January 2021 - 20

2021 STATE OF THE
INDUSTRY
A.D.'s Describe the Landscape of High School Sports in
our 10th Annual Survey
By Wesley Sykes, managing editor
Are high school athletic programs struggling financially?
How have athletic departments responded to the COVID-19
pandemic? Which sports are being added to athletic
departments in the not-so-distant future?
These are a few of the questions we answer in our
2021 State of the Industry survey of high school athletic
administrators - the 10th year in which we've conducted
this nationwide survey. This year's report offers a unique
glimpse into the challenges athletics directors face on a daily
basis and offers a look at some of the new issues popping
up in schools, including an increased importance placed
upon proper facility sanitization. This survey provides some
perspective on the challenges and opportunities that exist in
high school athletics, and it provides direction for Coach &
Athletic Director, as we base our content throughout the year
on the report's findings.
This year's survey examines spending, fundraising, program
management, and other critical components of high school
athletics. Here are the results from the 10th annual Coach &
Athletic Director State of the Industry survey.
Top 5 Concerns Among
Athletic Directors
Health & Safety of Staff & Students - A new addition
to the list of 23 options in the wake of the COVID-19
pandemic, the health and safety of staff and students far and
away ranked as the most concerning issues facing athletic
administrators in 2021 and beyond. While 92.3 percent of
respondents were concerned about the well-being of their coworkers
and student-athletes, 49 percent said they were most
concerned.
" Protecting athletes and providing a safe environment is
very important. Following safety protocols and stressing to
everyone that minimizing outside contact is key to continuing
the school's and team's health and future success for
completing competition schedules, " one administrator stated.
Another noted, " COVID-19 bar none [is the most
concerning issue]. This will evolve. "
.Reduced School Funding - It's the one issue that had the
.greatest rise in concern from 2020 to this year, perhaps
also from the coronavirus shadow that's been cast over the
country. Up three percent from a year ago, reduction in
school funding rose from the third-biggest concern among
administrators to the second biggest with 85.4 percent
reporting at least some level of concern.
" Shutdowns from the COVID pandemic and financial
hardship due to limited spectators at events. Solutions will come
when we return to normal operations, " an administrator said.
While the majority of respondents (59 percent) reported
little or no change to their athletic department budgets from a
year ago, 32.7 percent of respondents reported a two percent
or more decrease in their budget. It is worth noting that 15
percent reported a budget of $500,000 or more, but 23.6
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1
percent said their budgets were $50,000 or less.
" It is going to make a huge financial impact, " another
administrator opined.
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.Finding Qualified Coaches - This has been the most
.concerning issue for athletic administrators over the last
six years, taking the top spot once again in 2020 with 93.3
percent of responses. But in 2021, with coronavirus looming
large, finding qualified coaches suddenly took a back seat
to more pressing issues noted above. With 84.7 percent of
respondents noting hiring good coaches, this issue saw a nine
percent decrease from a year ago.
" Candidates really have to have a love of coaching and
giving back to interscholastic athletics because of the
increased time, decrease in pay that is required, " one
administrator said.
Another said that it's concerning that they have to " work
with coaches and teams on behavior skill development. "
.Facility Sanitization & Maintenance.- Another newcomer
.to the list of selections in 2021, facility sanitation and
maintenance quickly shot up the ranks of what's concerning
athletic administrators most, earning 83.6 percent of the
response and the second-highest mostly concerned response
of 40.4 percent. Along with the health and safety of staff and
student-athletes, facility sanitization has been paramount in
schools and athletics resuming safely across the country.
Many administrators noted the purchase of personal
protective equipment (PPE), regularly cleaning equipment,
and establishing new and improved protocols and plans
of action. Additionally, nearly every respondent said
they continuously work with state, local, and conference
association officials on obtaining the most up-to-date
information to stay ahead of the curve.
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January 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2021
