The start of something big: (a school football program).

As steeped in the American psyche, the establishment or revival of a dormant football program from scratch can be a daunting task.

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A lot of very vital factors have to be considered before getting the program off the ground. The paramount ingredient or key step is, of course, the ignition of a burning desire for the game and the support of it.

Once the enthusiasm for football has taken shape, the commitment to it must be secured from the administration. No matter what level of the game is under consideration, it must have a solid support base that can only be transmitted from the top. That is where the real decisions are made--the approval of the program and the commitment to it.

The next real decision is how much money will be allocated to the program from within and without, and who will spearhead the project. The Athletic Director will usually be coupled with a Director of Football Operations to coordinate the establishment of the team through the early days, before official competition begins. The appropriated funds must be generated to pay for everything from the helmets to the sod to the whistles. This is usually achieved through "within monies" and "without monies."

The schools "without monies" must generate the funds outside of school through corporate sponsorship, private party donation, and community private events such as golf tournaments, auctions, etc.

The schools "with money" must see that all the funds go directly from school into the football program. Some traditional fund-raising methods include the establishment of a football budget where all new money is put directly into the account, a percentage of money is transferred from other budgets to the football budget, school-based sales of football paraphernalia, pre-sales of tickets, advertising sales for the media guide, scoreboards, and fence line or stadium walls.

In tuition-based schools (private and college), the money can come from an addition to tuition payment, student fees, or matriculation fees earmarked specifically for football.

Once competition begins, the fund from gate sales, concessions, and any merchandise money will aid in funding the program.

After the initial football budget is established (usually done by determining the costs of personnel salaries, present facilities, travel costs, hosting costs, insurance adjustments, equipment, uniforms, reserve funds, etc.), a football staff is hired and put into place. If the Director of Football Operations is the Head Coach, he will already have begun staffing the assistants and support staff.

The size of the staff and their roles are determined by the availability of personnel already on campus, the payroll, and the institution's ability to attract qualified applicants who can meet the needs of the football program and the institution itself.

The football staff should include the coaches, athletic secretary, athletic trainers, equipment managers, field personnel, and any other support staff people determined by the individual program.

With the program in place, the achievement of success becomes a major priority. This isn't difficult when the program is winning. For a football program to remain successful, everyone's commitment to it has to remain high, from the administration on down. Year in and year out, your coaches should want to coach, your players play, and your fans cheer.

Without that kind of commitment and morale your program is not going to succeed. A football program must have a sense of identity and the pride of everyone affiliated with it. You want a football team that exemplifies all that is superior about your school.

After all, your football team is the face that your community, area, state, and nation know you by.

By Joe Tinsley, Asst. Head Football Coach Westminster Academy, Fort Lauderdale (FL)