure as Athletic Director for the Tucson (Ariz.) Unified School District. Some of her many honors include the 1992 NIAAA State Award of Merit, the Arizona Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (AIAAA) 1998-99 Athletic Director of the Year award, the 2009 Arizona Interscholastic Association Administrator of the Year award, and induction into the AIAAA Hall of Fame in 2012. She first graced the pages of Athletic Management as the author of a 1995 article on hiring coaches.

Baize believes a big trend in studentathlete welfare will be inclusion, particularly of gay and transgender athletes. “Shortly before I retired, I had a middle school athlete who was transitioning from female to male,” she says. “He had taken the necessary hormones but had not had sexual reassignment surgery. We weren’t sure what team he should play on or what locker room he should use. After talking to colleagues from around the country and reading about the issue, my district decided we would offer

any accommodations the student needed in terms of bathrooms, locker rooms, and uniforms, but he would play under the gender listed on his birth certificate until he had sexual reassignment surgery.”

Another area of inclusion Baize feels will get more attention is of economically disadvantaged students. Working in a city district, Baize had to figure out how to include a number of homeless students into her athletic programs. “If there are no parents in the picture, how do you get a signed parent permit or a copy of a birth certificate?” she

“Are we over-legislating to the point that we no longer trust those responsible for overseeing their athletes?

Whenever you box coaches in with legislation, you’re saying two things, ‘You’re not doing it right,’ and ‘This is the way you need to do it.’” says. “You make it work, though. We would find a doctor to give the student a physical and open the locker room to let them use the showers. I think you have to do whatever you can to accommodate those kids, because they have a lot more to worry about than playing on a sports team.”

Buisman also sees a growing focus on student-athlete drug use. “We’re noticing more and more players with prescriptions for medicines that treat ADHD and depression, and in some cases, athletes are abusing those drugs,” he says. “We’re also seeing a spike in the use of street narcotics.

“On a broad scale, I think the NCAA is going to become more aggressive with its on-campus testing programs,” continues Buisman. “Because of that, I think more institutions will adopt their own drug policies. Although that’s already common at the Division I level, we are going to see it more in Divisions II and III.” Last, but certainly not least, is studentathlete safety. As evidenced by new concussion laws in almost every state, athletic departments are required to take more and more precautions to guard against injuries.

“To ensure proper prevention and care of head injuries, everything from the equipMary Kate Murphy is an Assistant Editor at Athletic Management. She can be reached at: mkmurphy@ MomentumMedia.com.

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Circle No. 118

ment we use to the rules we follow are going to change,” Buisman says. “As we continue to learn about and understand the long-term health implications of concussions, I think every level of sport is going to be affected.”

In the immediate future, many athletic directors believe baseline neurocognitive testing will become even more prevalent.

Groth secured a grant with a local hospital to cover the testing, as well as diagnosis and treatment of head injuries, for his program.

He hopes to expand the number of athletes covered in the coming years. “Currently, we only do baseline tests for athletes in our varsity collision sports,” Groth says. “I believe that’s going to change, and most, if not all, sports at the high school and middle school levels will eventually require a preseason baseline evaluation.”

Although they’ve received the bulk of recent attention, concussions aren’t the only safety concern for athletic directors. “Heatrelated illness is something we are also focusing on,” Buisman says. “I think we’re more evolved in the protocols we use to prevent heat-related illnesses, but as we continue to better understand appropriate rest intervals, hydration, and recognizing the signs and symptoms, we’ll be able to improve our preventative approach.”

Dan Cardone is a long-time contributor to Athletic Management, writing or being quoted in more than 50 articles and blog

n 2004, we featured William Smith College Athletic Director Susan Bassett in a question-and-answer piece in Athletic Management, focusing on her work as Chair of the NCAA Division III Management Council. Part of her duties involved overseeing a reform package that brought several changes to D-III athletics, including limiting the length of competitive seasons and giving student-athletes the chance to self-release from their chosen institution.

Reflecting on the past decade, Bassett, now the Athletic Director at Ithaca College, believes the reforms implemented in 2004 have paid great dividends. “I certainly think we struck the right balance with the playing and practice season,” she says. “The current setup allows student-athletes to achieve excellence on the field while not interfering with their responsibilities in the classroom.”

Ten years ago, Bassett also expressed a concern about the lack of restrictions in D-III recruiting. But now she thinks further legislation on this issue is unnecessary.

“I’m not in support of the NCAA restricting recruiting any more than they already do,” Bassett says. “Department autonomy is important, and I think individual institutions should be allowed to decide what is appropriate for their campus.”

32 AUG/SEPT FEB/MAR 2010 2013 | | AthleticManagement.com AthleticManagement.com

ten years later

I

posts over the years, while being instrumental as a member of our editorial board.

This summer, he retired as Athletic Director at North Hills High School in Pittsburgh, ending a career in which his department received the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Statewide Sportsmanship Award seven times and was named the 2006 All-American Sportsmanship School by the Institute for International Sport.

While he believes safety protocols are critical, he worries that the future will bring over-legislation. “I believe that one of the huge challenges we face is balancing the issues regarding the safety of the studentathlete with preserving the integrity of sport,” says Cardone. “Are we over-legislating to the point that we no longer trust those responsible for overseeing their athletes? Is the integrity of sports being curtailed to the point of ineffectiveness?

“In the past year, our state has passed a concussion law and a sudden cardiac arrest syndrome bill,” he continues. “Those wishing to participate in a sport now have to complete a Physical Evaluation Form, a waiver, and an insurance packet that is 10 pages long.”

Cardone is equally concerned about the impact of the PIAA’s recent Pre-Season Heat Acclimatization Guidelines, which require football coaches to slowly increase the inten-

sity of their practices over the course of a three-day period to allow athletes to adjust to the heat. “I think coaches are much more aware of the danger presented by heat stress now,” he says. “The times of not providing water to student-athletes and not being cognizant of the heat index have passed. Our practices have a water buffalo in the middle of the field, and players can get a drink any time they want. But there is a belief among lawmakers that coaches are not aware.

“Whenever you box coaches in with legislation, you’re saying two things, ‘You’re not doing it right,’ and ‘This is the way you need to do it,’” Cardone continues. “I don’t particularly like that approach.”

THE RIGHT HIRE

Without good coaches, athletic success is not possible—a tenet that promises to ring as true 25 years from now as it did in 1989.

However, many athletic directors believe hiring and retaining a quality coaching staff is going to become more difficult.

Susan Bassett has made NCAA Division III athletics her home ever since she was a student-athlete at Ithaca College in the late 1970s. Over the past two decades, she has been Athletic Director at William Smith College and Carnegie Mellon University before recently being appointed to the same position at her alma mater. She is also a past chair of the Division III Management Council and past president of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators.

We spoke with Bassett in a Q&A in 2004 and then for an article on hiring coaches in 2005, in which she emphasized finding a candidate who shared your values. She still holds that belief but also sees a need to dig a little deeper.

“Because of the Penn State scandal and the Jerry Sandusky case, we have a responsibility to make sure there are no unsavory things in a candidate’s background and that we absolutely know their character,” Bassett says. “I’ve become very diligent in my background checks to find out who a coach is, where they’ve been, and what they’ve done.”

Baize believes there also needs to be a continued emphasis on hiring a diverse staff.

“It’s important for student-athletes to be led by people who look like them,” she says.

“I tried to hire people who had some connection—through ethnicity, race, gender, or background—with the kids they were coaching. By the time I left TUSD, I felt the coaching staff was a pretty accurate reflection of the student body’s makeup.”

The biggest roadblock ahead may become finding qualified coaches. “In TUSD, administrators can no longer tie teaching and coach-

COVER STORY

ing contracts together, so we don’t have career coaches anymore,” Baize says. “As a result, people from all different walks of life are getting into coaching, and many don’t understand the number of required hours and low pay. They eventually get burned out and say, ‘Who needs this for $2,000 a year?’”

One key to getting coaches to stick around is making sure their efforts don’t go unnoticed.

With budgets getting tighter and tighter, it will be difficult to reward them monetarily, which makes it even more important to support them in other ways. “You must communicate with your staff, and that means continually asking them, ‘How’s it going, Coach? Is there anything I can do for you?’” Groth says. “And don’t forget positive reinforcement. If you see a coach going above and beyond with their student-athletes, tell them you’ve noticed what they’re doing and to keep up the good work.”

CONFERENCE SHIFTS

In the past few years, conference realignments have rocked college athletics, particularly at the NCAA Division I level. Swofford has seen the ACC lose one of its charter members while adding three new schools.

The Big East Conference said goodbye to half its members, who then formed an entirely new conference. For athletic administrators at this level, new-look conferences will affect nearly every aspect of their operations in upcoming years.

A significant player in the recent round of conference realignments, Swofford hopes the dust will settle in the near future. “In the past decade, there have been more conference shifts than usual, because institutions were trying to maximize their athletic capability,” he says. “However, I think it will be beneficial to college athletics overall if we can get the landscape to stabilize.”

Chet Gladchuk has been a college athletic director since taking over the program at Tulane University in 1987. He has since made stops at the University of Houston, Boston College, and most recently, the U.S. Naval Academy. He also serves on the NCAA Leadership Council and the NACDA Executive Committee. While at his current post, he has been given the Superior Public Service Award by the Department of the Navy and received the 2005 Bobby Dodd Athletic Director of the Year Award. In 1989, he wrote an article for

Athletic Management about scheduling.

Gladchuk has also experienced the conference changes firsthand. In 2013-14, two new schools will join Navy in the Patriot League, while the Midshipmen football team moves to the Big East in 2015. “It feels like intercollegiate athletics have been hit with a sledgehammer because of conference realignment,” he says. “We now have a totally different format that is going to impact the way we all do business.

“The ripple effect of all these changes will be significant, especially when it comes to the influence of television contracts,” Gladchuk continues. “Media deals have created a wealth of opportunity for programs and conferences that can afford them, and the result has been a greater separation between the haves and the have-nots.”

Swofford is counting on the ACC remaining among the “haves.” “We are working with our partners at ESPN to determine if an ACC television channel would be a viable business opportunity,” he says. “It could have significant revenue and exposure potential, particularly for sports that don’t typically get a lot of attention.”

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It could also lead to exposure way beyond regional borders. “We hope to eventually introduce our brand to an international audience,” Swofford says. “The University of Notre Dame opened last football season with a game in Dublin, and the NFL has had success playing in London, so we’re aiming for similar results with both football and basketball contests.”

Gladchuk, however, cautions that academics may get lost in the shuffle if administrators aren’t careful. “I think you’re going to see institutions distancing themselves from putting education first in favor of winning and generating revenue,” he says. “Because of the way some conferences are now structured, we will see teams traveling halfway across the country multiple times a week. Think of what an imposition that is going to be on studentathletes’ academics. How much time will that leave for studying?”

in a 1990 Athletic Management article on the drug testing program he implemented during his 13-year tenure as Athletic Director at Plymouth State University.

“We will see athletic directors more involved in fundraising than ever before,” Bamford says. “They will need to devote

“As more students turn to online learning, the traditional educational experience could become irrelevant.

Intercollegiate athletics are at the core of a campus’ importance, so we must promote our departments and the value that athletics can bring.”

MAKING ENDS MEET

Athletic departments at both the high school and collegiate levels have been busy tightening their belts in recent years, and no one sees that changing. What athletic directors predict in this area is a need to find even more creative ways to stretch budgets.

“Some of our neighboring school districts have already cut teams or eliminated night games,” says Groth. “Others have stopped opening their buildings over the weekend. My school is going to allow coaches to run scrimmages so we don’t have to hire officials, and we plan on playing our non-league games at home to avoid transportation costs.”

Baize believes caution is important when it comes to making budget cuts. “I’d rather see fewer sports supported as opposed to reducing everything across the board,” she says. “Eventually, you’ll run out of things to cut, and then what? You won’t refurbish football helmets?

You won’t buy new basketballs? If you commit to offering a sport, you should make sure it stays fully funded. You will hurt a program the minute you start nickel-and-diming it.”

Along with reducing expenses, athletic departments are going to have to look for new revenue streams, advises Steve Bamford, who has served in various leadership roles for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) since 2000, including Administrator for Officiating and Special Projects and twotime Interim Commissioner. He was quoted Circle No. 120 34 AUG/SEPT 2013 | AthleticManagement.com

staff to deciding how best to bring in money.

The future success of each program will be determined by how well it can raise funds to support itself.”

For high school departments with few employees, this will likely require working more closely with parent organizations. “I think we will see a rise in booster clubs, because they are wildly successful at raising money when we make them aware of our needs,” says Groth. “But keep in mind that the more you count on a booster club, the more running your athletic department becomes a joint effort.”

Besides fundraising, Bamford, who retired from the ECAC this summer, predicts that sponsorships will skyrocket at the college level. “Marketing initiatives and corporate partnerships are both going to be important in the future,” he says. “This has already been in effect at Division I, but Division II and III programs will realize they need to further develop these areas in order to meet their financial needs.”

Buisman has made sure his Division II program is ahead of this curve. “We recently started using an outside marketing firm for our corporate sales and sponsorship opportunities,” he says. “They’ve been able to move the dial in terms of revenue, which allows us to maintain our budget and see growth in some areas.”

At the high school level, Baize sees pay-toplay continuing. “We started at $20 in 1991, and now we are up to $65 per sport,” she says.

“I’m sure the rate will go up in the future.

I view it like an airline baggage fee—you charge it to offset the increasing costs you have to cover with a stagnant budget.”

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NEW ROLES

If there’s anything certain about the future of athletics, it’s that as the landscape changes, so will the responsibilities of athletic directors. “The job description is continually shifting,” says Bamford. “In the coming years, athletic directors will have to wear more hats than ever before and have a better understanding of law, business and finance, staff leadership and evaluation, and risk management to be effective.”

Swofford believes athletic directors will need to focus on technology and how to best take advantage of it. “The viewing habits of sports fans will change based on technology and the new media made available to them,” he says. “I think we’re already seeing the implications of that with declining game attendance. In the future, we will have to be sensitive to the quality of the fan’s experience and try to provide every opportunity for them to utilize technology in our stadiums and arenas.”

Adapting to the growing uses of electronic media also means implementing it into your daily routine. Cardone used Twitter to lend support to his student-athletes. “Social media is what the kids pay attention to,” he says. “I used it to highlight the accomplishments of a player or team, which I think my student-athletes appreciated. They’d see me at an event and say, ‘Hey, Mr. Cardone, make sure you post this on Twitter.’”

Bassett sees athletic directors working more closely with academics in order to build both programs up. In her experience, as sports teams become more competitive, the school attracts a higher caliber of student. In fact, she envisions a future in which athletics helps keep academics an on-campus experience.

“As more students turn to online learning, the traditional educational experience could become irrelevant,” Bassett says.

“Intercollegiate athletics are at the core of a campus’ importance, so we must promote our departments and the value that athletics can bring to a residential community.”

Amidst any changes, Swofford says future athletic directors have to remain devoted to the mission of interscholastic athletics. “I got involved in college instead of professional sports because I believe in balancing athletics and academics,” he says. “You must never lose sight of the fact that your athletic program is part of an educational mission.

While athletics is competitive, has entertainment value, and provides great lessons to our student-athletes, we have to always be diligent when balancing our sports programs with the educational goals of our institutions.” n

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Circle No. 122 AthleticManagement.com | AUG/SEPT 2013 35

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PROGRESSIVE PROGRAMS

May Zeus’s rock fall upon all those who come to Olympia with weapons!

That decree, issued by King Iphitos of Elis in the ninth century, B.C.E., was a call to reinstate the Olympic Games in the hopes it would bring peace back to mainland Greece, which was on the brink of civil war. During the Games, the Olympic Truce would be in

effect, making fighting and carrying weapons unlawful and punishable by death.

King Iphitos’s declaration may have been one of the first athletically inspired political strategies, but it was certainly not the last.

The Olympic Games did help restore peace and prosperity to Greece at that time, and leaders throughout history have continued to

use sports to solve local, national, and world problems.

Borrowing from the Greeks’ sense of drama, I believe athletics are once again poised to help save the modern world. This time the “enemy” is climate change and one of the sports-related solutions is a student engagement model called Athletics Eco-Reps.

The Green Team

At the University of Pennsylvania, a unique new program is helping the athletic department implement sustainable practices.

By Dan Schupsky

Members of the University of Pennsylvania’s Athletics Eco-Reps, made up of athletes from several teams, worked at April’s Penn Relays.

AthleticManagement.com | AUG/SEPT 2013 37

NEW IDEA

From placing recycling bins in cafeterias to constructing LEED-certified buildings, most educational institutions are implementing at least some sustainable practices on their campuses. Many athletic departments are contributing to the cause by hosting “zero-waste” games or using sustainable turf maintenance practices, for example.

Here at the University of Pennsylvania, we wanted to do more. Many of our studentathletes were already very motivated to work towards greening the university and eager to engage others. However, putting sustainability initiatives into place takes organization and a certain level of knowledge, and it would be a tall task for a student-athlete to take on a project single-handedly while also keeping up with their studies and maintaining their athletic performance.

But what if we tackled green issues as a group? If one athlete from each sports team volunteered to join a committee focused on sustainability, initiating change could be much more manageable. That, in a nutshell, was the idea behind the Penn Athletics EcoReps Program. Modeled after other Eco-

Reps groups on campus, it is a full-fledged partner in Penn’s efforts to go green in every aspect of campus life and falls under the jurisdiction and organizational umbrella of Penn’s Green Campus Partnership (GCP).

Begun in the fall of 2012, the mission of the Athletics Eco-Reps program is to help engage Penn’s athletics and recreation community and use sports as a platform for environmental stewardship. Open to varsity and club-sport athletes, the program provides training in environmental leadership to student-athletes while helping to improve the athletic department’s sustainability efforts.

As a group, the students come up with ideas, consider paths for implementation, try to forecast future obstacles, and discuss the potential outcomes each project will bring. We move forward with a project when everyone feels confident it will have a high impact and is relatively easy or costeffective to implement. I like to think of the group as consultants. We help the athletic department take “business as usual” practices and make them greener by analyzing waste streams and travel purchasing and through fan engagement.

Any athletic program can set up a recycling program at home sporting events. Here are the key ingredients to make it work: > Engage fans with a slogan, half-time show, promotional video on the scoreboard, signage, and volunteers emphasizing recycling at the venue.

> Make sure you have appropriately labeled bins. > Ask student-athletes to volunteer to help the fans find the right place for their unwanted materials during and after the game.

> Involve your vendors by making sure they know you are setting up a recycling program and work with them to reduce packaging, increase recycledcontent materials, substitute materials going to landfill, get compostable products, and so forth.

> Assess the impact you are making. Before you put your program in place, measure your initial waste stream including recyclables, food, and anything else that gets hauled out from any given game. It’s best if you can determine your baseline for different types of games and different numbers of fans. Once the recycling program is underway, measure the difference of recycled materials in your new system compared to your old one. If you reduced waste, convert this to pounds not hauled to the landfill and money saved. Promote this internally to administrators as a cost-saving practice, set standards and metrics, and publicize it heavily to fans (and thank them).

> Continue to revise the process by reviewing what works and where there are difficulties, and keep things fresh by experimenting with new ideas.

GREENER HOME GAMES 38 AUG/SEPT 2013 | AthleticManagement.com

On an individual basis, Eco-Reps also serve as sustainability ambassadors on their respective teams. They are role models for behavior change and serve as a source of information on various green topics (recycling, energy conservation, travel, etc.) for both their teammates and coaches.

I serve as advisor and coordinator of the group, using my knowledge as an athletic department employee (assistant coach and facility manager) and graduate student in the Master of Environmental Studies program.

As the group’s facilitator, I help studentathletes determine the key stakeholders surrounding their project, how to implement the plan, and how to track its progress. I also use my professional contacts to reach out to any school personnel who will be impacted by our initiatives, such as building administrators, housekeeping supervisors, and coaches.

UP & RUNNING

To attract members to this new group, we promoted it through both athletic and recreational mailing lists and word of mouth.

We then used an application process to ensure those interested would be committed. The application included short-answer and essay questions asking about each candidate’s interest in sustainability and what projects he or she might be interested in getting involved with.

Since student-athletes are so busy, we made every potential member aware of the commitment level. Eco-Reps are expected to put in three to four hours of work per week on projects and attend a weekly group meeting. We also promoted the benefits of membership, including both internal and external leadership and active promotion of culture change.

In the first year of our program, we had 13 student-athletes from 11 teams join the program. Some of them are majoring in environmental studies or a related field, but many are not. We had a football athlete majoring in European history and a baseball player who studies psychology, to name a few.

Once our members were in place, we spent much of the first semester defining our goals and philosophy. We decided to focus our efforts on action-based projects we could implement quickly that would have immediate impact, such as increased recycling in our locker rooms and on road trips, Dan Schupsky is the Assistant Coach for Men’s and Women’s Swimming and the Aquatics Coordinator at the University of Pennsylvania. He also serves as Coordinator of the Athletics Eco-Reps through Penn’s Green Campus Partnership. He can be reached at: dschup@upenn.edu.

PROGRESSIVE PROGRAMS

and identifying new recycling streams.

Because of student-athletes’ busy schedules, we took advantage of technology to help us work efficiently and minimize meetings. This included creating a Facebook group and using Google Docs to communicate remotely, report on the progress of projects, and record and maintain our group’s data and information.

As an initial brainstorming project, I asked our Eco-Reps to find out what other environmental groups on campus were doing

form committees, which included recycling, food and waste, energy, and outreach.

To make our presence known on campus, we held a kick-off event in January 2013. Its main purpose was to explain and promote our group, but it was also a way to reward the Eco-Reps for their work so far and get them excited to do more.

We invited key stakeholders from the athletics administration, student-athletes, coaches, environmental students, faculty, and staff members. We also reached out

ect. With over 150 attendees, we achieved a level of attendance not seen before with any type of Eco-Reps group on campus.

PROJECTS

By the spring semester, our group was fully functioning and putting projects in place. Here are our most successful initiatives, which any athletic department can replicate: Locker Room Recycling Bins: We reached out to building administrators and asked if we could put recycling bins in the

On an individual basis, Eco-Reps also serve as sustainability ambassadors on their respective teams. They are role models for behavior change and serve as a source of information on various green topics for both their teammates and coaches. and report back to the group. At the same time, I worked on connecting our students with people who might help us and forged an initial bond with two national organizations, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Green Sports Alliance (GSA). From there, the Eco-Reps began to

to local colleges and universities to spread the word within the Philadelphia metro area. NRDC helped us actively promote this event, with both pre- and post-publicity, and our keynote speaker was Alice Henly, Urban Fellow at the NRDC and Coordinator of the Collegiate Sports Greening Proj-

locker rooms. They notified housekeeping supervisors in the various buildings that this was to occur and assured us the recyclables were getting to the proper dumpsters. This idea required no up-front capital since each facility had extra bins in storage.

Away Game Recycling: Each Eco-Rep

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was given a recycling kit, which consists of blue bags to put recyclables in, and charged with getting his or her team to use best recycling practices on road trips. The Eco-Reps were then responsible for collecting the blue bags and bringing them to the recycling bins upon returning to campus.

This was a big test for our Eco-Reps to assert themselves on their squads. Their ability to explain recycling facts to team-

waited until they were full with enough shoes, and mailed the bins back with shipping labels ShoeBox Recycling provided.

This project has helped us reduce waste headed to the landfill, prompted studentathletes to think about their own purchases and waste streams, and even generated some revenue. The company sells the shoes and connects the person donating the shoe to the buyer, encouraging a social/global network!

cups instead of bottled water. After a race, most athletes take a swig or two from a bottle of water and then throw it away.

Giving them recyclable cups to use instead greatly reduced the amount of bottled water and the transportation impacts of shipping water to campus, and promoted tap water consumption.

An initiative we are working on this year is to hold some zero-waste sporting events.

Each Eco-Rep was given a recycling kit, whichMANAGEMENT consists of blue bags to put recyclables in, ATHLETIC and charged with getting his or her team to use bestIndustries recycling practices on road trips.

Salsbury The Eco-Reps were then responsible for collecting the blue bags and bringing them to the recycling bins upon returning to campus. mates and emphasize its significance was key. Getting the team’s head coach on board was also very important.

Shoe Recycling: Through a company called ShoeBox Recycling, we collected old shoes and sent them overseas to people who needed them. To accomplish this, we obtained collection bins from the company,

Water Bottle Reduction: During the spring, we piloted a program to reduce the number of plastic water bottles used by athletes during the Penn Relays, a major track and field meet on campus that draws more than 100,000 attendees over three days. We positioned water filling stations at the finish lines and provided recyclable

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PROGRESSIVE PROGRAMS

clable and then move that idea through facilities and housekeeping. We hope to significantly grow the number of zero-waste games by the 2014-15 season.

Some other ideas we are considering entail partnering with external organizations, such as local non-profits, and working together to engage underserved youth. Through these partnerships, we could give children in the community the opportunity to learn from our student-athletes and participate in greening projects in their community or at the university. We are also hoping to hold a recycling competition among off-campus team houses.

One more idea is to have a special day at Penn where local middle- and high-school athletes clean up the campus and then participate in sports activities.

A LEARNING EXPERIENCE

We’ve learned a lot in our first year as a group. In terms of choosing projects, we’ve come to realize that when we can show people an economic benefit, either in the form of a new revenue stream or cost-savings, we will get a quicker green light.

We’ve also learned that it’s difficult to have

students implement projects that involve energy monitoring because of the complicated nature of gathering utility data. It is advisable that young groups do not try to tackle this type of issue unless there is sufficient monitoring and easy access to data on their campus. The Eco-Reps are best viewed as a source of help, information, and aid, and not a whistle-blowing or watchdog group.

A year under our belts has helped us also understand how to form our membership.

While many of the Athletics Eco-Reps made the group a top priority in their lives, others struggled with the time commitment.

Student-athletes are extremely busy, so there was a persistent issue with group attendance and follow-through this past year.

In the future, we will address this with a more explicit application, a leaner number of Athletics Eco-Reps, and meetings scheduled well in advance. We also realize that as much as we want members from all fields of study, those student-athletes who desire to work in the environmental sustainability field when graduating make the best Eco-Reps.

We are going to follow the example of Penn’s GCP, which also revamped its Eco-

Reps program, by trimming the number of student-athletes accepted in order to make management and execution more efficient.

We are creating new classifications for individuals who are interested in helping the sports sustainability cause but can only commit time to a singular event or for a limited period.

GAME CHANGER

Just as King Iphitos of Elis used athletics to change the world 3,000 years ago, so can we today when it comes to climate change.

Sustainability is an area that collegiate athletic departments cannot afford to ignore and who are better ambassadors to promote green programs, engage the public, and save money than student-athletes?

Sustainability is the newest player in the athletics field, and it is imperative that we seek innovative ways to help it grow. Protecting the environment, engaging our fans, and helping save our institutions money through sustainable practices are all game-changers.

The contest has never had higher stakes as we again ask sports to transcend the stadium and have real-world impacts. n

Circle No. 127 AthleticManagement.com | AUG/SEPT 2013 41

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Circle No. 128

Booster Club Guide to Fundraising

FOCUS ON FUNDRAISING & PROMOTIONS

New & Different

Searching for a unique idea to boost money-making efforts?

Need to add a little life into your annual fundraising

banquet? Eight schools explain the innovative events

that worked for them.

Learn how eight high schools including those in (clockwise from upper left) Russellville, Ark.; Topeka, Kan.; Sparks, Nev.; and Edinburgh, Ind. found innovative ways to raise money.

By Kristin Maki

A

t Spanish Springs High School in Sparks, Nev., the athletic department raised $12,000 through a quarter auction. In California, the Newport Harbor High School volleyball team filled its coffers by putting on a fashion show. The tennis team at Friendswood (Texas) High School serves its fundraising cause through a tennis marathon.

A karaoke jam at Russellville (Ark.) High School put coaches in the spotlight while mud volleyball is a successful fundraiser at Sequoyah High School in Madisonville, Tenn. Edinburgh (Ind.) Community Schools tapped into adults who yearn to relive their high school days through an adult prom.

AthleticManagement.com | AUG/SEPT 2013 43

Most athletic departments conduct some type of fundraiser every year. This article showcases innovative ideas that have worked for a diverse array of high schools.

PROM, PART II

A dinner dance and silent auction is a goto fundraiser for many high school athletic departments. The Edinburgh (Ind.) Community Schools put a unique twist on the idea by holding an adult prom. More than 160 community members donned formal wear and helped the athletic department raise $4,200.

“A group of us send our kids off to the prom every year,” says event organizer Kami Ervin. “And it seems like we always have moms who are wistful about wanting to relive their prom—or go to one if they didn’t get to in high school. So we decided to hold an adult prom.”

The event was planned so it would be similar to a typical high school prom, with Kristin Maki is an Assistant Editor at Athletic Management. She can be reached at: kmaki@MomentumMedia.com.

the addition of a silent auction that contained 20 items. There was a catered dinner featuring two entrée options, a few hours of dancing, and the chance to be crowned as a member of the prom court.

Tickets cost $40 for a couple or $25 for an individual, and once purchased, attendees could check a box indicating if they wanted to be considered for the prom’s court. Ervin took a picture of each competing couple upon their arrival and posted it in a public album on the event’s Facebook page. Attendees voted using their phones and people at home could vote by going to the Facebook page.

“The five couples whose photos received the most ‘likes’ were crowned as the court, and another vote was then taken for king and queen,” says Ervin. “Using Facebook was a fun, easy way of doing it—and it gave people who couldn’t attend a chance to be involved by voting from their homes.”

For the silent auction, Ervin limited the number of items so that people would be excited about each bidding war. “You need to have things that adults really want—a free night’s stay at a hotel, gift cards for din-

Circle No. 129

ner, or something else that appeals to them,” she says. “I’m a photographer, and I had a few prints from poignant moments in our sports program framed and enlarged. Those went over really well.”

Additional money was brought in through table sponsorship. “The table sponsors paid $100, which got their name printed in the event program, listed in a ‘thank you’ in the local newspaper, and put on a sign on their table,” says Ervin.

The key to the event’s success was playing up the theme. “The main driver is the nostalgia of going to prom,” says Ervin. “People seem to really enjoy getting the chance to relive that experience, and a lot of them went all out. Women got their hair and nails done, and couples rented limos. So, from an organizing perspective, we didn’t have to do all that much.”

TENNIS, ANYONE?

It may not get approval from sleep experts, but the Friendswood (Texas) High School tennis program brings in more than $12,000 through a 48-hour tennis marathon. Held prior to the school year every

FOCUS ON FUNDRAISING & PROMOTIONS other August, it begins on a Friday evening and concludes on Sunday.

The event’s simple concept is fun for the team, as well as community members: There has to be a match on the court at all times over the 48 hours, even overnight.

“There are so many fundraisers run by different teams,” says event chair Jay Milton.

“I think we’ve continued with this event because it is different from what the other teams do, and it’s fun for the student-athletes. But we don’t want everyone to get burned out from it, so we alternate years.”

To raise funds, the club asks local businesses and community members to sponsor the event at one of four levels: Tennis Friend ($25), Silver ($50), Gold ($100), and Platinum ($200 or more). The marathon also features a silent auction, and community members who want to play are asked to make a donation.

Each member of the freshman, j.v., and varsity tennis teams is required to attend, but they do not have to stay for the whole event.

“We have four-hour shifts with players and parents at each shift,” Milton says. “The student-athletes cannot be unsupervised during

the marathon since it’s considered a school function. So we have a minimum of two parents sign up for each shift, and four players.

“The late night shift appeals to the older players,” he continues. “One of my sons is a senior, and he chose to work from midnight to 4 a.m. This was his second time participating in the marathon, and he had a lot of fun with it.”

The silent auction is held throughout the event. “This past year, we had an iPad, cookwear, tennis bags, racquets, tennis lessons, spa and chiropractic treatments, dental whitening, and several other items and services,” Milton says. “The person working on it went to all of the parents and asked them if they knew someone who would prefer donating something for the silent auction rather than donating cash to sponsor the event. It worked out very well.”

In addition to the silent auction, the marathon features a two-hour exhibition clinic put on by a local tennis club. “It is free to attend and is great to watch,” Milton says.

“We always hope to draw players of all levels so they can learn something and benefit from the event.”

For the remainder of the time, studentathletes are kept busy on the court playing against teammates or community members.

“If someone from the community comes to play, we ask that they give a monetary donation of at least five dollars,” Milton says. “Some people write checks for $100, and others give $20. We have a variety in the size of donations, and having that flexibility works out really well.”

A LITTLE MADNESS

When Hudson (Ohio) High School needed to raise money for a new football stadium last year, its booster club decided to hold a fundraiser in March. Very quickly, the idea of piggybacking on the popularity of March Madness emerged. Soon, “Hudson Madness” was born, and it raised $10,000.

The event takes place at a local country club before the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball tournament begins and consists of a live band, food, and raffle prizes. Admission to the event is free, and 64 attendees who give $250 have the chance to win $5,000 in the “Big Madness Bracket.”

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Those 64 contestants have their names randomly drawn from a hat and placed in a bracket on a board corresponding to a seed in the tournament. The first name would get the West region’s 16th seed, for example. The winner of the raffle is the person whose team wins the tournament.

“There’s the risk that you’d draw a lowseeded team, but people don’t mind too much,” says Thomas Murphy, who helped organize the event. “It adds a bit of fun and randomness to the raffle.”

In addition to the bracket, there are $5 raffle tickets available for other items, including a spa package, drinks and dinner at various local restaurants, rounds of golf at a local country club, and tickets to a Browns-Steelers game. All the items are donated by community members or local businesses.

The country club not only provides the locale, but also staffs the event free of charge.

“Other than sending out e-mails promoting the event, our only tasks last year were getting appetizers and finding a band,” Murphy says. “We didn’t set up many decorations, but we had live music because we wanted to create a party-like atmosphere, and I think we did.”

ALL DRESSED UP

The players on the Newport Harbor (Calif.) High School girls’ volleyball team are impressive on the court, often winning league championships. Last summer, they proved to be impressive on a runway, too, when the team’s booster club featured them in a fashion show that served as a fundraiser, bringing in $3,500.

The show was held at a recently-opened clothing boutique that was looking for a way to drum up business. Tickets cost $50 for community members and $25 for students.

The three-hour event included refreshments, the fashion show, and a silent auction that featured several items and gift certificates from local businesses.

“The team’s juniors and seniors were our models,” says fashion show chair Evelyn Yardley. “Then we had the sophomores and freshmen help out through other jobs behind the scenes. We’re planning on making it an annual event, so the younger athletes will get to be in the limelight for future shows.”

Leading up to the show, the booster club sent invitations to the team members’ mothers, as well as the businesses that had donated items for the silent auction. The event pulled in 110 attendees, a full house for the space. “Originally, we thought we would have about 150 there,” Yardley says.

“But we couldn’t have fit that many, so it worked out perfectly. We wanted to invite 46 AUG/SEPT 2013 | AthleticManagement.com

just the mothers this year so they would have a fun mother-daughter type of memory.”

The show featured the athletes modeling both clothes and shoes. “Some of the designers brought in new items from their lines just for the show,” Yardley says. “And a local jewelry designer offered some of her pieces for the girls to wear.”

Makeup artists and a hairstylist volunteered their services to get the girls ready. “Everyone was really generous, and they all worked together to help us put together a great show,” Yardley says. “The team members who served as models had a great day of pampering—and they got to wear something they may not have otherwise tried.

It was a lot of fun.”

Yardley worked with a graphic designer who volunteered to design the invitations, program, and tickets, while a local grocery store supplied refreshments. “The chairs, tables, glassware, and silverware were the only items we rented,” she says. “We wanted it to be a nice event, so that’s where we spent money—although we rec a discount.”

Setting up for the show took some time, as it was held in the boutique’s back room, which meant moving the clothing and fixtures stored there. “We did that the night before,” says Yardley. “Believe it or not, the shop was still open to the public for most of the day. And the boutique’s owner gave us 10 percent of her profit for everything sold that day.”

The event kicked off with refreshments and Yardley’s opening remarks, which included thanking the businesses that had helped with the show. Next, a CD started playing and the show began. Rather than introducing the models as they walked down the runway, their names and information on the clothing was printed on an insert in the program. Afterward, the silent auction was conducted, and dessert was served.

“We had never done something like this before and it worked out well,” says Yardley.

“We raised money for the team, while the boutique owner drew attention to her business and got some new customers. ”

lobby from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Karaoke started immediately afterwards in the theater, featuring school coaches as the performers.

The only expenses were $600 to rent the karaoke machine and $250 paid to a local DJ to act as the host. All told, the school made roughly $1,700 from admissions ($10

Another unique aspect to the auction was a “Buy it Now” option, which allowed people to purchase an item immediately rather than engage in a bidding war.

COACHES ON STAGE

Most student-athletes would pay good money to see their coaches do something silly. That was the thinking behind the “Russ-Vegas: Coaches Karaoke and Silent Auction,” put on by Russellville (Ark.) High School, which generated nearly $5,000.

Held at the school’s new fine arts center, the event began with a silent auction in the

entrance for adults, $5 for students), $2,300 in the auction, and $1,500 from a sponsorship by a car dealership.

Many auction items were outings or events that the Russellville coaching staff provided. For example, community members could bid on a fishing trip with the head girls’ basketball coach, the opportunity to watch a boys’ basketball contest from the bench, and a sideline pass for one football game. Several coaches also offered free admission to their sport camps, or 30-minute sport-specific instruction sessions.

“We wanted to sell an experience,” says Johnny Johnson, Russellville High School Athletic Director, who organized the event with the help of parents. “But we also wanted things that parents could get for their children, such as admission into sport camps.”

Another unique aspect to the auction was a “Buy it Now” option, which allowed people to purchase an item immediately rather than engage in a bidding war. “I thought that would be great for people who really had their eye on something,” Johnson says.

Overall, the show and auction was a rousing success. “I think administrators would be surprised at how easy it is to put on an event like this,” Johnson says. “If you’ve got the facility and coaches who are willing to donate their time and participate in karaoke, people will be excited.”

MONEY IN MUD

High school teams are used to asking community members to break a sweat when helping with fundraising. But individuals who want to support the girls’ volleyball team at Sequoyah High School in Madisonville, Tenn., do more than get sweaty. For the past

FOCUS ON FUNDRAISING & PROMOTIONS four years, the Lady Chiefs have held a mud volleyball tournament to raise money for equipment and uniforms, with participants signing up to get messy for a good cause.

Last year, 18 teams and about 140 individuals participated in the tournament, which is held every August. Between the $5 entry fee and money from concessions, the tournament raised over $1,100.

The players do a lot of the legwork for the event, drumming up participation, serving as line judges, and working the concession booth.

The school’s groundskeeper is also a key contributor, as he is in charge of turning two 30by-60 feet areas of grass in front of the school into mud courts. He is assisted by the local fire department, which brings a tanker truck of water to the school and creates the mud by hosing the field down. The tournament runs from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and the firefighters stay on hand to ensure the consistency of the mud remains just right.

The tournament is usually double-elimination, and each match consists of one set, played to 25 points, using traditional volleyball rules. The championship match is a best of three sets series. Members of the

winning team receive free admission to and concessions for all Sequoyah home volleyball matches during the season.

“The key to an event like this is making it possible for the school and community to show support,” says Sequoyah Head Girls’ Volleyball Coach Brittany Lynn. “For example, our football players always want to field a team, so we make sure the tournament is held during a weekend when there is a home football game. If the team is traveling back from a Friday night road contest until 1 a.m., they’re not going to want to get up early the next day to play volleyball. Including everyone who wants to take part is a critical aspect of the tournament’s success.”

WRIST APPEAL

When Virginia Crago, a resident at McCrite Plaza Retirement Community in Topeka, Kan., started making beaded bracelets for staff members and other residents, one of the recipients was Kim Fertig, McCrite’s Marketing Associate. That small gesture grew into a fundraiser for Fertig’s children’s school.

“When Virginia gave me the bracelets, she included one for each of my kids, in

their school’s colors,” Fertig says. “And she told me, ‘I’ve given them to almost everyone here, so I don’t know who else I can give them to. But I don’t want to stop making them.’

“I could see how much joy it was bringing Virginia,” Fertig continues. “So I asked her if she would consider making them as a fundraiser for my kids’ school.”

After getting approval from school administrators, who decided the bracelets would be sold for $1 each at the concession stand during basketball games, Fertig bought beads in the Cair Paravel Latin School colors, so Crago wouldn’t have to use her own supply. And Fertig reassured Crago that she could make as many or as few bracelets as she wanted.

“The school’s administrators were very open to doing this,” Fertig says. “They could have said it’s too small a fundraiser, or it’s going to give them another thing to keep track of at the concessions stand, but they were willing to bring the idea on board.”

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FOCUS ON FUNDRAISING & PROMOTIONS the school invited the residents to a home basketball game. Even though high school athletic competitions may not always have the most senior-friendly accommodations, the school saved extra parking spaces close to the building for them. Inside, comfortable chairs were set up, so they wouldn’t have to sit on the hard bleachers, and Fertig delivered food and drinks from the concession stand.

“It was a lot of work for the school, but a great experience for both the students and the residents that attended,” Fertig says. “It was nice for them to have a chance to participate in something together. And then the school recognized Virginia with a certificate for her bracelets, which made her beam for days afterward.

“There is a wealth of talent and knowledge in our older generation, but they don’t always have an outlet for their skills,” she continues. “Giving them a way to contribute is important. Virginia was surprised when I told her that the kids would love the bracelets. She had no idea that something that brings her so much enjoyment would also be appreciated by a younger generation.”

“QUARTER” MASTERS

Auctions are a time-honored way to raise money in many communities. A fun twist on the idea is a quarter auction, which brought in $12,000 for Spanish Springs High School in Sparks, Nev., last year.

While there are several variations on quarter auctions, the Spanish Springs booster club’s event is simple. Upon arrival, attendees can choose whether they want a “limited” or “unlimited” bidding paddle for the auction.

Each paddle has its own number, which corresponds to a ping-pong ball that is placed into a raffle drum.

Those who opt for the $30 unlimited paddles are set for the whole auction. They only need to raise their paddle if they want a chance to win a particular item. “But if you buy a limited paddle for $15, you have to put a quarter into the sombrero that’s in the middle of your table each time you want to bid,” says Spanish Springs Booster Club President Lori Fralick.

For each of the 150 items, the auctioneer reads a description. Attendees who are interested in that item hold up their paddles, but there are no prices read or raised since

the cost of the item is covered by the sale of paddles and quarters. The auctioneer then pulls a ball from the drum. If the paddle with the corresponding number was held up, that person wins the item. Otherwise, the auctioneer draws until there is a winner. All of the ping-pong balls are then put back into the drum for the next item.

“It costs $25 to attend, which includes dinner and unlimited drinks,” says Fralick. “If you want, you can just come for the dinner, drinks, and socializing.

“The event starts at 6 p.m.,” she continues.

“We explain the bidding options as people check in, since lots of people have not gone to a quarter auction before. And we let them know that all of the items have a value of $25 to $100. They mingle for a while and then at 6:30, they start getting their food. We start the quarter auction a little after 7:00.”

Fralick has 23 people on her planning committee and also gets a lot of help from the students and school. The culinary students provide dessert and help serve food at the event, and students who need to do community service for classes or the honor societies help set up before the event. n

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Circle No. 134

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Unique advantages of Gold Medal’s fundraising products and services: • The foods are universally craved and make 75 percent or more profit • The durable machines are a cinch to clean and run • One-stop shopping saves you time and money Web site includes: • Online catalog and profit calculator • Support documents to increase profits/overall sales • Videos, webinars, and practical success stories • Additional, profitable fundraising suggestions

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Gone Logo provides custom embroidery and screen-printing for high school and college fundraising projects. The company’s offerings include stadium chairs, T-shirts, hoodies, and hats. Gone Logo offers nationwide distribution along with online graphic designs to help with any artwork needs.

Unique advantages of Gone Logo’s fundraising products and services: • Quick turnarounds • Combination pricing to maximize profits • Multiple color capabilities and combination discounts available

StadiumChair products are perfect for imprinting team

mascots, making them ideal fundraisers. The chairs and cushions can be printed on both sides for sponsors who will pay to advertise their business. Fans will love the comfort and durability of these products.

Unique advantages of StadiumChair’s fundraising products and services: • The chair can be printed with the team mascot on one side, and the other side is open to sell to companies to advertise their business and show their support.

• Booster Clubs and schools can easily earn high returns for minimal efforts--the products almost sell themselves.

• The popular StadiumChair is the most comfortable, highestquality product on the market, giving the fan years of support and use.

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For over 20 years, Club Colors has provided promotional products and services that make it possible for organizations to exceed their fundraising goals. Our creative ideas and experienced team will make your event a success.

Unique advantages of Club Colors’s fundraising products and services: • One-piece minimum on embroidery • Wholesale pricing on over 750,000 items • Dedicated account team with a single point of contact Reasons why Club Colors products are right for today’s school sports fundraising environment: • Free graphic support to help schools get attention • Access to all products at low minimums • Industry experts with over 20 years experience Web site includes: T-shirt design tool • Access to over 50,000 items Ability to see virtual proofs • Live chat for additional assistance

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fundraiserf FOCUS ON FUNDRAISING & PROMOTIONS

To serve your recognition needs, SMi Awards offers fast delivery and prompt, dependable customer service that is backed by 26 years of business experience. The company’s in-house graphics department allows for unique and appropriate customization of awards to ensure quality, and SMi Awards stands 100-percent behind its products with an unparalleled satisfaction guarantee. SMi Awards now offers more than 300,000 unique fundraising and promotional products, all available on its Web site with easy search and filtering options.

Unique advantages of SMi Awards’ fundraising products and services: • Customized products allow boosters to generate funds and increase school and community morale • More than 300,000 fundraising and promotional products available on the company’s Web site • The company stands behind its products, answers customers’ phone calls and questions, and guarantees satisfaction.

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As a national leader in stadium branding and sponsor signage,

BigSigns.com is helping schools across the country drive

new revenues with its unique products. Simple and cost-effective, BigSigns.com makes it easy for you to increase your corporate sponsorship.

Unique advantages of BigSign.com’s fundraising products and services: • Cost-effective products to maximize your profits • Expertise from years working with pro, college, and major event sponsors • Free custom mock-ups provide you visual aids to approach potential sponsors with confidence Web site includes: • Stadium branding and sponsorship signage product details • Completed project profiles • Online design proofing • Product info request with a quick quote

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Aer-Flo manufactures baseball, football, and track tarps used

by major colleges and the NFL. The company’s custom multi-color imprinting capabilities allow booster clubs and organizations to sell vivid advertising that is highly visible at every game.

Unique advantages of Aer-Flo’s fundraising products and services: • Ad-imprinted tarps and protectors can be used at every game • Imprinted windscreens are highly visible to spectators • Large, vivid imprinted advertising is easy to sell • Large ads, plus large companies, equals large ad-income • Fewer sales calls to produce large income • Permanent imprinted ads result in repeat income

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When it comes to fundraising, choosing the right product to sell can be tough. Try a new approach with custom pewter items.

Registry for Excellence make a popular and profitable fundraiser for schools, churches, clubs, community projects, and more.

Unique advantages of Registry for Excellence’s fundraising products and services: • Customizable to the specific event or project • Provides lifetime memento • Opportunity to produce substantial profits Web site includes: • Downloadable literature • Contact information • Testimonials • Product search feature

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rfundraiser FOCUS ON FUNDRAISING & PROMOTIONS

The GearBoss family of products offers innovative solutions for athletic facilities and equipment, including the Mobile Kiosk for selling school-spirit items. The family-owned Wenger Corporation is headquartered in Owatonna, Minn., where the company was founded in 1946.

Unique advantages of Wenger’s fundraising products and services: • Mobile Kiosk offers indoor/outdoor versatility and a professional-looking display • Mobility enables daily use around school, and removable bins organize merchandise.

• Selling branded apparel and souvenirs feeds self-supporting cycle by raising funds and visibility Web site includes: • Fundraising guide with branding and merchandising tips • Facilities planning guide with guidelines and worksheets • Ordering information • Information request form

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HighSchoolBlanket.com, creator of the bunny-soft

Nubay Plush™ Spirit Wrap™mascot blanket, offers options designed for any budget. The right fundraiser makes all the difference. Join thousands of organizations that trust the company’s proven online GroupRateIt powered solution. When you call, mention FREEARTAM to get free custom mascot blanket art designs (a $200 value).

Unique advantages of HighSchoolBlanket. com’s fundraising products and services: • Custom designs and the social media fundraising platform generate excitement and team pride • High profits and excellent value—along with a rewards program • No up-front payment requirement and free registration

Web site includes: • Free online fundraising portal with a pre-sale shopping cart • Student-voting section for custom school blanket design selection • Social media integration tools allow instant exposure through Facebook, Twitter, and Google+

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Altrua Global Solutions, the parent company of

AGS Branding, was founded in 1979 as a marketing and sales organization focused on point of purchase. By 2005, the company had become a full-service digital printing, promotional, and branding agency. AGS Branding has worked with booster organizations and been successful with creating custom solutions, including mail pieces and event branding.

Unique advantages of AGS Branding’s fundraising products and services: • Its products can be customized easily depending on the city, event, or audience—one product can serve many purposes • The company has a “Yes, it can be done,” attitude that is always willing to tackle the toughest tasks • The products get results Web site includes: • Online catalog • Customer testimonials • Video tours

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With $1 and $2 premium chocolate bars, cookie dough, reusable cloth bags, and gourmet lollipops available, there is something to fit any program. Teams will find JustFundraising.com’s fast service, nationwide distribution, one-case minimum ordering, and easy-to-sell fundraising solutions a good fit for their needs.

Unique advantages of JustFundraising.com’s fundraising products and services: • Up to 90-percent profit • No upfront cost on most fundraisers • Price-match guarantee • Easy-to-distribute, dry-mix cookie dough requires no refrigeration • Enviro-friendly, eco-chic reusable cloth bags are now available Web site includes: • 25 proven fundraisers to choose from • Free gift for new customers • Free information kit

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LEADERSHIP

I

n our jobs as athletic directors, there is often a new challenge that keeps us on our toes. Replacing a veteran coach. Implementing a fundraising initiative.

Renovating the locker rooms.

Yet, 90 percent of our day is still about running “the shop.” We need to keep our house in order, so to speak, for the games to go on. And that is no easy task. On a day-

to-day basis, an athletic administrator must be one of the most organized individuals on the planet.

Such work is time consuming, exacting, and not all that exciting. And even if we are great at the organizational game, no one presents us with a trophy at the end of the year for Best Filing System in the league.

However, we may be handed walking papers if something slips through the cracks.

When a school’s best wrestler in a decade

cannot compete in the state tournament because his eligibility paperwork was not completed, no one cares that the forms of every other athlete in the school were flawless. If revenues from gate receipts don’t add up correctly, you can’t say you were too busy to double-check the numbers.

Administrators who are not organized and aren’t using best practices, or what I call “industry standards,” are frequently fighting a losing battle in meeting the expectations of

Author Kirby Whitacre (second from right) and Adams High School Director of Athletics Bill Groves are flanked by two members of the audit team as the group begins their day of review.

Ready for an Audit? matt cashore

Looking to assess its organizational practices and see where it could improve, this school district conducted an audit on its four high schools’ athletic programs—without spending a dime.

By Kirby Whitacre AthleticManagement.com | AUG/SEPT 2013 53

the position. That’s why, here at South Bend (Ind.) Schools, we decided to implement an athletic department audit of our four high school athletic departments. The idea was to determine if they were crossing all their T’s, where they might be falling short, and how they could improve.

We started by looking for an outside group specializing in such audits. That proved to not be an easy find, and ultimately, we did not have the funds to pay for it. Therefore, we decided we would do our own internal audit.

As Director of Athletics for South Bend Schools, I was able to implement the audit for our four high schools, each of which has a building athletic director, from an oversight position. In fact, the school athletic directors knew nothing about the audit

procedures, policies, and protocols for compliance. Because I had been a building athletic director, it made the most sense for me to look at each school’s adherence to these standards.

My secretary at that time had many responsibilities related to human resources paperwork and procedures. Additionally, she previously worked in the insurance field.

Her background and attention to detail made her the logical choice for reviewing IHSAA physicals, HR forms, insurance payments, and various other paperwork issues.

We enlisted a member of the SBCSC’s budget department, who had previously been an auditor for the State Board of Accounts, to review financial procedures.

Our district’s director of employee relations, who has a background in athletics and a law degree, was asked to interview several

tions by being in the environment. Simple observation alerted us to some things that were amiss right away. By the same token, some of offices had a work flow and level of organization that spoke of efficiency.

EVALUATION SPECIFICS

To ensure that we examined all important areas and were consistent among schools, we compiled a set of 30 categories and scored each on a scale of 0-10—a lower score represented efficiency and attention to detail while a higher score indicated problems. Here are the categories we used: Money in Office: We assessed compliance with the State Board of Accounts procedures, such as depositing money and checks within 24 hours of receipt, leaving no cash or checks lying about, and having any

We tried to keep their anxiety levels as low as possible, explaining that the audit was an assessment process that was going to happen at all four schools. The fact that everyone on the audit team was cordial and good-humored helped. beforehand. But even if you are the lone athletic administrator in your school district, you can follow similar steps.

GOALS & STRUCTURE

I began by determining our main objective, which would be to examine the daily operations of each athletic department.

Because three of our four athletic directors were in their first athletic administrator position and our resources are limited—our schools have no assistant athletic directors and operate on low budgets—I thought assessing each athletic administrator’s organizational skills in following rules and procedures should be the top priority.

This would mean evaluating compliance with the by-laws of the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA), the Northern Indiana Conference, and the Indiana State Board of Accounts, which is the state agency that conducts financial audits of government entities, including public schools. The audit would also determine if each high school athletic department followed South Bend Community School Corporation (SBCSC) policies and protocol.

To ensure that individual school athletic directors could not prepare beforehand in any way, I decided to conduct each audit by surprise. The audit team would have to move quickly from one school to the next so that word would not spread.

The next task was to construct an audit team. My job as the district’s Director of Athletics was to assess IHSAA/SBCSC rules, 54 AUG/SEPT 2013 | AthleticManagement.com

coaches to get a broader look at the health and efficiency of each athletic department (see “Coaches’ Input” on page 57).

The final audit team member was our district’s director of security. His role was to protect the integrity of the audit by monitoring us to confirm that we conducted ourselves with the utmost professionalism, serving as a witness, reviewing any unusual circumstances (such as money lying around an office), and controlling traffic in the physical areas where we were conducting the audit.

Because the audits were to be a surprise, we needed to complete them in one week, which gave us about one day at each school.

Upon our arrival at the school building, we announced our purpose to the athletic director and secretary. We tried to keep their anxiety levels as low as possible, explaining that the audit was an assessment process that was going to happen at all four schools.

The fact that everyone on the audit team was cordial and good-humored helped.

Each member of the audit staff worked quickly and independently, asking questions of the secretary and athletic director as needed. Generally, we worked together in close proximity and could bounce questions and comments off each other as necessary. For the most part, the building athletic director went about his or her routine around us. When we needed to completely take over their space, we asked them to work outside their office or take a break.

While our focus was to review records and files, we also noted the rhythm of daily opera-

money in the office secured.

Receipt Processing: We checked adherence to the State Board of Accounts procedure, which requires that anytime a member of the athletic department accepts money, deposits money, and so on, a receipt is generated.

Student-Athlete Physical Forms: Here, we looked to see if all pages were completed correctly, with signatures from doctors or parents in their proper location.

Participating without Physicals: It is against IHSAA by-laws for athletes to practice or compete before having a full physical.

Auditing this is a tedious process because we had to compare rosters to the physical forms on hand and check whether the were complete. But having this paperwork correct and on file is important for eligibility and safety.

Participating without Insurance: The SBCSC requires all student-athletes to purchase a student health insurance policy. We checked for records of this on file.

Insurance and Reports: We assessed whether insurance monies had been collected, correctly deposited, and sent to our central office. There are in-house forms for documenting these procedures. Rosters also have to be checked because in our district, Kirby Whitacre is Director of Athletics for the South Bend (Ind.) Community School Corporation, which includes four high schools and 10 intermediate centers, and has also served at Indiana’s Mishawaka and Zionsville high schools. He is a frequent contributor to Athletic Management and has been a guest speaker on sports issues at state, multistate, national, and international conferences. He can be reached at: kwhitacre@sbcsc.k12.in.us.

LEADERSHIP

reaching a set number of paid insurances in a sport triggers approval to hire an additional assistant coach.

Emergency Cards: These cards contain pertinent emergency information for athletes on a given roster. They are used to notify parents of emergencies and include a treatment authorization signature in case the student needs to be seen at the hospital and the parent cannot be reached.

NFHS/IHSAA Coaching Course: In Indiana, non-teacher coaches must complete an approved coaching course before their second year of coaching. We ascertained if a record of this was kept in the athletic office.

Staff Training: We checked that each coach had undergone the “staff-student relations” training provided by our attorneys.

Attendance Reports: In South Bend, students must be in school the entire day in order to participate in practices or games that day.

This part of the audit determined if the athletic office had a procedure for telling coaches which of their players would not be eligible for practice because they were not in school.

Title IX Compliance: Here, we looked at scheduling of practices and events as well as

facilities to see if there were obvious Title IX inequities. This was followed by a comprehensive Title IX assessment done at all four high schools the following year.

Code of Conduct File: We checked to ascertain if all athletes and their parents had signed the Code of Conduct.

Coaches’ Handbook Signature File: We evaluated if every coach had signed an acknowledgement that he or she had received a Coaches’ Handbook.

Basketball Quarters Played: In Indiana, boys’ and girls’ basketball players are allowed to participate in only a set number of quarters during a season. This is to be recorded and kept on file, but is an oftenneglected rule, which is why we checked it. I considered following this rule to be an indicator of the athletic director being detail oriented.

Accident/Incident File: We determined if every accident or injury was recorded on the correct form and stored.

Winter Sports Schedules: Because the audit was done two weeks before the start of winter sports, it seemed prudent to see if the winter schedules were complete.

Winter Officials: We checked to see if officials had been hired for all home contests for the winter sports season.

Grade Check Verification: This was to assess that schools had a system in place for checking academic eligibility for studentathletes and a system for storing that data.

Debt Reduction: Here, we assessed, if applicable, what had been done to reduce athletic department debt.

Equipment Inventories: We determined if the athletic department had conducted regular equipment inventories and kept those on file.

Ticket Reports: This was to verify State Board of Accounts procedure for completing ticket reports of individual contests.

Sectional Entry Lists: Here, we determined if the athletic department had any issues with entries into IHSAA tournaments, what their procedures were, and if they kept these entries on file.

IHSAA Files: This was to ascertain that the department had a file of IHSAA meeting minutes, updated rules interpretations, memos, and other important information related to the state organization.

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Game Programs: We checked whether the athletic department had all of its game programs completed on time, which is critical for good relations with advertisers.

Transportation: We evaluated the system being used by the school for scheduling buses for events.

Fundraising Verification and Forms: This was to confirm that records and approvals were being kept for all fundraisers according to SBCSC procedures.

IHSAA Violations: First, we checked that a file was kept of any IHSAA viola-

tions. Second, we examined what possible violations were uncovered during the audit process (for example, incomplete eligibility paper work, incomplete or missing physical forms).

Human Resources: We evaluated if the athletic department was following and documenting school district rules and procedures with regards to hiring, evaluations, and non-renewals.

State Board of Accounts: This was to confirm all State Board of Accounts procedures were being followed.

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Other: Our final category covered any other concerns found in the audit.

RESULTS

At the end of each day, the team met to go over our findings. Although we each had specific areas to cover, we also discussed scores for each of the 30 categories as a group.

Because my secretary and I know a lot about the workings of each athletic department, we often had some insights to add.

No school had all perfect scores, and no school had completely lousy scores. Instead, we found that there were problems in nearly every category but not at all schools. We also saw examples of some outstanding or innovative procedures being used in every category.

Immediately after the audits, I sent a general e-mail to the four athletic directors that pointed out some trends. For example, everyone needed to put renewed emphasis on timely depositing money and issuing receipts for collected funds.

A few days later, I sent each athletic director a personal e-mail providing an overview of what was found in their department.

Within a few weeks, each received a detailed report that included scores for the 30 assessed areas and a compilation of coaches’ comments. This report also contained a narrative explaining any deficiencies we found and positive feedback on what the athletic director was doing well. From there, we continued to discuss the topics as a group and also individually.

In addition, we relayed to our athletic directors systems we found that others should implement. For example, one school kept a copy of all IHSAA information on a computer that was easy to update when any changes occurred. Another had a system for documenting transportation that provided double checks. A third had implemented a spreadsheet to ensure all paperwork was complete.

When all was said and done, the audit was not a perfect exercise in quality assurance, but it was a first step toward getting better. As a group, it prompted us to refocus on daily priorities and drew our attention to areas that needed attention. It also caused us all to think about best practices, achieving industry standards, and even going beyond them.

It was refreshing to find that all our athletic directors ultimately responded to their audits with enthusiasm. They did not simply want to get up to speed, they wanted to exceed expectations. To that end, the audit led to many new ideas and procedures and this was by far the most exciting development of the entire process.

LEADERSHIP

NEXT TIME

As I think about repeating the audit process in the future, there are some things I might change. For starters, I will consider eliminating the surprise element and taking more time to conduct the audit. This would also allow school athletic directors to evaluate each other as part of the team.

I might expand the amount of time for coaches’ interviews to broaden our reach.

We tended to only interview those coaches who were in the building, which left out non-teacher coaches or those who worked at another school during the day.

Another idea is to solicit input from students. This could include student perception of opportunities, fairness, overall treatment, and satisfaction, and an evaluation of coaches. Input from parents and the community might be added, although I consider student feedback to be more meaningful.

hile much of our audit entailed checking paperwork and procedures, we also asked coaches for their perceptions on how their athletic department was functioning. This was a great way to uncover more information about day-to-day athletic operations.

Our director of employee relations, a former high school and collegiate athlete, conducted individual interviews with four to six coaches at each school in a private, closed-door setting. We chose coaches we felt would have a thoughtful view of the athletics department and were free of any personality issues with the athletic director.

We prepared a list of questions designed to supplement the knowledge we were gaining from other aspects of our audit. Some of the questions asked whether the individual coach had been told about a policy or undergone mandatory training. Others were more general and asked about the athletic director’s performance.

Here is a sampling of the 23 questions we asked:

> Have you received a copy of the

Coaches’ Handbook? > Are grade checks for eligibility

completed on time? > To your knowledge, have all non-

teacher coaches completed their required coaching course before their second year of coaching? > Do you have any concerns over

the safety of facilities or equipment? > Are new assistant coaches

allowed to have contact with athletes before their criminal

background checks have been completed? > Are you aware of any IHSAA

rules violations that have not been reported? > Have you been asked to do

things that are not in your job description? > In your view, does the athletic

director manage his time effectively? Are there any last-minute crises? > Are your annual evaluations com-

pleted on time?

Coaches’ input

W

An assessment of climate and culture surrounding the individual athletic department could also be included. This might examine success, public perceptions, ease and effectiveness of communication, integrity, morale (students and coaches), sportsmanship, and innovation.

I also like the idea of allowing individual departments to do a “self-audit.” This could be accomplished prior to or in place of a district-directed audit. Although it would eliminate the surprise element, each of our athletic directors is committed to improving, so I believe they would be fair and honest in their self-evaluations.

Despite our busy days as athletic administrators, it can be worth the time to implement a department audit. At the very least, it will remind staff of the importance of their daily tasks. We found it also motivated everyone to upgrade their systems and strive for organizational excellence. n

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STUDENT-ATHLETE WELFARE

Recognizing the Signs

It’s rarely obvious, but on any of your teams there likely are one or more student-athletes suffering with a mental health issue. Here’s how to develop procedures so that staff can spot symptoms and effectively refer for treatment.

AP PHOTO/ Charles Rex Arbogast

By Timothy Neal

At Georgetown University, a research project was recently begun in order to study the rates of depression in former collegiate athletes. The hypo­ thesis was that hanging up one’s uniform might mean losing a part of one’s identity, which could lead to mental health problems.

To test their theory, the researchers polled 280 current and former NCAA Division I student-athletes from a range of sports. Their responses, now published in Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach, were not as expected.

Instead of former athletes showing great­ er rates of depression once they graduated, it was the current participants who did so.

In fact, the study found that 17 percent of present-day intercollegiate athletes exhib­ ited signs of depression.

When you translate that 17 percent to specific teams, it means 17 football athletes on a 100-man roster, two members of a 12-person basketball squad, three softball players, and so on. Unfortunately, the study suggests there are many student-athletes dealing with psychological issues in an ath­

letic department at any one time.

Because the topic is difficult for many people to talk about, the prevalence of mental health disorders often gets ignored.

However, it is necessary to broach the sub­ ject, because early detection is critical for treatment, which can help athletes get back to performing at their best.

So how should athletic administrators respond to the issue of mental health prob­ lems among student-athletes? A consensus statement to be released by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) this AthleticManagement.com | AUG/SEPT 2013 59

fall recommends that college athletic departments set up specific policies to handle student-athlete psychological concerns. These guidelines should include a plan to recognize student-athletes who are suffering and procedures to refer them for treatment.

Here at Syracuse University, we developed and implemented a mental health considerations document for the athletic department a few years ago. As Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Medicine, I took the lead on this project, but a similar undertaking could be spearheaded by almost any athletic department staff member. The initiative has proven very effective in helping us respond to our student-athletes who have psychological concerns.

PROCESS & PROCEDURES

When beginning the process of developing a mental health document, the first step is getting many different people involved— including those not on campus. I started by collaborating with members of our school’s counseling services. I met with them to not only ask their advice but to get to know them.

Establishing these relationships has made the process of referring athletes to them much easier. It also helped me learn more about the mental health issues facing today’s college students.

Collaborating with off-campus mental health care professionals was done in a simi-

lar way. We established relationships with psychologists and psychiatrists in the local community to whom we now refer studentathletes. While our health center staff is able to handle a majority of issues, there are times when an athlete needs specialized care that can only be found off campus. Having strong connections with professionals in the community has proven invaluable.

I also reached out to our school’s Division of Student Affairs, risk manager, institutional legal counsel, and Department of Public Safety to get their input on the document’s development. It is vital to cultivate a relationship with each of these departments because a student-athlete is first and foremost a student.

Once you have others on board, developing the mental health document entails putting together policies and resources. Our document contains the following: > Information on the prevalence of mental health issues in student-athletes > Education on what stressors could play a role in exacerbating symptoms > Explanations of how to refer athletes for treatment and why only credentialed mental health professionals should be evaluating student-athletes > Confidentiality issues > Behaviors to monitor > NCAA regulations regarding drug testing and ADHD medications

One example is a student-athlete who had a history of depression coming into his freshman year. He also suffered an injury that necessitated his medical disqualification from his sport.

Knowing that the loss of his playing career may be a triggering mechanism for anxiety and depression, we paid close attention to him to spot any warning signs.

After a while, we did notice behaviors that indicated he was struggling. I gently talked to him about it, and he agreed that he had a relapse of his depression. He was evaluated by a mental health professional, prescribed medication, and began counseling, which had a marked improvement in his quality of life.

Today, he is a very successful professional. He continues to take his medication and attend counseling sessions. When he comes back to campus, he thanks me for the care he received for his condition.

60 AUG/SEPT 2013 | AthleticManagement.com

one story

Although we did not put our official mental health plan in place here at Syracuse University until recently, we have been consciously looking out for psychological concerns for many years. This approach has helped numerous athletes in a variety of different ways.

>

Disordered eating guidelines Emergency referral procedures (e.g., in cases of possible suicide attempts) and phone numbers.

We provided an initial draft to our risk management manager and legal counsel for their review and also asked for feedback from the counseling center and Division of Student Affairs. After taking everyone’s advice into account, revising the document, and getting final approval on it, we then distributed it to all athletic department staff. We also spoke directly with sport coaches, athletic trainers, strength coaches, and administrators who work closely with athletes about the importance of knowing the warning signs of mental illness and how to talk to any studentathlete who may need referral.

We update the plan annually and re-issue it at the start of each academic year. As the point person, I try to keep up with research in this field and communicate regularly with mental health professionals on campus in order to decide what to add. >

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

As I learned when putting together our document, the major way in which coaches and other staff can help student-athletes with mental health issues is by paying attention to them. Therefore, we outline specific behaviors for coaches to look out for in the document.

The two most prevalent mental health disorders in young adults are depression and anxiety. However, there are many other psychological illnesses a student-athlete may suffer from, and it is common to be diagnosed with more than one. Our guidelines explain some facts about behaviors and how they may relate to a certain type of mental health disorder, but they also clearly state that the coach or administrator is only being asked to notice the behavior and leave any diagnosis to a mental health professional.

Our document also clarifies that behaviors may be singular or multiple in nature and range from mild to severe in presentation. Our explanation notes that everyone experiences and reacts to stress in varying degrees, and an athlete exhibiting a behavior does not necessarily have a mental health disorder. The overarching idea is that if the described behaviors are out of character for Timothy Neal is the Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Medicine at Syracuse University. He has served as the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) liaison to the NCAA Football Rules Committee, authored a chapter in the 2012-13 NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook, and was presented with the 2010 NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. He can be reached at: tlneal@syr.edu.

STUDENT-ATHLETE WELFARE

the athlete, the referral system (detailed in the next section) should be activated.

Below are potential behaviors that could indicate a student-athlete is suffering: Withdrawal from social contact: Although some student-athletes may naturally be shy or less outgoing than their teammates, withdrawal from social contact is a prime symptom of clinical depression. It is normal for studentathletes to want “alone time,” but if this time increases to uncharacteristic levels, it can be a sign of distress.

Changes in sleeping and eating habits: Changes in sleeping habits could include a student-athlete regularly falling asleep in class or team meetings or missing or being late to practices, meetings, or games because he or she overslept. Noticeable weight gain or loss is also cause for concern, as is an individual who used to eat with teammates suddenly choosing to eat alone. A student-athlete who incessantly talks about their weight or diet may also have an eating or body image disorder, which needs to be addressed.

Decreased interest in activities: Studentathletes who no longer participate in activities they once enjoyed, like playing video games, listening to music, watching movies, or dating, may be depressed. Some may even openly express a loss of interest in their sport, and quitting the team is a major red flag.

Problems concentrating, focusing, or remembering: High levels of stress, as well as depression, can affect daily mental activity and lead to difficulty clearly expressing thoughts. For example, depressed athletes may have a hard time describing what they are going through or require more time to collect their thoughts before they can verbalize how they feel.

It’s also important to note that recent research suggests concussions impair both cognitive and emotional abilities. Any student-athlete who has sustained a concussion should be monitored for depression—especially someone with a history of the disorder.

Frequent complaints of fatigue, illness, or injury: Mental illnesses, especially clinical depression, are both a mind and body phenomenon. Depressed student-athletes may report feeling like they are in a fog, tired all the time, or that they have constant headaches, body aches, or an upset stomach. Injuries that should have healed with treatment and rest may seem to linger.

Loss of or heightened emotion: As depression or other mental illnesses set in, student-athletes may become less emotional or have what is referred to as a “flat affect”— where they look expressionless or their reaction to conversation is lacking. However,

some students may have the opposite occur, tearing up or crying over minor events. Others may become more animated, laughing at inappropriate times.

Deliberate self-harm: Someone who is suffering from a mental illness may resort to self-harm, such as cutting or branding.

Wearing long-sleeved shirts and/or pants to cover up cuts in spite of warm weather may indicate that self-harm is occurring.

Irritability: Mental health experts believe that depression is associated with high levels of anger and frustration, including violence, particularly in men. Lashing out at others, overreacting to minor incidents, impulsive behavior or language, and impatience may be signs of depression and other types of mental illnesses.

Drug and alcohol abuse: If drinking or drug use becomes excessive or occurs at odd

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Circle No. 144 AthleticManagement.com | AUG/SEPT 2013 61

REFERRAL SYSTEM

times of the day, such as early morning, it can be indicative of a mental health issue.

This can be tough for a coach or athletic trainer to notice, but teammates may pick up on a problem and should be encouraged to report it to a coach or administrator.

Talking about death, dying, or going away: Making comments about dying, even

Our mental health considerations document also includes advice on how to approach a student-athlete suspected of having a psychological issue, as well as information on when and how to refer them for specialized care. Unless they are a licensed counselor, no member of the athletic department should ever attempt

Empathetic listening and encouraging the studentathlete to speak openly is recommended. It is also important to let the athlete know that people care about him or her as a person. to treat an athlete with a mental health illness, and this must be made clear in every school’s policy. However, if they suspect an individual has a problem, athletic department personnel should act quickly to find out if the athlete needs help.

Approaching anyone with concern about their psychological well-being can be uncomfortable. A private meeting with the athlete

in generalities, is an indication that a student-athlete could be severely depressed or is experiencing a significant mental illness.

Predicting whether someone will attempt suicide is quite difficult, even for mental health experts and medical personnel, but any mention of suicide by a student-athlete should be treated very seriously and action should be taken.

1

Your Sport, Our Court

is usually best, but it may be helpful to have another coach, team physician, athletic trainer, or staff member present—especially if this other person has a positive relationship with the student-athlete.

Empathetic listening and encouraging the student-athlete to speak openly is recommended. It is also important to let the athlete know that people care about him or her as a person. To accomplish this, try to ask open-ended questions: > How are things going? > Can you tell me what’s going on? > Your behavior has me concerned ... Is there something I need to know to understand what is happening? > Can I ask you how those cuts got on your arm? > Have you talked to someone about what’s going on? > Would you like to talk to someone about the situation?

You may encounter incidents when the student-athlete is less than honest or is hesitant to share the details of their psychological state. This is a natural reaction to the stigma that many still associate with mental

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Circle No. 145

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STUDENT-ATHLETE WELFARE

health issues. In these instances, it can be helpful to remind them that an emotional or mental issue is cause for medical concern— just as a musculoskeletal injury is—and it’s important that the problems be evaluated further.

On several occasions in the past, I have convinced student-athletes to go for a mental health screening. I usually start by having a conversation with the student-athlete and our team physician. I never tell the student they have a mental disorder because I am not a trained mental health care professional.

Saying that it might be a good idea to “go for an evaluation” is a gentle way of getting them to a specialist to determine if there is an issue that needs to be treated. I usually make the initial contact with the counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist for the student-athlete.

This is where a prior relationship is beneficial—the mental healthcare professional already knows of your interest in referring student-athletes for an evaluation.

There are student-athletes who will refuse counseling for various reasons. Unless their behavior makes you worried about their imminent health or safety or you suspect a code of conduct violation has taken place, the student-athlete cannot be compelled to report for an evaluation.

The best tactic you can take if faced with this situation is to encourage them to consider an evaluation as something that may help them deal more effectively with their stress or personal issue. Assure the student-athlete that being referred for a mental health screening is not any different than being evaluated for a physical injury or illness. You should also promise them that you will not talk about the situation to their coaches, parents, or teammates without their permission.

If a student-athlete reports suicidal feelings or makes comments referencing suicide

or harming themselves, do not under any circumstances leave them alone. You should be familiar with your institution’s emergency mental health action plan, which is usually produced by the office of student affairs. Call for assistance using this procedure. These individuals must be monitored very closely.

Mental health issues are present among

student-athletes, and they should not be ignored. The key to helping young people in our programs is to have policies in place and every member on staff cognizant of warning signs and referral protocols. Having a proactive approach on student-athlete mental health is important for athlete safety and well-being. n

A version of this article was published in our sister magazine, Training & Conditioning. More articles from T&C can be found at: www.Training-Conditioning.com

Res o u rces > To access the NATA’s consensus statement and guidelines, which will be available after Sept. 30, look for the title, “Developing a Plan for Recognition and Referral of StudentAthletes with Psychological Concerns at the Intercollegiate Level: A Consensus Statement” at:

www.nata.org/statements

Circle No. 146 AthleticManagement.com | AUG/SEPT 2013 63

1988

2013

CELEBRATING

The Tools to Play

YEARS

These innovations in athletic equipment over the past 25 years have helped athletes raise their level of performance and reduced their risk of injury.

By Dennis Read AP PHOTO/FRANK FRANKLIN II (TOP); mitch kezar/wenger corp. (bottom LEFt); AP PHOTO/ CAL SPORTS MEDIA (BOTTOM RIGHT)

Athletes are always looking for an edge, a little something to push them past the competition. And equipment manufacturers have continually answered the call with advancements to help athletes practice harder, play stronger, and succeed at higher levels. At the same time, many of the changes to equipment have focused on safety, especially with regards to head injuries.

As part of the ongoing celebration of our 25th year, Athletic Management is looking at the top innovations in sports over the past quarter-century. In this issue, we detail the 25 most significant developments in team equipment. This list was developed in consultation with veteran athletic directors at the high school and college levels who both helped identify the biggest trends and ranked which changes were the most significant.

Top innovations in team equipment over the last 25 years include new uniform styles, more efficient storage systems, and advances in football helmets.

AthleticManagement.com | AUG/SEPT 2013 64

TEAM EQUIPMENT

1 Football helmets

With all the attention now being paid to the danger of head injuries in football, helmets have become part of the front line in the battle to reduce concussions. While no helmet can completely prevent concussions, today’s versions are intended to lower the risk as much as possible. Their designs have been improved to reduce sudden movements of the head as well as the rotational and lateral forces experienced during play. But even the best helmet is of little use if it’s not properly fitted. Along with increasing training for coaches on the right way to fit a helmet, manufacturers have introduced upgrades that better adapt to the specific shape of each player’s head.

2

Uniform styles Uniform styles have seen seismic shifts over the past 25 years, with the biggest changes occurring since the turn of the century. The University of Oregon has been one of the leaders of the style trends, with its football team sporting head-turning (and camera-catching) uniform features, such as

wings on the shoulders, and an array of color palettes that leads to hundreds of unique combinations. Other schools have followed suit and now most top football programs rarely look the same from one game to the next. Other sports have also joined in the fashion statements. For example, basketball teams now emerge from their locker rooms in bright neon colors, short-sleeved jerseys, and patterns ranging from camouflage to stripes to imbedded graphical icons. Baseball and softball squads have also escaped from traditional designs to sport colorful jerseys with snazzy logos and soccer teams can be seen wearing a wide variety of patterns.

3

Compression apparel It’s hard to imagine that 25 years ago, athletes had few choices for undergarments other than cotton shirts and shorts that would get wet with sweat and do little to warm or cool them. Today’s compression undergarments use high-tech materials that wick moisture off an athlete’s body while remaining dry and lightweight. Most male athletes also feel the compression shorts have replaced the need for a tradi-

tional jock strap. In addition to increasing athletes’ comfort and performance, compression clothing has become fashionable, with athletes clamoring to adopt the latest looks.

4

Baseball/softball bases While much of the injury risk in baseball and softball is associated with a fastmoving ball, the bases are also a common site for dangerous action. Two important innovations have helped make these areas far safer for players. The first are breakaway bases that separate from their anchor when a sliding runner hits them with too much force, which has prevented countless knee and ankle injuries. The other change has been the introduction of a double first base.

Created by joining the regular white base with a second orange base that sits in foul territory, the double first base eliminates contact between a runner and first baseman on a close play.

Dennis Read is an Associate Editor at Athletic Management. He can be reached at: dr@MomentumMedia.com.

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AM102013

5

Storage systems Today’s equipment rooms look quite different and are more efficient than those of the past, thanks to the development of modern storage systems that maximize the use of space. One key innovation has been the creation of rolling storage compartments. These modular compartments, many of which can be motorized, are placed on rails that allow users to slide them into and out of long-term positions. As a result, schools can store more equipment in the same amount of space. New features and accessories have also been designed to address specific equipment storage challenges, such as effectively storing helmets and shoulder pads and providing air flow to keep equipment dry and help reduce the risk of contamination.

6

Laundry supplies Keeping hundreds of athletes outfitted in clean practice and game apparel is no simple feat, but today’s equipment managers utilize a wide array of products to make it easier. Detergents have been formulated to efficiently clean and brighten the modern materials used in the latest uniforms. They also kill the bacteria that can cause MRSA and staph infections. In addition, special stain fighters are now available to remove blemishes that previously couldn’t be cleaned, leaving even the most heavily soiled uniforms looking like new.

7 Football gloves For years, football was played with bare hands. But over the last two decades, gloves have become a routine piece of equipment with specific models for players at each position. It started with receivers’ gloves that offered increased grip to help them better hold onto the ball and then spread to other positions. Linemen use gloves with extra protective padding for the back of the hand and fingers, while linebackers don those with a little extra grip and padding.

8 Baseball/softball bats

Thanks to technological advancements in the materials and designs used for non-wood bats during the 1990s, they became lighter than ever while at the same time having larger sweet spots. As a result, college baseball scores started looking like football tallies, as epitomized by the 1998 College World Series title game, which ended 21-14. The NCAA then implemented rules, which were later adopted by the NFHS, to rein in the performance of these bats. The new standards addressed the way

66 AUG/SEPT 2013 | AthleticManagement.com

the ball came off the bat and resulted in decreased offense, at least for a while. Then, in 2011, the NCAA adopted a new rule that addressed the trampoline effect that many bats had taken on to increase performance.

Only time will tell if these will be the last of the changes, but early returns look good with offensive numbers dropping significantly.

9 Protective Headgear

When it comes to preventing concussions, most of the attention goes to football.

But equipment manufacturers have taken steps to protect players in other sports as well. Although it is used sparingly, headgear became readily available in soccer—where players run the risk of knocking heads and feeling the effects of multiple headers—around the turn of the century and was approved for use by the NFHS in 2004.

Both baseball and softball have seen a move toward helmets for the most vulnerable defenders, especially pitchers. Even coaches have been pulled into the effort, with helmets now mandatory for those stationed at bases. Men’s lacrosse helmets, meanwhile, went through a major evolution through the 1990s, taking on a streamlined shape with a tighter fit and increased padding, and now offer greater protection than ever before.

10 Throwing machines

Long a staple of baseball and softball coaches, throwing machines have become a common sight in football, soccer, volleyball, tennis, and other sports as well. Today’s machines are able to deliver all types of balls with more accuracy and spin variations than ever before. This allows baseball and softball hitters to dial in on a specific type of pitch until they have mastered their swing.

Football receivers can count on perfect placement of passes while running repeated practice routes and coaches can speed up special teams work by replicating high punts without fail. Soccer players can more easily practice headers and receiving passes, while volleyball players benefit from more consistent sets or serves to work with. In addition, these machines have gotten lighter, making them more portable, while advances in battery design have mostly eliminated the need for long electrical cords.

11 Shoes

The shoe wars were in full swing when Athletic Management published its first issue in 1989, and they show no signs of letting up. The result has been an explosion of footwear for athletes. Developments in

materials and construction techniques have reduced the weight of running shoes to well under half a pound while still providing support and cushioning. At the same time, shoe makers continue to provide specialized shoes for almost any use imaginable. There are those designed to be used for specific synthetic surfaces, while others are slated for certain sports, and even playing positions, such as football linemen or running backs, depending on the different supports and cleats. Track and field athletes are also enjoying unique shoes designed for sprinters, hurdlers, jumpers, and throwers.

11 Mouth guards

Not only do today’s mouth guards offer far more protection than those from a quarter-century ago, they also fit better and are much more comfortable, increasing their proper use by athletes. Custom mouth guards offer unrivaled specification, but off-the-shelf options have evolved so that athletes get a good fit at a lower price.

New materials and designs do a better job at dissipating any destructive forces, keeping jaws in place, teeth in one piece, and smiles intact. Some even have an embedded monitor that can indicate when an athlete has experienced the kind of forces that can cause a concussion. Plus, modern mouth guards can be outfitted with custom graphics, and some are even flavored.

12 Eye & face protection

Concern over injuries to the head are not limited to concussions. Facial injuries can be life changing, especially when vision is affected. Several sports have taken steps to reduce such injuries by adopting face masks or goggles. In field hockey, the NFHS mandated their use beginning in 2011. This eye wear is made of polycarbonate lenses or wire cages that protect the eyes, and some defensive players add full face masks when rushing the shooter during penalty corners.

Women’s lacrosse goggles have been around longer and often have larger eye openings than their field hockey counterparts. The NFHS started requiring face masks for softball hitters in 2006, and their use has spread to infielders and pitchers, although on a voluntary basis.

13 Uniform materials

Not all the changes in uniforms have been about style. Uniforms in all sports are more comfortable than ever before thanks to lighter fabrics and materials. Today’s jerseys also do a much better job at keeping athletes cool and dry with materials that wick moisture away from the body. Some

TEAM EQUIPMENT

even have antimicrobial treatments that reduce the buildup of odors and make the jerseys easier to clean.

15 Travel cases

Taking an athletic team on the road can sometimes feel like moving an army.

But no coach wants to be short-handed. In response, today’s travel cases make the task of getting everything from point A to point B a lot more practical. Modern modular systems are compact and lightweight, making them easier to organize and transport.

Different types of storage equipment fit neatly together, saving both time and space in the packing process.

16 Catchers’ gear

Catchers’ equipment has become lighter over the past 25 years while offering increased protection. Triple-hinged shin guards cover the legs from the thigh to the ankle, and chest protectors use modern foam technology to take the sting out of errant pitches and foul tips. The biggest change, however, has come above the shoulders with the introduction of hockey goalie-

style helmets in the late 1990s. They provide far greater protection for the head compared to older masks as well as increased peripheral vision.

17 5-pocket football girdles Comfort and versatility have made the five-pocket girdle a standard piece of equipment for many football teams. They provide separate pockets for thigh, hip, and tailbone pads. This way, players only need one set of pads rather than separate pads for both their practice and game pants.

Some companies sew the pads directly into the girdles while others allow the pads to be inserted by the user. In addition, most are constructed of compression material to help support the muscles.

18 Baseball/softball gloves

No longer limited to brown leather, today’s gloves come in a rainbow of colors.

Manufacturers even allow you to customize your glove design. The leather itself is more durable and lighter than ever, improving a fielder’s glove control, and eliminating

Circle No. 148

the need to painstakingly break in a glove before using it.

19 Sport Ball technology

From the outside, the balls used in most of today’s games haven’t changed much over the past quarter-century. But once you look beyond the cosmetic, there have been some important advancements.

The biggest change has come in materials, with the increased use of new composite leathers that last longer and provide an easier-to-grip surface, especially in football and basketball. Some athletes still prefer the feel of pure leather, however, and manufacturers have responded by offering upgrades to these balls by adjusting the pebble grain, seams, and laces to make them easier to handle.

20 Composite hockey sticks

When Athletic Management made its debut, ice hockey sticks were generally limited to two materials, wood (sturdy but heavy) and aluminum (light but fragile).

Since then, wood sticks have all but disappeared from the game and aluminum ones

TEAM EQUIPMENT

are used by a distinct minority in the upper levels. In their place have come carbon fiber and a host of similar composite materials.

The result is sticks that are light as a feather and create more torque, producing better shots.

21 Laundry room equipment

Over the past 25 years, sports laundry has evolved from simply cleaning uniforms to protecting athletes and the environment.

Today’s washers and dryers can typically remove over 99.99 percent of dangerous bacteria such as MRSA, thanks in part to the use of ozone during the washing process. The introduction of ozone has also helped reduce the amount of water and energy needed to clean even the dirtiest uniforms. And the widespread adoption of computer controls allows department staff to devote more time to other responsibilities.

22 Labeling systems

Tracking athletic clothing and equipment has been enhanced greatly through upgraded labeling systems that

are a far cry from the giant black markers of old. New systems allow equipment personnel to print their own labels that easily adhere the user’s name or other identifying information to almost any piece of clothing or equipment. They can also record when an item was issued, making it easier to determine when to replace or recondition it. In addition, these labels are soft, waterproof, and rarely noticed by the athletes.

23 Radar guns While radar guns have been used to measure the speed of pitched baseballs since the 1950s, today’s units are much more versatile. To start, they have gotten small enough to occupy previously unthought of places, such as inside gloves and baseballs. Other units have been created to measure the speed of swinging bats.

Radars guns are also being used in sports such as football, soccer, hockey, tennis, lacrosse, and golf to help coaches quantify their players’ performances and help them improve.

T he Preferred

Choice.

24 Lacrosse sticks

Lacrosse sticks have benefited from the introduction of new lightweight, yet incredibly strong and durable materials.

While aluminum is still a popular choice, today’s players, especially those on offense, prefer carbon fiber composites, titanium, and even scandium. Other major developments have been seen in stick heads and lacing.

25 Goalie pads & equipment

Although they’re the last line of defense, goalies have been the first to benefit from equipment innovations and improvement. The newest generation of ice hockey goalie helmets provide superior protection for the entire head, fit better, and are more comfortable than previous models. Much lighter materials have allowed manufacturers to increase pad sizes, enhancing goalies’ shot-stopping ability without compromising agility. Similar advancements have been made in field hockey, where leg pads have evolved from glorified sticks to light foam and plastic barriers.

ATTENTION FOOTBALL COACHES! “200 balls a day keeps the drops away.”

TENNIS TUTOR ProLite

Coaches and receivers are discovering the benefits of tennis ball training.

• Improves receivers hand-eye coordination • Enforces proper catching technique and soft hands • Receivers can catch over 100 balls in 10 mins.

Soft Touch® Bases are the preferred choice of athletic directors, sports equipment dealers and teams across the United States and Canada. Made in the USA, our patented “Progressive Release” design and soft yet rugged polyurethane bases absorb and release to reduce the risk of injury. Sold by all leading sporting goods dealers, simply ask for Soft Touch.

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“Practicing with the Tennis Tutor ProLite machine at Oklahoma helped make me the top receiver in college football.

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www.softtouchbases.com 1-866-544-2077

SPORTS TUTOR

The Sports Machine Company

www.sportsmachines.com (800)448-8867

Circle No. 149 68 AUG/SEPT 2013 | AthleticManagement.com

Circle No. 150

Visit Sports Tutor on Facebook to see a video of the Sooners training with ProLite!

E A D E R S

IN THE

L

1988

2013

CELEBRATING

• I N D U S T R Y • YEARS

Hotronix®, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of heat

Sports Attack introduced a new level of quality with ball-throw-

presses, brings you the Names Made™ tagless label system for garment identification. This comprehensive package combines innovative heat-printing technology for printing labels, names, and barcodes on apparel with the capability to print pressure-sensitive labels that apply to hard goods.

ing machines that are designed specifically for the needs of each sport.

Each unit is unique in its design and capabilities. For example, the baseball and softball machines have three wheels for full vision, while the volleyball machine’s height is over the net.

Just one hour per day spent looking for lost garments can cost your operation thousands of dollars. Working to keep you organized, Hotronix® continues to invest in the perfect solution. The Names Made™ heat-applied tagless labeling system for personalizing apparel and hard goods will save you time and money. To learn more, visit

ClothingIDLabel.com.

Sports Attack is focused on the needs of the highest skill level of each sport. The company has already begun to incorporate electronics into all machine designs that will provide the ultimate in remote programmability. Sports Attack is also planning to integrate live video capabilities that will capture the athlete’s mechanics upon ball receipt. To find out more, visit SportsAttack.com.

Circle No. 500 Sports Tutor has become the number-one selling tennis ball

machine worldwide. The company has expanded its line to include ball machines for volleyball and soccer. Sports Tutor also has a full line of baseball and softball pitching machines, featuring the programmable HomePlate pitching machine.

Sports Tutor will continue to be active in reaching out to high schools and colleges, focusing on the affordability of its institutional machines in a time when school budgets are so restrictive. Learn more at

SportsTutorInc.com.

Circle No. 533

Before the digital stopwatch, when you timed something, you had to do it with a round device that was harder to read than the typical wall clock. But in 1972, Accusplit introduced the digital stopwatch. Not only were these digital stopwatches easier to read, they also gave the user more information—showing the time in hundredths of seconds— giving coaches and fitness professionals the ability to analyze their athletes’ data on a new level.

Accusplit was recognized for its innovations in stopwatches by Mobile PC magazine. In its March 2005 issue, Mobile PC named the Accusplit digital stopwatch as one of the “Top 100 Gadgets of All Time.” To learn more about Accusplit, visit

Accusplit.com.

Circle No. 534

Over the last 25 years in the base manufacturing business, Urethane Systems Plus, Inc./Soft Touch Bases has evolved from producing only one base design to a variety of styles created to meet its customers’ needs. The company has also crafted a one-piece “double first base” and recently developed a base designed for synthetic turf. ®

The company is excited about several new projects in production now—or scheduled for the near future. In addition to a home plate and pitching rubber created for use on synthetic turf, Soft Touch® Bases also has a new base with a unique installation design. All of these products are proudly manufactured in the USA. Find out more on

Circle No. 549 Aurora Storage Products invented and patented Quik-Lok Shelving, which assembles with no tools or hardware. Quik-Lok Shelving is the basis of most of today’s athletic storage systems. It can be configured and reconfigured easily, and made mobile-ready for space-efficient team storage.

Aurora Storage Products is concentrating on the education market, and learning daily more and more about the needs of schools and manufacturing new products for the school environment to create flexible storage solutions. To find out more, visit AuroraStorage.com.

SoftTouchBases.com.

Circle No. 550

Circle No. 557 AthleticManagement.com | JUNE/JULY 2013 69

Salute to Champions 2013 Publisher’s Note In the spring of 2002, Athletic Management and athletic directors nationwide lost a very good friend. Randy Nash, president of Cabana Banners in Brookings, S.D., unexpectedly passed away while telling his passionate story of Cabana Banners to a group of local entrepreneurs.

Like so many ADs around the country, we, at Athletic Management, consider ourselves fortunate to have had the pleasure of working with Randy.

He was committed to serving his customers, and passionate about high school and college athletics. He was a person with outstanding character— the type of person we all aspire to be. Indeed, Athletic Management and athletic directors in general miss Randy Nash very much. Randy was directed by a simple motto: “Play hard, play fast, play fair, and always leave a legacy.” Randy’s legacy continues to thrive in his family, in Cabana Banners, and in the many gymnasiums in which his banners hang.

Randy played a very large role in the creation of our Salute to Champions program, now in its eleventh year. We are pleased to dedicate the Salute to Champions program to the memory of Randy Nash, as a way to honor his devotion and commitment to school athletics.

We’re pleased to present this year’s winners.

Blountstown (FL) High School Boys’

and was a three-time Ivy League Player

Weight Lifting. A small school of 400

of the Year. He received All-America first-

students, Blountstown won the 2012

team honors for the third straight year after

Class 1A (1,400 students maximum)

being third team as a freshman.

state championship after also taking the title in 2005. Of the 10 weight classes, the school won individual titles at 129, 137, 154 and 183 pounds.

Campus Magnet High School Boys’ JV Basketball, St. Albans, NY. With a squad of 10 freshmen and four

NY. Named the national Wrestler of the Year, senior Kyle Dake won his fourth NCAA title, and became the only person ever to do it at four different weight classes. He was 37-0 in his final collegiate season, and selected as the inaugural Sports Illustrated College

sophomores who had never played

Athlete of the Year. He was the EIWA and

organized basketball before, the Campus

Ivy League Wrestler of the Year.

Magnet JV team went 12-0 to win the Division Queens 3 title for the first time

Eastside High School Wrestling,

ever under Head Coach Jon Cooper.

Taylors, SC. The grapplers won the AAA state dual meet championship (their 9th

Chippewa Falls (WI) High School

title since 2000), beating the A/AA and

Softball. The underhanders won

AAAA state winners during the regular

their first ever WIAA Division 1 state

season. Buoyed by four individual

championship with a 4-3 win over Sun Prairie HS. Junior shortstop Evie Schaller was named State Player of the Year, and Head Coach Jared Faherty captured State Coach of the Year honors.

Cornell University Men’s Lacrosse,

champions, Eastside also took the AAA state individual tournament (their 11th title since 2000). The team won its 21st consecutive region crown, a state record in all sports in all classifications.

Glenpool (OK) High School Wrestling. The grapplers placed sixth

Ithaca, NY. Senior attack Rob Pannell

out of 32 teams in their classification

capped off a record-setting career by being

at the OSSAA State Championships,

named the Tewaaraton Trophy winner, the

with one individual titlist. En route,

premier award in collegiate lacrosse. The

Glenpool won its first ever 4A District

all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division

championship.

I history, Pannell was named the college Outstanding Division I Player of the Year

70 AUG/SEPT 2013 | AthleticManagement.com

Cornell University Wrestling, Ithaca,

Salute to Champions 2013 Kaskaskia College Women’s

Richland High School Football,

I Player of the Year Tugce Canitez. The

Volleyball, Centralia, IL. The Blue

Johnstown, PA. The Rams, under

team, school, and community rallied

Angels recorded a first for the school by

Head Coach Brandon Bailey, won their

around Head Coach Kirsten Moore,

capturing both the Great Rivers Athletic

first ever PIAA District 6 title, beating

whose husband, Alex, passed away in

Conference and NJCAA Division I Region

Forest Hill 27-0, which was coached by

May 2012, after suffering complications

24 titles in the same year. The 34-8 record

Brandon’s father, Don, a Pennsylvania

from surgery. Kirsten then delivered her

was the best slate ever for Kaskaskia

Scholastic Football Coaches Association

first child, Alexis, in June 2012.

College.

Hall of Famer. Richland lost in the PIAA

Kirtland (NM) Central High School

semifinals to end up 14-1, with three

Woodstock (CT) Academy Boys’

players on the all-state team.

Basketball. In a game for the league title,

Girls’ Basketball. In 2012, Kirtland

Woodstock was only up by one point near

won its 19th state girls’ basketball

St. Cecilia Academy Girls’ Volleyball,

the end. Woodstock had a fast break and

championship, and its second in the last

Nashville, TN. The spikers won their

as the point guard crossed half court, he

three years. The 19 titles are believed to

first TSSAA Division II-A championship

saw an opposing player limping. Instead

be the most state girls’ basketball crowns

in the 152-year history of the school in

of pushing the ball, the point guard

in the nation.

2012, after being the runner-up in 2011.

called a timeout for one of the classiest

It was a six-year process and ultimate

moves ever done on a basketball court.

Ontario (OR) High School Baseball.

goal for Head Coach Maggie Kuyper who

Woodstock went on to win the state Class

The diamondmen won their second 4A

was named Coach of the Year by the

L crown, upsetting top-ranked Trinity

state championship in 2012, after last

Tennessee Sportswriters Association.

Catholic High School 52-49.

Somerset (WI) High School Football.

Horlick High School Cheer and Stunt,

Palmyra (PA) High School Girls’

The gridders captured the 2012 Division

Racine, WI. After enduring a challenging

Basketball. The cagers strung together

4 state championship, beating Big Foot

and tragic season off the court—a booster

29 straight wins before losing in the

35-33 in overtime. The Spartans had lost

club parent stepped in to coach after the

second round of the state championship

the 2011 title game in double overtime.

previous head coach left the program,

tournament. Along the way, they were

Somerset has played in the state final five

and the mother of a team member

Keystone division champs, MidPenn

times in the past 11 seasons, and won it

was killed in October—the team came

titlists, and won their district. Head Coach

all in 2002.

together, persevered and won the co-ed

taking home the crown in 1997.

small division state championship. This

Ron Berman won his 400th game during the season.

Westmont College Women’s

was the school’s fifth state championship

Basketball, Santa Barbara, CA.

overall.

The team won its first NAIA national championship in 2013 behind four senior leaders, including two-time NAIA Division

AthleticManagement.com | AUG/SEPT 2013 71

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Circle #. Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page #

Circle #. Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page #

535 . . Abacus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 556 . . Accusplit (company information) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 549 . . Accusplit (Leaders in the Industry). . . . . . . . . . . . 69 557 . . Aurora Storage Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 516 . . Aer-Flo (Cross-Over Zone®/Bench Zone®). . . . . . 76 605 . . Aer-Flo (fundraising). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 519 . . Aer-Flo (Wind Weighted® Baseball Tarps). . . . . . . 77 609 . . AGS Branding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 521 . . Airborne Athletics (AirCAT). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 529 . . Airborne Athletics (Dr. Dish). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 514 . . Armacell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 502 . . Athletic Edge by Pivotal Health Solutions . . . . . . . 73 515 . . BEAM CLAY®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 523 . . BigSigns.com (bleacher-back banners). . . . . . . . 78 606 . . BigSigns.com (fundraising). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 507 . . BigSigns.com (wall graphics). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 513 . . Bison (IPI). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 506 . . Bison (T-Rex). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 508 . . Cabana Banners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 520 . . California University of Pennsylvania. . . . . . . . . . 78 526 . . Camera SportSeat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 524 . . ClearSpan Fabric Structures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 603 . . Club Colors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 517 . . CoverSports (Fieldsaver Infield Rain Covers). . . . 76 518 . . CoverSports (GymGuard® Floor Cover Tiles). . . . . 77

551 . . CytoSport (Cytomax Energy Drops™) . . . . . . . . . . 80 530 . . CytoSport (Recovery Grant Program). . . . . . . . . . 79 528 . . Disney’s Spring Training. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 522 . . Gatorade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 608 . . GearBoss® by Wenger (fundraising). . . . . . . . . . . 51 503 . . GearBoss® by Wenger (lockers). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 552 . . Go4theGoal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 600 . . Gold Medal Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 602 . . Gone Logo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 540 . . GymWipes (2XL Corp.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 610 . . HighSchoolBlanket.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 536 . . Infinity Flooring (iTurf). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 537 . . Infinity Flooring (Max tile). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 611 . . JustFundraising.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 539 . . Kay Park (fiberglass players’ benches). . . . . . . . . 79 538 . . Kay Park (“SPEEDY BLEACHER 108”). . . . . . . . . . 74 543 . . KDM Electronics/Octasound (MX120A). . . . . . . . . 74 544 . . KDM Electronics/Octasound (speakers). . . . . . . . 75 545 . . Lyon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 546 . . Mateflex (HomeCourt). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 547 . . Mateflex (ProGym). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 509 . . MMT (MetroMedia Technologies). . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 525 . . New York Barbells (loading chains). . . . . . . . . . . . 78 531 . . New York Barbells (training ropes) . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 558 . . OakWood Sports, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

607 . . Registry for Excellence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 501 . . Salsbury Industries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 504 . . Samson Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 604 . . SMi Awards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 553 . . Soft Touch® Bases (A Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 550 . . Soft Touch® Bases (Leaders in the Industry). . . . . 69 512 . . Spalding (LITE Steel Volleyball System). . . . . . . . 75 505 . . Spalding (Portable Backstop Assessments). . . . . 74 542 . . Sports Attack (Attack II). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 533 . . Sports Attack (Leaders in the Industry). . . . . . . . . 69 541 . . Sports Attack (Snap Attack). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 534 . . Sports Tutor (Leaders in the Industry). . . . . . . . . . 69 532 . . Sports Tutor (ProLite). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 527 . . Sports Tutor (Volleyball Tutor) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 601 . . StadiumChair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 500 . . Stahls’ Hotronix® (Clothing ID Label). . . . . . . . . . . 69 510 . . Stahls’ Hotronix® (Clothing ID Label). . . . . . . . . . . 74 555 . . Synthetic Surfaces Inc. (indoor). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 554 . . Synthetic Surfaces Inc. (outdoor) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 548 . . Triad Technologies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 511 . . VP Buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Products Directory

72 AUG/SEPT 2013 | AthleticManagement.com

Locker Showcase

In business for more than 75 years, Salsbury Industries - Lockers.com is an industry leader in the manufacturing and distributing of quality metal lockers, wood lockers, plastic lockers, storage solutions, and custom signage. Plus, the company can deliver your lockers or storage solutions unassembled or fully assembled and ready for installation— whichever fits your needs best.

Primary advantages:

• With a complete line of lockers in a wide range of colors and styles, Salsbury Industries has the perfect locker to fit your needs.

• Whether you are around the corner or around the world, most orders ship within 24 to 48 hours of receipt.

The Athletic Edge line of lockers includes designs and product configurations made from wood, laminate, and steel.

With the company’s standard product offering, coupled with innovative custom design services, Team Edge offers lockers to meet any size or budget.

Primary advantages:

• Standard and custom designs available in wood, laminate, and steel.

• New steel locker designs offering the durability of steel and the aesthetics of wood.

• Create a functional, cost-effective locker room with Team Edge.

Primary advantages:

• Open design and custom appearance.

• Integrated, hinged seat saves floor space and is lockable over a footlocker.

• Variety of color/finish choices, from school colors to wood-grain laminates.

Salsbury Industries • 800-LOCKERS www.lockers.com Circle No. 501

Pivotal Health Solutions • 800-627-2387 www.teamedgeathletics.com Circle No. 502

Wenger Corporation • 800-4WENGER www.wengercorp.com/gearboss Circle No. 503

Since 1976, Samson Equipment has provided high-quality weight training equipment to high school, college, and professional organizations. Since then, Samson has branched into football lockers.

With high-end materials and custom options, these are some of the market’s top lockers.

With all of the world’s high-tech portable devices, confidence in a locker solution is more important now than ever before.

Trust Lyon, LLC, an industry-leader in steel lockers since 1901. Lyon, LLC offers many options to keep your personal belongings locked down while you compete.

With more than 500 custom-made locker systems installed in North America since 1991, OakWood Sports continues to be a leader in hand-crafted athletic lockers. All lockers are made in the USA.

Primary advantages: Primary advantages:

• Samson uses the very highest-grade materials available on the market today.

• Samson is a manufacturer-direct company—custom designs are implemented daily.

• Brand new product upgrades are now available on all equipment.

Samson Equipment • 800-4-SAMSON www.samsonequipment.com Circle No. 504

AirPro™ lockers from GearBoss® enhance team room functionality and aesthetics.

The open grid design promotes airflow, sanitation, and visual inspection. To enhance sanitation, all metal locker surfaces are finished with antimicrobial powder-coated paint. Mounting options keep floors easy to clean.

• Security—single-point latches or three-point latch systems on most lockers • Variety—Lyon, LLC can help when you need something special • Dependability—shipping on time from four distribution centers Lyon, LLC • 800-323-0082 www.lyonworkspace.com Circle No. 545

Primary advantages:

• Installation and delivery by OakWood employees guarantees that the project will be completed on time and correctly • Five-year warranty provides peace of mind * Hybrid metal-wood lockers and hybrid wood-phenolic lockers now available • LEED compatible finishes, glues and veneers OakWood Sports, Inc. • 517-321-6852 www.oakwoodsports.com Circle No. 558

AthleticManagement.com | AUG/SEPT 2013 73

Gymnasium Components Maintain Your Equipment

Spalding Basketball now offers Portable Backstop Assessments. The assessment includes a visit from a factory representative who will inspect, repair, and offer other services for Spalding equipment. This will help ensure that your equipment maintains the highest quality to stay at peak performance. This program features special pricing for a limited time, so contact 1-800-435DUNK ext. 2406 to book a consultation today. Spalding will help keep you ahead of the game.

Spalding Basketball Equipment • 800-435-3865 www.spaldingequipment.com Circle No. 505

Create Excitement

Branded environments inspire players, excite fans and alumni, and attract new recruits to your athletic programs. MMT can transform all your facilities with award-winning graphic solutions.

If you’re interested in printing a team logo or mascot, your corporate colors, artwork, or a stunning photograph on your gymnasium wall—or possibly adding a graphic to the floor in your facility—MMT is a top choice for customprinted floor and wall graphics. MMT offers durable, adhesive-backed vinyl media for long-lasting signage, affordable pricing, and nationwide shipping.

MetroMedia Technologies • 800-999-4668 www.mmtglobal.com

Circle No. 509

Cost-Effective Solutions

The GymWipes product line offers full-spectrum protection through cost-effective solutions to safely clean and sanitize all fitness equipment surfaces. Bactericidal, virucidal, and fungicidal, the EPARegistered disinfecting/sanitizing formulas protect against more than 50 dangerous pathogens. Containing no alcohol, phenol, or bleach, the line is tested and approved by leading manufacturers. These wipes come in 700 to 1,200 counts, and attractive dispensers/stands are also available.

2XL Corporation • 888-977-3726 www.gymwipes.com

Circle No. 540

Seating Solutions

“SPEEDY BLEACHER 108” is a folding, highway-towable, and versatile seating solution. It seats 108 people and has an aisle and handrail. It moves easily from one field to another with a conventional vehicle, and comes complete with an electric folding mechanism and telescoping tongue. Set-up is quick and easy--one person can get the job done. More economical than having permanent bleachers sitting empty for most of the year, this product has seven rows, is 27 feet long and less than nine feet high, and is built to meet recent safety codes.

Kay Park Recreation Corp. • 800-553-2476 www.kaypark.com 74 AUG/SEPT 2013 | AthleticManagement.com

Circle No. 538

Hassle-Free ID

Never lose your property again with the Hotronix ® Identification label system.

The tag-free, hassle-free identification system allows you to easily label team uniforms and equipment. The soft, nonirritating labels are perfect for pants, jerseys, warm-ups, and more. Use heat-applied garment labels for practice clothing. Equipment can be labeled with pressure-sensitive labels on the same system. Eliminate lost clothing and save thousands of dollars each season. Call for a free sample.

Stahls’ Hotronix®• 800-727-8520 www.clothingidlabel.com

Circle No. 510

Easy to Use

T-Rex portable basketball systems from Future Pro are low-maintenance and easy to set up and store—even for just one person.

Safety is insured with a factory-installed hidden ballast inside the base, and the entire base is padded with two-inch-thick urethane foam covered in premium vinyl, offered in 16 colors. Rear hold-down kits, deadlock tensioning devices, and custom lettering and logos are available as options.

Bison, Inc. • 800-247-7668 www.bisoninc.com

Circle No. 506

Build for Success

VP Buildings is a world leader in the steel systems construction industry, and is an ideal choice for athletic building solutions. Whether you need a football practice facility, a gymnasium, arena, indoor soccer, or other structure, VP Buildings offers not only the design capability but also the flexibility and sophistication to fulfill your needs.

VP Buildings • 800-238-3246 www.vp.com

Circle No. 511

Amplify Your Brand

Take your branding and make it come alive on your walls using BigSigns.com’s wall graphics. Wall graphics take on the texture of your concrete, brick, tile, and other curved or flat substrates, giving it a paint-like appearance. The premium vinyl makes it ideal for full-color graphics. Wall graphics can take your bare wall spaces and turn them into key graphic representations of your brand, organization, and sponsors.

BigSigns.com • 800-790-7611 www.bigsigns.com

Circle No. 507

Proper System Configuration The MX120A mixer includes one XLR input and RCA inputs for use with CD or cassette tape decks with separate volume controls. The MX120A fits in a standard wall switch box opening. A lockable surface mount case is also available. Internal DIP switch and trimmer settings keep the system properly configured and safe from excessive volume. Up to three units can be daisy-chained.

KDM Electronics Inc. • 800-567-6282 www.octasound.com

Circle No. 543

FINANCE SOLUTIONS TERMS UP TO 7 YEARS RATES AS LOW AS 0%

fabric structures

LIMITED TIME OFFER. SUBJECT TO APPROVAL.

A superior environment for training, competing and recreational sports.

Low in cost per square foot.

Natural daytime lighting.

Easy to relocate.

Expandable.

Call one of our ClearSpan specialists today at 1.866.643.1010 or visit www.ClearSpan.com/ADAM2.

Circle No. 151

Gymnasium Components Stable and Adjustable

The new LITE Steel Volleyball System weighs 34-percent less on average than a standard volleyball system. It features a spring-loaded outer telescoping system, which adds stability and lessens deflection during play. The net is tensioned by a standard worm gear winch, which is mounted in a fixed position to the slide collar. Visual settings for men’s, women’s, and juniors’ heights with assist springs make height adjustments quick and easy on the LITE system.

Spalding Equipment • 800-435-3865 www.spaldingequipment.com

Circle No. 512

Multi-Directional Sound

With a large space like a gym, reverberation can seriously affect clarity and speech intelligibility. KDM Electronics’ Octasound speakers offer a real advantage for voice and music. This product has four discrete horns that project sound in all directions to give truly projected, not reflected, sound. The large woofer radiates bass, and the speakers’ remarkable efficiency delivers clear, undistorted sound with minimal amplifier power. And they are built to withstand hits from balls, hockey pucks, and more.

KDM Electronics, Inc. • 800-567-6282 www.octasound.com

Circle No. 544

Quality and Dependability

Planning a new gymnasium construction project or renovating an existing sports facility or field? Future Pro is now a dealer for IPI by Bison’s line of Y-Frame ceiling-mounted basketball backstops, custom wall-mounted basketball backstops, gym divider curtains, gym floor covers, and sport windscreens. IPI by Bison was previously Institutional Products, Inc., of Indianapolis, Ind., and is now manufactured and shipped from Lincoln, Neb. Bison, Inc. • 800-247-7668 www.bisoninc.com

Circle No. 513

Stand Out

Cabana Banners offers top-quality custom championship and add-a-year athletic banners as well as academic banners, record boards, table banners, and murals. The company has made advancements in its digital printing to offer fresh and innovative designs. The digital series has a greater spectrum of bright, vivid colors, with excellent definition and high-image quality. From team photos to realistic mascots, endless possibilities are available in dynamic, vivid, living color.

Cabana Banners • 800-697-3139 www.cabanabanners.com

Circle No. 508

AthleticManagement.com | AUG/SEPT 2013 75

Indoor & Outdoor Surfaces Preferred Underlayment

ArmaSport ® is the preferred turf underlayment for greater field performance and consistent playing conditions. ArmaSport Turf Underlayment cushions the playing surface, providing consistent shock attenuation across the entire field surface.

It features closed-cell elastomeric foam technology, a state-of-the-art drainage system, antimicrobial protection, and long, wide rolls for easy installation. ArmaSport Turf Underlayment is manufactured by Armacell, an innovator in foam technologies and a leading-edge, global manufacturer for more than 50 years.

Armacell • 800-992-9116 www.armacell.us

Circle No. 514

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. 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. 515

Protect Surfaces

Cross-Over Zone® and Bench Zone® protect costly track surfaces at crossing from damage due to teams, people, and equipment. Thick, tough geotextile, plus vinyl edging with steel chain inserted all around provides ballast to keep the protector down even in high winds. Steel-tipped cleats cannot puncture, but rain drains through. These covers are easy to install and remove. Sizes for all tracks, and multi-color imprinting are available. These protectors come in heather gray or black with edging in gold, white, or a custom color.

Aer-Flo, Inc. • 800-823-7356 www.aerflo.com

Circle No. 516

Keeps It Perfect

Fieldsaver Infield Rain Covers protect all fields and will keep your diamond perfect. They are designed to save fields and games from the damaging effects of rain. Made of high-strength, long-lasting, reinforced PVC and polyethylene fabrics to keep the field dry, Fieldsaver Covers are waterproof and rot-resistant.

Humphrys-CoverSports • 800-445-6680 www.coversports.com 76 AUG/SEPT 2013 | AthleticManagement.com

Circle No. 517

Durable Installations

This photo shows NORDOT® Adhesive being poured onto seaming tape and spread with a squeegee. When the turf is unrolled, a strong, resilient seam will be created on this indoor soccer field. NORDOT® Adhesives are used worldwide to install a variety of athletic and recreational surfaces, including fitness flooring, synthetic turf athletic fields, playgrounds, golf, landscaping, tennis, running tracks, and more. Nordot ® Adhesives are well-known for their ease-of-handling, exceptionally high “green strength” (grab), long-term durability, and outstanding water resistance.

Synthetic Surfaces Inc. • 908-233-6803 www.nordot.com

Circle No. 554

Best of Both Worlds

The 1.25-inch-thick Infinity iTurf is the perfect companion for the Infinity Max tiles. Both have the same thickness, which allows you to have the best of both worlds in your weight room in a flush installation. The Infinity iTurf is perfect for running, jumping, and agility drills. This product does not have rubber infill. It is available in 16 colors, with an option of customizing with your layouts and logos.

Infinity Performance, Inc. • 888-479-1017 www.infinityflooring.com

Circle No. 536

Durable and Versatile Flooring

From the makers of the original modular flooring, HomeCourt is the latest in year-round sports complex tile. HomeCourt has narrow gauge ribs for excellent traction, with a low-abrasion surface that reduces wear and tear on sports equipment and shoes. Matéflex has 36 years of experience manufacturing modular tiles, which shows in the quality, durability, and versatility of this product. The tile’s expansion joints are designed to give courts a professional, finished appearance, and with 16 standard colors, any look is possible.

Matéflex • 800-926-3539 www.mateflex.com

Circle No. 546

Resilient Flooring

Abacus Sports Installations is a leader in sports surfacing. From gym, weight, and locker rooms to running tracks and tennis courts, Abacus has the surface to help your athletes play their best. Aktiv weight room flooring can smoothly transition over platforms for heavy weights. Padenpor is a seamless floor synthetic system with resilience for your athlete for great aerobic exercise with fewer injuries. Find out more online.

Abacus Sports • 800-821-4557 www.abacussports.com

Circle No. 535

Indoor & Outdoor Surfaces Protects Your Floors

GymGuard® Floor Cover Tiles provide a temporary carpeted environment that will protect gym floors from foot traffic, tables/chairs, sharp objects, and food and drink. The tiles are safe, lay flat, and do not slide—with no tape required. They are easy to install, remove, store, and clean. They will dry easily, and the backing will not mark floors. Tile size is 39.375” x 78.75”, and they are made of polypropylene with polyolefin plus backing.

Humphrys-CoverSports • 800-445-6680 www.coversports.com

Circle No. 518

CE FOR

UR YOUR SO

SOF BASEBALL/

TBALL

ENT EQUIPM

Keep Tarps Down

Wind Weighted® Baseball Tarps are the famous edgechain-weighted rain cover now used by all levels of baseball, including MLB. Wind cannot get under the tarp, so it stays down even in high winds. Introduced in 2004, this product now makes the job of tarp installation much easier at thousands of high schools. Awarded six U.S. patents, these tarps are available in your choice of 14- or 18-ounce vinyl in 10 colors, and only from the best sports dealers.

Aer-Flo, Inc. • 800-823-7356 www.aerflo.com

Circle No. 519

Stands Up to Abuse

Infinity Max 1.25-inch-thick tile stands up to the constant abuse of heavy weights being dropped directly on the weight room floor without denting, tearing, or splitting.

This tile is backed by the company’s exclusive 10-year warranty—and you can even use the floor itself as an Olympic Lifting Platform. The tile is available in 10 standard colors and an unlimited number of custom colors, with custom logos also available. This product contains up to 95 percent recycled content and may qualify for up to eight LEED Points.

Infinity Performance, Inc. • 888-479-1017 www.infinityflooring.com

Circle No. 537

Installer-Friendly

In this photo, Nordot ® Adhesive is being applied to concrete with a trowel in preparation for the wooden floor that will be adhered to it. This one-part urethane adhesive is low-hazard, environmentally friendly, VOC-compliant, resistant to mold, contains no flammable or toxic solvents, and has negligible odor. Jobsite installation is facilitated by Nordot ® Adhesive’s ease of handling and spreading.

Synthetic Surfaces Inc. • 908-233-6803 www.nordot.com

Circle No. 555

Smooth and Solid

Matéflex offers a unique interlocking modular surface for your flooring needs. ProGym features a solid-top design for indoor sports applications. It has a smooth, solid surface for player safety and excellent traction.

It is available in 16 standard colors for good court definition. Made from a specially formulated high-impact polypropylene, ProGym provides outstanding resiliency and durability. It is manufactured by one of the oldest American makers of modular sports tiles and comes with a 10-year warranty.

Matéflex • 800-926-3539 www.mateflex.com

Circle No. 547

MORE! H C U M S U L P TENNIS BASKETBALL VOLLEYBALL SOCCER FOOTBALL HOCKEY GYM PRODU

CTS

Order online or contact us for a copy of our Sports Catalog today!

800-47 8 -64 97

www.

NationalSportsProducts .com A Division of Douglas Industries, Inc. Circle No. 175

AthleticManagement.com | AUG/SEPT 2013 77

More Products Online Program

The 12-month, 36-credit Master of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion program at California University of Pennsylvania is 100-percent Web-based.

The flexibility of the online program allows professionals or military personnel, who would be precluded from attending graduate school in the traditional sense, to complete their M.S. while still maintaining their full-time positions.

California University of Pennsylvania • 866-595-6348 www.calu.edu/go Circle No. 520

Ultimate in Safety

Soft Touch® A Series bases feature Progressive Release® design to reduce sliding and base-related injuries in all types of slides and play. These bases provide the ultimate in safety, installation, and maintenance through a patented seven-inch box mounting system that remains in-ground for a full season of play with no metal parts. Soft Touch® bases are the only of their kind that are made in the USA and available through all leading dealers.

Soft Touch® Bases • 866-544-2077 www.softtouchbases.com

Circle No. 553

Fuel They Need

Give it everything you’ve got. Gatorade is dedicated to providing high school athletes with the fuel they need to achieve their best during practice and competition. That’s why Gatorade offers G Series performance packages to high school coaches and athletic trainers at a significant discount. To get the most out of every play and every player, visit the Web site to learn more and place your order.

Gatorade • 800-88-GATOR www.gatorade.com/coaches

Circle No. 522

Better Viewing

Camera SportSeats are seated camera operator mounts for low-mounted broadcast TV cameras, which provide better viewing for spectators who are seated behind them. They often pay for themselves in just one season with returned revenue from otherwise killed seats. Standing cameras and their tall operators can cost you money—save it with seated camera operator mounts.

Camera SportSeat, Inc. • 800-649-5261 www.camerasportseat.com

Circle No. 526

Transform Your Facility

From wrapping a small bleacher to covering the back of a large stadium, BigSigns.com has the bleacher-back banners that will impress fans and give you maximum exposure for sponsors. BigSigns.com digitally prints to its proprietary Dura-Mesh vinyl using UV-protected UltraBrite inks, to keep an organization’s investment looking great for years. And the strong mesh is finished with BigSigns.com’s Dura-Guard reinforced hems. Call or go online to learn more.

BigSigns.com • 800-790-7611 www.bigsigns.com 78 AUG/SEPT 2013 | AthleticManagement.com

Circle No. 523

Design-Build Solutions

ClearSpan Fabric Structures provides design-build solutions for athletic and recreational structure needs. ClearSpan buildings feature abundant natural light and spacious interiors without support posts. With minimal foundation requirements, the structures can be permanent or temporary, and are easy to relocate. Visit ClearSpan’s Web site for building profiles, customer success stories, and recent projects—or to request more information.

ClearSpan • 866-643-1010 www.clearspan.com/adam

Circle No. 524

Progressive Powerlifting

These 60-inch-long loading chains for progressive powerlifting come with end hooks, and one or more chains can be added to improve your blasting power. Made of heavyduty forged steel, there are four different chains available for any level of lifting light duty (25 pounds per pair); medium duty (40 pounds per pair); heavy duty (55 pounds per pair); and extra-heavy duty (88 pounds per pair). The company can supply chains up to 200 feet long and can add attachment weights of up to 100 pounds to each chain. Call for more information or pricing.

New York Barbells of Elmira, Inc. • 800-446-1833 www.newyorkbarbells.com Circle No. 525

Powered By Air

Free-up coaching time by letting the AirCAT volleyball machine feed up to 1,200 fast, precise tosses per hour. It’s all done by air— limiting ball replacement—while practicing digging, spiking, serving, and blocking.

AirCAT has no spinning wheels or exposed moving parts for added safety. The built-in rechargeable battery pack provides up to eight hours of use, or plug the AirCAT in and train all day. With more reps, less time, and greater control, the operation is automatic. So is the game improvement.

Airborne Athletics • 888-887-7453 www.airborneathletics.com

Circle No. 521

Analyze a New Level

In 1972, Accusplit introduced the digital stopwatch and thus changed the way that coaches and fitness professionals measure the performance of their athletes. Not only were these digital stopwatches easier to read, but they also gave the user more information—showing the time in hundredths of seconds. Accusplit’s innovations provide coaches and fitness professionals the ability to analyze the data of their athletes on a new level. For more than 40 years, Accusplit has been—and continues to be—a top choice for high school, collegiate, and professional athletics as well as the health/fitness industry.

Accusplit • 800-935-1996 www.accusplit.com

Circle No. 556

More Products At Your Service

Both the Gold and Silver models of the Volleyball Tutor can vary ball trajectory— producing any desired set or pass—while delivering serves at speeds up to 60 miles per hour. The Silver model’s 5.5-foothigh release point is perfect for sets, can be angled for dig drills, and features a separate dial to control the amount of topspin and underspin. The Gold model can automatically throw six volleyballs at intervals ranging from five to 20 seconds, and is available in a batterypowered version. Both are portable and transport easily. Volleyball Tutors start at under $1,000.

Train Smarter

Dr. Dish is the only full-court offensive and defensive basketball training machine on the market today. With its unique design and advanced drill technology, coaches can use the 45 pre-programmed drills or program their own customized realistic, fast-paced basketball drills to help their players become better shooters, rebounders, pass receivers, defenders, tippers, and more. Dr. Dish is versatile, mobile, and batteryoperated. Ask about the company’s free financing program for schools.

Airborne Athletics • 888-887-7453 www.airborneathletics.com

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Revitalizing Programs

CytoSport™, parent company to Muscle Milk®, is sponsoring the Muscle Milk Recovery Grant Program. This program will provide up to $250,000 in grants to high school athletic programs in need.

Nominations will be accepted on the Muscle Milk Facebook page (www.facebook.com/musclemilk) or at MuscleMilkRecoveryGrant. com through Nov. 30, 2013. Applicants must submit a written statement outlining their program’s needs and provide supporting photos. They will also have the option to upload a video to help tell their story.

Sports Tutor • 800-448-8867 www.sportsmachines.com Circle No. 527

CytoSport, Inc. • 888-298-6629 www.cytosport.com

Start at the Top

New York Barbells offers a complete selection of training ropes in 1.5- and two-inch diameter in all lengths up to 100 feet. New York Barbells offers a 1.75-inch braided rope that retains its shape and is more resilient than twisted rope. New York Barbells also offers and installs handles on the ropes for a natural wrist motion. A complete line of exercise chain is also available. Fulfill all of your rope needs for climbing, battling, pulling, and special applications with New York Barbells.

Begin your season at the top of your game with Disney Spring Training at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The Disney Spring Training Program is open to high school and college teams in the following sport categories: baseball, softball, lacrosse, track & field, golf, tennis, and rugby. Registration for the 2014 season closes on October 31, 2013.

Disney’s Wide World of Sports • 407-828-FANS www.disneyworldsports.com Circle No. 528

Thousands of Reps

The Attack II Volleyball Machine provides complete ball control, unlimited spins, and professionallevel speeds. The machine is extremely effective with all types of drills—from floaters to jump-serve receiving, digging, spiking, passing, and setting.

The Attack II has a realistic over-thenet (women’s) release point and the ability to deliver at non-stop game tempo. Don’t waste valuable practice minutes or the shoulders of your coaching staff—get thousands of reps every day.

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Natural Wrist Motion

New York Barbells of Elmira, Inc. • 800-446-1833 www.newyorkbarbells.com

Circle No. 531

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, and planters. Call today for a free catalog.

Kay Park Recreation Corp. • 800-553-2476 www.kaypark.com

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Sports Attack • 800-717-4251 www.sportsattack.com Circle No. 542 Circle No. 152

AthleticManagement.com | AUG/SEPT 2013 79

More Products

Testimonial

Ultimate Training Tool

The Snap Attack Football Machine has solid, polyurethane wheels with wheel guards—no more inflating or burns. Its passing stand allows the throwing head to pivot instantly in any direction, accurately throwing passes, punts, and kickoffs to any location on the field. Elevation changes are quick and easy with the Snap Attack, and the machine can also be locked in for precise repetition. With a lowered position at ground level and realistic angles, the machine snaps the ball to any depth in shotgun and pistol formations for extra points and punts.

Sports Attack • 800-717-4251 www.sportsattack.com

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Saves Quarterback’s Arm

Many college and high school football programs are discovering the benefits of training their receivers with tennis ball machines. The ProLite tennis ball machine provides close-range drills to sharpen hand-eye coordination and enforce proper catching technique. With the ProLite, a player can catch 100 throws in less than 10 minutes—and several machines can be set up to simulate various catching angles. Plus, it reduces wear and tear on quarterbacks’ arms.

Compact and lightweight, the ProLite transports easily and is available in batterypowered or AC models. Prices start at $699.

Sports Tutor • 800-448-8867 www.sportsmachines.com

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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

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Drops of Energy

Cytomax Energy Drops™ are a portable and chewable means to deliver a precise blend of carbohydrates and essential electrolytes.

Cytomax Energy Drops™ may be used before and during training.

Each portable pouch provides 10 individual chews. Cytomax Energy Drops™ are available in two great-tasting flavor options: Tropical Fruit + Pomegranate Berry (non-caffeinated), and Orange + Tangerine (50 mg of caffeine per pouch). Tropical Fruit + Pomegranate Berry is collegiate compliant.

CytoSport, Inc. • 888-298-6629 www.cytosport.com

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Support Children Battling Cancer

Go4theGoal Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2006. This organization, along with funds raised privately and by its unique fundraising campaigns—Lace-Up 4 Pediatric Cancer®, National Dress 4 Pediatric Cancer Day®, and Richard’s Run® 5K—provides financial assistance to children battling cancer and their families. G4G also grants special wishes, supplies state-of-the-art electronics to children in more than 40 hospitals across the country, and has funded more than $500,000 in innovative research since 2007.

Go4theGoal • G4G@ Go4theGoal.org www.go4thegoal.org 80 AUG/SEPT 2013 | AthleticManagement.com

Online Degrees for Sports & Health Professionals

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American Public University offers more than 170 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificates designed for sports and health sciences professionals, coaches, athletic administrators, and working adults like you—completely online.

These dynamic programs are taught by industry professionals and experienced educators in the areas of kinesiology, human performance, strength and conditioning, nutrition, coaching studies, sports law, and more.

American Public University has been nationally recognized by the Sloan Consortium for effective practice in online education.

“Having four children and being busy with full- and part-time jobs, I didn’t have a lot of extra time or money.

So I wanted to be sure I could get a top-notch education for an affordable price—APU enabled me to do that.” ­— Laurie Ogden, APU student; B.S., Sports & Health Sciences

“I was able to complete my master’s degree within a timeframe that fit my schedule. The course work was challenging and rewarding. Now, I hope to move to a second career, allowing me to use the degree I worked so hard for.”

— Jon LaBeau, APU graduate; M.S., Sports Management

“APU exceeded all my expectations.

The resources they provided made me confident I could achieve my degree.”

— Heidi Boe, APU graduate; M.S., Sports Management

American Public University 111 W. Congress St. Charles Town, WV 25414 877-777-9081 info@apus.edu www.StudyatAPU.com/TC

WWW.NEWYORKBARBELLS.COM SERVING THE INDUSTRY FOR OVER 35 YEARS! MEDICINE AND SLAM BALLS

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New York Barbell of Elmira, Inc. 15,000 Square Ft. Showroom Open to the Public Circle No. 153

Call for Special Discounts for Government & military orders 160 Home St., Elmira, NY 14904 Tel: 800-446-1833 Fax: 607-733-1010 Email: info@newyorkbarbells.com

071513

Transform Your Facility

Amplify Your Brand

If you are looking for big graphics for your stadium or facility that make a big impact, BigSigns.com is your huckleberry.

We are experts at designing, manufacturing and installing creative, impactful, stadium graphics that revitalize even the most tired facilities. We have an array of products to meet almost any need, and a creative staff that knows how to make your brand stand out. Call us or visit our website today.

800 790 7611

we amplify your brand Circle No. 154