Football Budget Disparity

Brophy - good topic, but I don't really have a solid answer.

I think that every program can fundraise (for any items) if they wanted to. If the HC drove it. The HC is the main cog in this machine.

I'll use our school as an example. How many high schools have FUNDRAISED for synthetic turf? I'm not talking about a school bond or the district paying. I'm talking straight fundraise. We fundraised. At games, with auctions, etc. We have a very supportive community that DONATED man hours, machines, and materials used for the field.

I think part of the reason there are have and have nots is the climate of the program...winning..not winning, etc. Tradition, expectation.

Part of it is socio-economical. People are living paycheck to paycheck and have a hard time giving to the program. Even with that, a bonded effort by parents could get something moving.

Some programs, I've heard of, try to purchase one "nice" thing per year. Something they fundraise directly for.

To answer your question about prerequsites....I think a staff should prioritize what they are looking to get out of the software, etc. Whether it's $500 or $5000 is the investment worth it? Will it save everyone time on the weekends? Yes...Ok...what is the value of that? Can it help with recruiting in season and in the off season? Yes, put a value on that? Can it help with training videos, presentations, clinics? Yes. Put a value on the time saved putting that together and what it will do for your program.

But then you look at your program and say..."we need new uniforms". What is the value of that? We need a sled? etc. etc.

Bottomline, and I might get jumped here, I think every program can get out and make a dent fundraising. Is it a disservice not aggressively fundraising? If their is value to saving time and making your program better...I say yes.