November/December 2019 - 22

from Nap's Pizza, which donated pizzas for a serving
contest between games two and three. These external
corporate sponsorships helped grow attendance and
provided improved visibility within the town through the
T-shirt exposure and our pizza partnership.
Ambassadors are crucial when adding a new sport and
gaining support, and we were able to achieve that with
corporate sponsorships and connecting other studentathletes
to the new program.
6
.Evaluate and adjust. One of the most difficult elements
.is reflection, a time where you evaluate what went
right and what went wrong. It's easy to talk about the
highlights and positive impact, but it's more difficult to
review what should have been done differently. Unlike
recapping an event and making adjustments, you have one
shot at successfully adding a new sport.
At the conclusion of the first year, prior to actual
competition, the new head coach and the administration
reviewed what was needed for the soon-to-be competition
with the understanding that changes and adjustments
were needed. Now, with the first year of competition under
our belt, we have begun evaluating again, examining
budgets, staffing, facilities and recruiting. Regardless of
how the team competed in year one, it has become the
backbone of where the program is headed. It's imperative
that the correct culture and goals are established for
building a successful program.
The educational nature of being a student-athlete is
paramount to the future growth of the program. Lifelong
lessons begin on day one and with a new program. It's
important for the coaches and student-athletes to continue
to evaluate and adjust while aligning with the department
and becoming immersed into the overall program. The
biggest lesson is that the team must create its own culture,
which is vital to future success.
Adding a sport may be required for competition within
a conference. Maybe the decision is enrollment driven, or
the addition could enhance institutional compliance with
Title IX. What's certain is that it must support the overall
institution's mission. If administrators are careful in
planning, organizing and creating a culture of acceptance,
adding a sport will only enhance an athletic department's
overall sport offerings.
Administrators must be willing to consider these
six steps to add a sport that's destined for long-term
success. The lessons learned framework can benefit
any administration looking to add any sport, and it gives
athletic directors a unique opportunity to grow their
overall program.
Dr. Michael McFarland, Ed.D., is in his eighth year as the
director of athletics at Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania.
In 2018, he led the Huskies in the successful addition of
women's volleyball as the institution's 21st sport.
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November/December 2019

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