THREE RIVERS AREA — Football is a team sport. Not just on the◊eld, but o◊the◊eld during practice times and all those moments leading up to the games. It takes a roster of active parents and volunteers contributing toward their team's goal. And just like how di◊erent styles of coaching bring out the best in players, there are also di◊erent ways organizations and individuals take part in keeping team morale high.
CONWAY CHRISTIAN Even though Conway Christian is a small, private school, the encouragement from parents is huge.
"◊e parents are supportive of their children, and we have a good fan base that travels very well," said Debbie Ballard, former booster club president. "Last season, the farthest we traveled was to Danville and then someplace in south Arkansas that was two or three hours away.
It's amazing at how many people turn out."◊e club also runs the concession stands and encourages parents and students to attend games. Every year the club sells T-shirts and holds a tailgate party at one of the member's homes.
"It draws in a lot of people, and we have competitions for food or the way an area is set up," she said. "We might have a theme similar to what the homecoming theme is." But most importantly, the club shows up to games and stays until the◊nal play.
"We make sure to stay there for the whole game," Ballard said. "◊e only time we le◊was when the o◊cial called the game because of the weather." RUSSELLVILLE◊e Russellville High School Cyclone Football Booster Club is there to assist the junior high and high school football teams.
"◊ey raise money, they help organize events, they really are a support group for us," football coach Je◊Holt said.
◊e club does many things such as organizing seven-onseven practices and providing food for the bus rides during long away games.
"We supplement anything the school system can't pay for," Booster Club President Tom Posey said. "Everything we do is about fundraising.◊at money is spent directly on the kids."◊eir involvement - big or small - is all for the betterment of the players.
It can range from handing out much-needed Powerade, watermelons or popsicles a◊er a grueling practice, to purchasing tents to provide shade on the◊eld during extreme heat, to hosting a pancake breakfast fundraiser at Stoby's, to paying for a junior high player's worn-out athletic shoes, to paying for a computer system to watch game footage in the◊eldhouse.
"We make things as good as we can for our kids," Posey said.
First Baptist Church of Russellville feeds the team Friday a◊ernoons before home games.◊e church donates the
food while the club takes care of the decorations. Highlights
are shown from the previous game to◊re up the team.◊e
club also believes in fostering sportsmanship and team unity
through picnics and a spring◊oat trip.
"Our kids have grown up together so it's a good excuse to
get together and hang out with friends while bringing every
body together," Posey said.
VILONIA Parents of football players can support the team either
through the Vilonia Athletic Booster Club or the Football
Booster Parents.
"We tried to support them and the coaches in any way
they need help," said Cathy Riggins, who has been involved
with the Football Booster Parents for nearly 10 years.
During the season, parents would make sure to feed the
team before home games and a◊er away games.
"Each night at home games, the parents would line up
where the team comes out and cheer them on," Riggins said.
At games, and especially on third downs, "instead of be
ing parents we tried to be a cheering group and encourage
others in the stand to cheer," Riggins said.
A local business could also show their support by purchas
ing a banner that would be displayed on the◊eld.◊e money
from the banner sale would fund items to assist the team and
have included water coolers, fans, a video system to help
view games and goodie bags for Homecoming Week.
"We tried to make it special to be an Eagles football
player," Riggins said.
Special, Pages 246 on 08/23/2009