If you are new to managing a youth sports organization or a veteran, implementing effective management strategies and techniques is essential to operating and growing your organization.
According to IRS statistics, the vast majority of youth sports programs are relatively small, with less than $100,000 in annual revenues. These organizations are largely run by volunteers who serve in leadership positions including director/president, treasurer, sport specific directors, facility directors, fundraising directors and many more leadership roles. Larger organizations may have paid staff in critical management roles who specialize in finance, marketing, IT, and other operational areas. For the purpose of this blog, we focus on the volunteer led organization.
Volunteer leaders often feel overwhelmed given work and other life commitments. A youth sports leader may wear many hats: leader, finance wizard, grounds crew, weather forecaster, cook and peacemaker - all in the same day.
As online sports management service providers, we feel your pain. Let us help you through the process with our aptly named free e-book "Effective Management Strategies for Youth Sports Leaders.”
This e-book will help you:
- Create an effective leadership team
- Create a PR & Crisis management plan
- Implement a solid fundraising strategy
- Safeguard against financial risk and embezzlement
At no time in the history of youth sports has the need for effective leadership been greater. Youth sports is facing external and internal challenges like never before.
Excluding a few bright spots, many youth sports are experiencing steep declines in participation. The reasons for decline are various, but there is evidence that strong leadership and the willingness to embrace change and try new ideas can reverse such trends. For example, as reported in the article, Are the Kids Alright, youth ice hockey has increased participation 43% since 2009 with some of the gains stemming from rules changes and other moves which have attracted more younger players to the sport.
The focus on concussions and injury reduction has never been greater and may be part of the drop in participation, especially in contact sports such as football and soccer. Leaders who take steps to address injury problems by implementing rule changes, testing regimens, and equipment upgrades are seeing success. Such changes take planning and coordination, requiring effective management and communication techniques, all of which are addressed in our free e-book.
Youth sports is also under an internal assault from unscrupulous board members, volunteers and staff who take advantage of the laxed controls and conditions for personal gain. Day after day we see headlines of fraud and embezzlement. The Center for Fraud Prevention has documented over $16 million in youth sports fraud and embezzlement cases since 2006. Skills development in the area of financial risk management is critical for both new and veteran youth sports leaders and our e-book offers solid guidance for financial risk management.
Youth sport leaders who structure their organizations to address these challenges will fair far better than those that don’t. Our ebook, "Effective Management Strategies for Youth Sport Leaders" will provide ideas and a framework for creating an efficient and effective management structure. Please take a moment to download the e-book and we would greatly appreciate hearing your feedback!