| $10,000 | $18,500 | $28,000 | $37,000 |
WHY HAVE A BOOSTER BUDGET?
This is a standard practice in all high school and college athletics programs. In today's economic climate, (Colorado's State Budget must cut back millions which impacts public schools hard) programs must find creative ways to help support their activities. We now live in a pay for play environment. Each program must devise ways to support itself because it is not coming from the state.
Additionally, in order to stay competitive, make our students feel special, and keep up with the other Douglas County schools and Denver schools, a booster club is a necessity. Without additional funds and support, the program will be at a competitive disadvantage.
EXPENSES:
* Website: $1,200 [Benefits all programs]
* Videographer: $2,000 [Varsity]
* Protective Netting: $2,500 [Benefits all programs]
* New Uniforms: $6,218 [Benefits all programs (older uniforms get passed down)]
* Spring Break Subsidy: $6,000 [Benefits 45+ Varsity and JV athletes]
* Coaching: $16,500 [Benefits all programs]
* Miscellaneous/Equipment: $3,500 [Benefits all programs]
Total Expenses - $37,918
REVENUE GOALS:
* Advertising/Sponsorship: $15,000
* Community Outreach (BIG EVENT): $15,000
* Done In A Day: $7,500
Total Revenue Goal - $37,500
BUDGET ITEMS?
WEBSITE -
Needed to provide a centralized location of information, including practices, games, weekly message, updates, rosters, links, spring break, booster club meetings, fundraising projects, coaching staff, camps, and out of season leagues (summer/fall/winter club team opportunities).
VIDEOGRAPHER -
To video all the varsity games, plus create a highlight film, plus used for teaching and instructing by coaches.
PROTECTIVE NETTING -
This is to be used around the turf field. Right now, we have 60+ players and three teams sharing one grass field. This puts Pondo Lacrosse at a competitive disadvantage amongst their peers. We need two fields and our solution is to put protective netting around the turf so as not to interfere with the track team.
NEW UNIFORMS -
Our uniforms are old. We will look to purchase new uniforms every four years and pass down the older uniforms.
SPRING BREAK -
This is an excellent way to build up a team, play competition from other states, and has become a focal point of our program. Last year, we took 45 people, both of Varsity and JV teams. FYI - Other schools are charging up to $1000 per student to go to locations as far away as Florida for Spring Break. We are charging $300 or under.
COACHING -
The school pays for 2.5 coaches for 3 teams (Varsity, JV, C-Team). We are looking to bring in 5-8 more coaches - an ideal staff would be 4 Varsity coaches, 3 JV coaches, 3 C-Team Coaches. So we need to come up with funds to support 5-8 more coaches. The only way to bring in quality people and to expect them to devote their time is to pay them. In a season, A typical coach spends about 6 days a week, 4 hours a day, travels during the spring trip, 2.5 month season (practice planning / game preparations /scouting /communicating / organizing).
God bless Steve Driggs. Coach Driggs, over the last couple of years Coach Driggs has volunteered his time and SPENT his own money (two years ago) to help support the program. In addition to Coach Driggs, Coach Meier has recently agreed to volunteer on a part-time basis. Although this type of involvement is great, it is not sustainable to expect coaches to volunteer their time and energy 30 hours a week. It is appropriate to look to fundraise money for them and other coaches to pay for their service.
Per district rules, All coaches must undergo finger printing, background checks, and take a test before they are allowed to coach. I set the salaries for assistant coaches with Coach Ottmann's input. The district pays the salaries with our fundraised money.
MISCELLANEOUS -
This is equipment - balls, nets, cones, clocks, horns, end of the season recognition, etc.
WHAT DOES THE BOOSTER CLUB DO?
The booster club looks to fundraise money to benefit the program. It is done in harmony with all the different constituents, but the focal point is the Varsity program since those parents and students have already invested the most time and energy. The booster club has excellent representation, is open to anyone and everyone, and serves as a body to help steer the program. The program's vision (i.e. booster budget) is created by the coaching staff.
Some Other expenses not associated with the booster club:
- Participation Fee - $150.
- This is up from $100 last year to make up for the state's budget shortfall. Out of the $150, we still get $100, the other $50 goes to a "general school fund". The $100 goes towards travel, equipment, and officials for three programs.
- Spring Break Fee - Approximately $275-$300.
- As a comparison, Chaparral charges their students $1000 to go to Florida.
- Out of Season Leagues - $100 per player - Winter League.
- The excess money goes to Pondo Lacrosse. As a comparison, other schools charge up to $160 per player to participate in the same league. In the future, We will also look to have a summer club team that participates in a couple of tournaments, a fall team that plays fall ball and participates in a tournament, a winter team.