A consistent obstacle that occurs in numerous sports for many players joining or participating is the cost of equipment. This obstacle is also relevant to Park’s football program and the students who participate. However, Park football fundraises and works to get material donations so that students who may not be able to afford the equipment costs can play.
Coach Rob Griffin, the athletic coordinator and assistant coach for Park’s football and basketball teams, said the football program does this out of an understanding of creating a community.
“(We do this) from a place of understanding and wanting to truly be a community-based program, we want each student to have the opportunity to play football if they want,” Griffin said. “Anytime there’s a kid that needs something, we’re going to go out our way to be able to buy what we need to have the kid have everything possible, just to make sure that every kid that wants to play has the opportunity and has the correct equipment to do so.”
Senior Max Olson said he wished the program’s work was better known. He said many kids may be discouraged by the price tag attached to participating.
“I wish (the programs work to support students) was more known because (the cost) is a big roadblock. A lot of people don’t play football because they think they can’t afford it,” Olson said. “(With) the program, if you want to play football, you will play football no matter what, I wish that was something that’s a little more known.”
Senior Avery Foster said alleviating the financial costs of equipment for students helps keep the game fun. He said that financially supporting students helps the team’s dynamics.
“(The program) is important so that everyone can play even if they don’t have the money at the time. It’s more fun for everyone that way. Equipment isn’t all that expensive but it does stack up over time,” Foster said. “It’s good that we help the kids who can’t (afford it). It helps team bonding.”
Olson said another reason for working to ensure every student that wants to play football can play, is the deep effect it can have on young men and the family bond it creates.
“Football is important for young men. It teaches you a lot of life values, skills and it gives you lifelong friends,” Olson said. “To be able to give that privilege (to others) and make it as open as possible is an important thing, because it just allows more people to be a part of that family.”
Foster said the fundraising mainly consists of going door to door selling the team’s gold cards. He said the funds go to help support the team and program for the season.
“A big part of it (our fundraising) is we go around door knocking houses selling our coupons that are called gold cards. We go around giving those out and they have a bunch of deals and stuff on them,” Foster said. “Then we use that to support our team for the season and future seasons.”
Coach Griffin said the program has worked to coordinate an environment where students understand that they will be supported and encouraged during their time playing. He said the process starts as young as middle school in encouraging kids to understand that they will be supported.
“We’ve created a culture within our program that a majority of students know for the most part (about the program). We take time as a high school program to go over to the middle school and inform the middle school kids that if they want to try football, there’s not anything they really need to per se buy on their own,” Griffin said. “We’ve accumulated enough equipment over time to make sure that they know that when they come here, they’ll play and they’ll have the best self when they do it.”
Foster said alleviating financial burdens helps the team’s gameplay, as it allows the team to focus on the game itself and not potential outside problems.
“By allowing people to play, even if they can’t afford it, lets us build up our team, but also allows us to not have to worry about that in the back of our mind,” Foster said. “If you’re playing and in the back of your mind you’re thinking about costs and stuff, you’re not going to play well and that can hurt the team dynamics, so caring for our teammates, financially, basically helps our gameplay.”
