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Post by pvillecoach on Mar 17, 2022 10:54:49 GMT -6
I just got a new HC job. It's a small school and went 0-10 last year. The community has been supportive in the past. But, supposedly, last year was like a morgue on game nights. I want to know what any of you do to make game nights more festive (for lack of a better term). *I know winning will go a long way, but anyway...
For example, in my region, Ohio University games are fun to attend. During time-outs, they have a guy with a mike organizing games/contests among fans, etc. But, Marshall games are boring, in my opinion.
Is there something you do to make games more alluring to fans ?
One thing I'm going to do is make every home game a "____ night"...like youth league night.
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Post by coachbarlow on Mar 17, 2022 11:06:58 GMT -6
I have been thinking about this stuff myself. I know there will football purists that will say that you should worry about the game but in the offseason I try and figure out different ways to market the game to the community. This year I plan on getting a 50/50 raffle set up for the game, we have a screen on our score board so we want to run highlights and promos during timeouts, and just recently I have considered trying to find an MC for the games. Other things I want to try and do are maybe have a bounce house, or mini football games set up near the snack bar. We are also going to honor certain community members at half time (first responders, military, teachers, etc.).
My thought process is the more the community enjoys the games, the more people will come, which will lead to more community support, which will mean more opportunities for our kids through fundraising efforts, and will also lead to an increased enrollment on the football team (better players). I just want to put my team in the best position, while also trying to use the game to bring people together and enjoy football.
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Post by pvillecoach on Mar 17, 2022 12:03:31 GMT -6
It also entered my mind to have some sort of field goal contest - or field goal opportunity for a pizza or something.
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Post by canesfan on Mar 17, 2022 18:56:50 GMT -6
Before Covid we had some good stuff going on that we will bring back this year.
One thing we liked doing was kind of like UK does at their games. At the end of the first quarter we’d have one of our ADs with a field mic and they’d welcome some group that we’d bring on the field. Ended up with most of our fall sports at a game, even brought the basketball teams out during the playoffs as their season was getting ready to start.
During Covid we started tent seating. Essentially we sell tent spaces around our field for games. You buy a season pass for this. It is in addition to tickets, but it packs a lot of people close to the field and helps a ton with atmosphere. Obviously if you have a turf field this may not be optimal but we have a mud field with a blacktop track. It aint hurting anything.
Sell you best parking spots as tailgate parking. Have the parents or boosters have a big tailgate for the home opener. People will start tailgating because it’s fun if you help them! A couple of parents would probably organize it for you.
Generate interest during the week at school. Get the students involved.
Any sports/club that helps you out make sure they feel appreciated. We take our band to the playoffs with us (kind of rare in KY), we’ve gotten sponsors for shirts for them. Give props to the cheerleaders when you can. Our ROTC does parking detail for us and we always try to do right by them (they get drinks while working and get concession credits during the game when they come in.
Most importantly, win. If you were 0-10 it ain’t gonna take many wins for people to feel like good changes are happening.
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Post by larrymoe on Mar 18, 2022 3:59:34 GMT -6
I have been thinking about this stuff myself. I know there will football purists that will say that you should worry about the game but in the offseason I try and figure out different ways to market the game to the community. This year I plan on getting a 50/50 raffle set up for the game, we have a screen on our score board so we want to run highlights and promos during timeouts, and just recently I have considered trying to find an MC for the games. Other things I want to try and do are maybe have a bounce house, or mini football games set up near the snack bar. We are also going to honor certain community members at half time (first responders, military, teachers, etc.). My thought process is the more the community enjoys the games, the more people will come, which will lead to more community support, which will mean more opportunities for our kids through fundraising efforts, and will also lead to an increased enrollment on the football team (better players). I just want to put my team in the best position, while also trying to use the game to bring people together and enjoy football. Not necessarily a football purist, I just don't want to deal with that crap. As a HC, you've got enough on your plate to worry about whether the ADHD appetites of "fans" is being satiated. I'm not PT Barnum. |
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humble
Sophomore Member
Posts: 204 
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Post by humble on Mar 18, 2022 7:44:33 GMT -6
Got to win man. People not gonna show up and go wild for a losing team, just nature.
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Post by kcbazooka on Mar 18, 2022 7:45:38 GMT -6
Hire “professional” cheerleaders like the movie The Replacements?
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Post by pvillecoach on Mar 18, 2022 8:33:01 GMT -6
Coach Barlow, what do you mean by "mini football games set up near the snack bar"?
Canesfan, love the ideas...gonna get tailgaiting going for sure.
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Post by bluedevil4 on Mar 18, 2022 9:24:31 GMT -6
I just got a new HC job. It's a small school and went 0-10 last year. The community has been supportive in the past. But, supposedly, last year was like a morgue on game nights. I want to know what any of you do to make game nights more festive (for lack of a better term). *I know winning will go a long way, but anyway... For example, in my region, Ohio University games are fun to attend. During time-outs, they have a guy with a mike organizing games/contests among fans, etc. But, Marshall games are boring, in my opinion. Is there something you do to make games more alluring to fans ? One thing I'm going to do is make every home game a "____ night"...like youth league night. * Get along with the Marching band director and work together to create an "amped" marching band. If a kid doesn't want to play sports, recruit them for marching band. * Gonna get on my soap-box a little, but create an inclusive culture. Even if parents and coaches don't like it, kids/younger generations don't have the tolerance or patience for excluding people on technicalities. You want everyone playing football. You want everyone to support the team. You want everyone to get involved. * Find other ways to get the community and non-playing students involved: Game-day roles, recruiting volunteers to use skills they have (video, photography, stat-recording, etc). * Get yourself a good PA announcer for games. I coach with an adult women's team and our PA guy every year (outside of my control) is absolutely clueless and constantly gets...everything...wrong. * Have a lit intro for the team as they take the field. * Overall, keeping things on education, create as many opportunities as possible for students to contribute to the game-day atmosphere. |
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Post by redandwhite on Mar 18, 2022 12:51:36 GMT -6
THIS
* Get along with the Marching band director and work together to create an "amped" marching band. If a kid doesn't want to play sports, recruit them for marching band.
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Post by cfoott on Mar 20, 2022 9:20:28 GMT -6
I just got a new HC job. It's a small school and went 0-10 last year. The community has been supportive in the past. But, supposedly, last year was like a morgue on game nights. I want to know what any of you do to make game nights more festive (for lack of a better term). *I know winning will go a long way, but anyway... For example, in my region, Ohio University games are fun to attend. During time-outs, they have a guy with a mike organizing games/contests among fans, etc. But, Marshall games are boring, in my opinion. Is there something you do to make games more alluring to fans ? One thing I'm going to do is make every home game a "____ night"...like youth league night. * Get along with the Marching band director and work together to create an "amped" marching band. If a kid doesn't want to play sports, recruit them for marching band. * Gonna get on my soap-box a little, but create an inclusive culture. Even if parents and coaches don't like it, kids/younger generations don't have the tolerance or patience for excluding people on technicalities. You want everyone playing football. You want everyone to support the team. You want everyone to get involved. * Find other ways to get the community and non-playing students involved: Game-day roles, recruiting volunteers to use skills they have (video, photography, stat-recording, etc). * Get yourself a good PA announcer for games. I coach with an adult women's team and our PA guy every year (outside of my control) is absolutely clueless and constantly gets...everything...wrong. * Have a lit intro for the team as they take the field. * Overall, keeping things on education, create as many opportunities as possible for students to contribute to the game-day atmosphere. THIS. Are your players out in the community (School & Surrounding) volunteering? This is how to build connection with fans and students. Sometimes you need to make the first step. |
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