HOW to Increase Attendance???

[artmanwestfel]

Please post thoughts and experiences on how to increase attendance.

Do you think a game time 30 minutes after school is over will help?

Would special give aways are free food help?

[staparent2b]

I don't think early games would help because some kids depend on parents for a ride and most patents work. Maybe a prize for the first so many people through the gate would help, even if it's just a free drink. You could also have a drawing at the end of the season and you can give tickets to enter for attending a game. The more you attend the more entrees you have. You could also ask teachers to give bonus points for bringing in their ticket stub. I think the biggest thing is getting the school to announce games and make soccer into a big deal. I would love to see the game attendance improve!

[Pitchstalker]

Play a football game at halftime. I'm joking of course, but basically only soccer families are interested in soccer. I wish more would come..just doesn't happen.

We have a large school. I let students in Free EVERY game before playoffs. I've done it for both teams. Unless it's a rivalry game or late round playoff game...we only get parents, except for a handful of students here or there.

I think it would help if the faculty bought in to the team and pushed the students somewhat, but it'd still be low numbers.

[laffysoccermom]

I bet there are other sports that have the same issue- girls volleyball, wrestling, swimming, track- heck, all girls sports. Maybe you could do an athletes supporting athletes kind of thing- all the athletes from these less popular sports support each other. Of course, that would mean your players would have to go to other sports events.

Also maybe a competition between student organization to see who could have the highest percentage of members at the games with some sort of prize delivered by the soccer team.

Just some ideas that might help...

[Deleted]

Speaking on the boys side:

1. Put out a better 'product'.
2. It would help if the school would actually support and promote the sport.

Football games are more social events than anything else. Only about 20% of the people in the stands are actually into the game. (Yes Im aware many will debate this.)

At least the people at the soccer games are actually watching the game. And otherwise engaged to what's going on.

A little perspective. Other than throwball, you rarely see large crowds at high school athletic events. Gymnasiums are fairly small so the illusion of a large crowd may seem to enhance a basketball game.

From what I've seen soccer draws (on average) much bigger crowds than high school baseball.

It's just that 500 people in a football stadium may look paltry given the size of the venue.

A Caddo Magnet/Shreve game usually draws a healthy crowd.

I would imagine a Brother Martin/Jesuit game would draw at least 600-800 people.

[Deleted]

Another factor impacting game attendance is weather. Especially up north.

When it gets below 50 degrees, people find excuses not to go.

And no, playing high school soccer in the fall isn't realistic here....been debated quite often.

[Steven Gerrard]

Sept 13, 2011 14:39:45 GMT -6 @hall97 said:

Another factor impacting game attendance is weather. Especially up north.

When it gets below 50 degrees, people find excuses not to go.

And no, playing high school soccer in the fall isn't realistic here....been debated quite often.

So, if the weather is a factor, perhaps we should play high school soccer in the spring? Where have I heard that before?

[artmanwestfel]

Thanks for the suggestions. For now I will concentrate on attendance at two key home games. I have about 50 horns to give away.

Didn't think about the gym vs stadium.

Thought about different season. Lets see can soccer overcome football or baseball.

Like the halftime football show.

[rlb2024]

My daughter's high school has "mark events" throughout the year where the different classes compete for the most attendance/participation. The competition runs throughout the school year, with some type of prize for the winning class. I believe they schedule at least one soccer game a year as a mark event.

Also last year one of the school dances was the same night as a home game, so that helped draw (a few) more people.

[beauchenecoach]

We let students in free... For big games like Teurlings each year, we give away door prizes to students only... Like gift cards to canes, the mall, abercrombie, etc... We also do an soccer alumni homecoming for Teurlings every year. We do Senior night for a less lethal rival, but that draws well also. If the weather can be in 50's at least, we draw very, very well for big games... 40's or lower and it's parents/relatives and best friends only.

[doubled]

Besides the weather issues of winter, most people outside of the players families don't really care about soccer. Some students come out if it's not too cold but usually it's the families and a few fans.
My daughter played volleyball too, and attendance was the same except when they went to Mt. Carmel or Dominican those gyms were packed with students and fans. If having give aways or door prizes would get more people to the games I'm all for it.

[oldhattrick3]

Having coached for several years, I think this is always a good topic for coaches/people to discuss. No doubt the following issues play into the attendance:

> Outdoor winter sport - difficult - rain / cold weather tends to keep people at home
> Some (possibly most) parents who have kids playing really don't understand the game - rules, formations (reason for formations), positioning, etc. Therefore, beyond watching their child interest is limited. No fault of the sport, but most parents - up till now - didn't grow up with this sport on the list.

Some of the things mentioned about "gate prizes" and promoting to student bodies will help bring attendance which is a good idea.
I look at the impossible (a move of the season) as possibly beneficial to having players on the field, however you will overlap with some other season. Currently there have been some basketball players who would have been interested in playing, that don't. However a move to spring would overlap track and softball - wouldn't expect softball to severly impact soccer numbers, but track might (talking players here not attendance).

I often thought about competitions or events before - halftime - after as being a possible attendance draw. Local band (musical) setup on track performing before and at halftime. Bringing in some young area teams to play before or at half time a short game (that would bring their parents in).

Overall, anything you think of that can add attendance is worth trying.