THE NEED FOR BOOSTER CLUBS
The schools know, though. Their fans are
their lifeblood, from attending home games or
traveling with the teams to being part of booster
organizations, said the IHSA’s Troha. “Booster
clubs are more important now than they’ve
ever been because of the budget constraints all
schools are experiencing. When the schools have
to cut costs they have to look at extra curricular
activities, including sports. Especially those that
don’t make money. That’s where the booster
clubs really are needed, to pick up the slack,” he
said.
Beth Sauser, also an assistant executive direc-
tor of the IHSA, was a girls basketball coach and
athletics director at a Chicago-area high school.
She knows first hand the importance of booster
clubs, especially when they are called upon to
help all sports equally.
“
I think overall the popularity of high school
sports is as strong as it has ever been and even
growing in some aspects. The student athletes
are proud to represent their school and the
parents and the communities are proud of the
athletes and their schools. High school sports
are an important way many students can have
an all-encompassing high school experience,”
Sauser said.
Her experience, particularly as an athletics
director, has made her realize that while booster
clubs may be set up to be there for all sports, not
all sports are equal. Comparing football with
volleyball, two chief fall sports, the needs for
one sport with 100 students participating is far
different from one with 12 team members. “You
have to consider the numbers. When an AD or
coach is trying to figure out the cost of equip-
ment or uniforms consideration has to be given
to longevity. You are going to rip a football
jersey a lot quicker than you will a basketball
jersey,” she said.
Recognizing those differences is why many
schools have supplemental booster clubs for
their football programs. And in central Illinois,
some of those clubs go well beyond what is ex-
pected to assist not only football programs, but
the schools in general.
TRISTAN POPADZIUK, NUMBER 42 AND A RUNNING BACK FOR MORTON
HIGH SCHOOL, BREAKS THROUGH THE LINE FOR A GAIN AGAINST
LIMESTONE DURING A GAME LAST SEASON.
THE PRESENT
PHOTO BY KELLY POPADZIUK
12
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