Strategies to Develop Your Sports Program

Take a detailed look at your current schedule. Identify transitions between different sports activities and time lost during setup and takedown of equipment.

• Strategic Alignment: Collaborate closely with school administration and class schedule planners to align physical education periods with practices of corresponding school teams. For example, having a basketball class followed immediately by the school team’s practice can save valuable transition time.

• Smart Grouping: Schedule similar activities in consecutive blocks on the same courts. If multiple volleyball teams train on the same day, try to organize their practices back-to-back in the same gym. This minimizes unnecessary equipment changes and setup time.

• Efficient Combination: When multiple courts are available in the same space (e.g., two basketball or volleyball courts), consider having different-level teams (such as juvenile and cadet) practice at the same time. This not only maximizes space usage but also encourages mentorship and healthy competition between athletes.

Maximize the potential of your sports facilities by opening them up beyond school hours.

• Community Collaboration: Connect with local sports clubs and municipal recreation departments. Offer your gyms, fields, or other spaces for rent outside of class hours. This not only generates additional revenue for your athletic program but also strengthens your relationship with the local community.

• Private Business Rentals: Tap into a valuable revenue stream. In many regions, private companies run adult sports leagues. Identify these organizations and offer your facilities for rent. Establish clear, long-term agreements to ensure a stable and predictable source of income.

Student coaches can be an untapped asset—both for your program and for themselves.

• Paid Supervision Opportunities: When your facilities are rented out to external partners in the evenings or on weekends, offer your student coaches the chance to act as supervisors. They’re already familiar with the space and equipment, and many are looking for ways to earn extra income while staying engaged in the school’s athletic environment.

If passion is essential, tangible recognition is just as important to attract and retain quality staff.

• Optimizing Compensation: Carefully review your budget and strive to offer the best possible remuneration for your coaches’ time and expertise.
• Progression and Seniority Recognition: Establish a salary progression system that rewards long-term commitment. A gradual increase over the years of involvement is a strong incentive to stay.
• Material Benefits and Sense of Belonging: Provide your coaches with school-branded gear (clothing, caps, bags, etc.). This strengthens their sense of belonging and serves as a concrete benefit. Consider “upgrading” these perks over time.

Well-trained coaches are more effective and more engaged.

• Relevant and Accessible Training: Organize on-site workshops by inviting experts in various fields (coaching techniques, team management, first aid, etc.). Make these sessions engaging, practical, and welcoming.

• Building Connections and Team Spirit: Follow up training sessions with informal networking moments, such as after-hours gatherings. These encourage exchanges between coaches from different sports, foster a sense of unity, and help break down silos.

Show your appreciation for the hard work of your coaches and volunteers.

• Exclusive Invitations: Invite them to key games in other sports and offer special treatment (reserved seating, snacks, etc.). This makes them feel valued and part of the school’s broader athletic community.

• Formal and Informal Recognition: If hosting an annual sports gala is too complex, create internal recognition initiatives—such as Coach of the Month or Year for each sport. Highlight not just victories, but also effort, growth, and their positive impact on students.

• Coaches’ Week: Use this themed week to share messages of thanks, spotlight the essential role of coaches, and raise awareness among parents about their contributions.

Your coaches need to feel supported by the administration.

• Be a Shield Against Criticism: Unless a serious misconduct is confirmed, stand by your coaches when facing complaints from parents. Remind all parties that mistakes are human and that the primary goal is youth development.

• Open and Constructive Communication: Maintain regular dialogue with your coaches. Provide them with a safe space to voice concerns, and offer guidance and support to help them grow and feel valued.

Integrating sports practice into the school schedule offers significant advantages.

• Eased Family Logistics: Highlight the time savings and reduced travel for parents, who no longer have to manage multiple evening or weekend trips for practices.

• Increased Supervised Practice Time: Emphasize that students benefit from more hours of sport under the guidance of qualified coaches, while staying focused on their studies.

• Academic and Athletic Results: Share the success stories of students in these programs—both in their athletic achievements and academic performance.

Avoid early specialization in a single sport.

• Promote Versatility: Educate parents and students on the benefits of multi-sport participation for overall athletic development and injury prevention.

• Seasonal Variety in Sports Offerings: Structure your sports calendar to feature different activities each season, allowing students to explore their interests and build a broad skill set.

• Intramural and Recreational Sports: Opportunities for All: Don’t overlook the value of offering non-competitive, accessible sports activities for all students, regardless of skill level. This encourages enjoyment of movement and the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits.

Capitalize on students’ pride in representing their school.

• Strong Identity: Highlight your school’s colors, logos, and sports traditions to build a recognizable and unifying brand.

• Team Spirit and Camaraderie: Emphasize the social bonds and sense of community that naturally develop within school teams—creating friendships that often last beyond the season.

Use a variety of tools to inform and generate excitement.

• Télévox Message: A direct and effective reminder. Use this channel to announce key registration dates, training camp details, and team presentations.

• Creative Promotional Videos: Strong visual impact. Produce short, dynamic, and engaging videos featuring athletes, coaches, and the energy of school sports. Don’t hesitate to use humor to grab students’ attention. Share these videos on school screens, social media, and your website.

• Leveraging Digital Platforms: Be where the students are. Use the school’s student portal to streamline registrations and share updates. Consider platforms like Instagram or TikTok to post more casual, interactive content that resonates with a younger audience.

A human approach can make all the difference.

• Active Presence Among Students: Go where students gather—cafeterias, playgrounds, hallways—and engage with them directly. Be available to answer questions and encourage them to sign up.

• Mobilizing Student Leaders: Identify popular and influential students, and motivate them to join the teams. Their involvement can inspire others to follow their lead.

• Peer-to-Peer Recruitment: A powerful tool. When participation is low, ask current team members to share their positive experiences with friends and encourage them to join. Word-of-mouth from peers often has the greatest impact.

Be attentive to the reasons that may hold back registrations.

• Active Listening: Encourage students to share their concerns openly—whether it’s the cost, lack of confidence, or schedule conflicts. Understanding their perspective is the first step toward action.

• Individualized Solutions: When possible, offer tailored support—such as one-time financial assistance or flexible arrangements—to ensure motivated students aren’t excluded due to financial or logistical barriers.