football school business plan

How to Start a Football Academy Business

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

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Do you want to start a football academy business? If YES, here’s a complete guide to starting a football academy business with NO money and no experience .

Although soccer in the United States may not be as big as baseball or basketball, its influence is beginning to reach beyond the borders of the United States. The sport is beginning to receive more interest among the youths and adults alike.

Fans are beginning to show more interest in the sport and major clubs like FC Barcelona have even decided to set up their football academy in the United States of America. With more interest in the sports being developed, it is no wonder that even private owners may seek to set up a soccer academy for the sake of raising prominent players that will make a mark in the football arena.

In the United States of America, the football academy is known as a soccer academy or youth academy, and it is normally owned by major clubs in the country. The major objectives of these academies are to develop talents from a very young age to eventually become professional players.

The earliest age for enrollment is 9 years, however there are other academies structured for those who are younger, these ones are not as stringent as the major soccer academies in terms of training routine, practice sessions and so on, but they do prepare the youngsters to be part of the soccer academy when they come of age.

Those who set up such academies are football clubs, but anyone that has an interest in it can set up a football academy without necessarily having a football club. The owners of that academy need to have the needed connections to make sure that 50% if not all of the students who enroll in this academy will have a chance of playing professionally when they come of age.

In the United States of America, most youth academies are incorporated into the college educational system. This is the same for other sports like baseball, basketball and American football. It is not so popular to find private soccer academies that are not either attached to a football club, college or university.

When one intends to set up an academy like this, then there are very strict rules and regulations, and the process may take quite some time because of various state rules and regulations around it. One would first of all have to put together a committee or body of people that will assist in setting up the academy.

Some, if not all of these people, could be partners in the business, investors or may have various degrees of interest in the company.

The major niche of this academy is already identified; the next thing would be moving to register the business name as a working legal entity. You need to set up some type of business plan; I would suggest that the business plan should be developed for the first five years to begin with. Nothing too ambitious should be put in the business plan because this company is just starting.

One could seek advice from those who are already in the system. After the business entity is registered, then it would be very necessary to register with the state department. Recruiting your staff and management team would be another set of activity one would have to look into carefully.

You need to make sure that the coaches, their assistants and all the other personnel are credible people with a track record of producing successes from their various methods. Setting up a soccer academy would take quite some investment, especially if you intend to provide boarding for the candidates in the school.

There are soccer academies that provide other regular courses of study like mathematics, physics and the likes. Then there are others who simply focus on the football aspect of their vision while providing scholarship for the candidates to attend regular college. So, you can see that the various dynamics of setting up and running a football academy can be a very tedious one.

The risks in investing privately in this type of venture is there, but if one has the necessary drive to make a success out of this, then success is all there is to gain. In all, make sure you do your feasibility studies, draw out a proper business plan and make sure everything that needs to be taken care of is taken care of.

Steps to Starting a Football Academy Business

1. understand the industry.

It is no news that the soccer industry in the United States of America is not as strong as its counterparts in Europe or South America. This could be attributed to the poor structure of recruitment and training of young players.

The development age between sixteen and twenty is the most critical for any youngster to develop skills to be able to compete at club level, but in the United States, most come out of college into the professional leagues at age twenty-one a time most European players must have already began playing in the professional leagues.

Another challenge the industry has is the understaffed scouting system that have also placed more work load on the scouts who may not feel at all motivated to get the right person into the teams.

Most promising players may not have access to proper soccer academies due to the high cost of payment for proper coaching, the general belief is that the higher the price the better the quality of training, so many are left behind. The general trend in the soccer academy industry in the United States is coaches promising parent’s college certainty for their children if they can get them to play for certain clubs.

For the promise of getting their children into collage they enroll the young ones in the academy; however what usually happens is that the coaches do not do a very good job at developing the children to the point of them being able to play professionally.

One of the other challenges the industry is facing is the professional structure that causes great limitation in the level of exposure of young players due to the fact that the system has made it a constant, if not permanent choice of operating a closed league.

Not to mention when it comes to the decision makers, agencies and leagues in the industry stick to very old ways of doing things.

In as much as the industry is facing these challenges, there is still much money to be made from establishing a soccer academy as those who are in the business know how to make money from it, most of the time from the parents. However, this kind of money hungry approach to the business will only make the pockets of the owners fatter, rather than actually producing powerful players for the country.

For one looking to set up a soccer academy, it would turn out that it is a very lucrative business to start, however one would have to consider if they actually want to do the job of actually raising strong players who can compete on an international level or if they simply want to get paid for coaching the youngsters.

2. Conduct Market Research and Feasibility Studies

• Demographics and Psychographics

The major people targeted for a soccer academy are first of all parents who want to secure some type of collage education for their children using sports scholarships. The cost of attending colleges in the United States can be very high, so quite a number of parents have taken to sports as one of the ways to help their children get a college education.

The alternative sometimes could be that the students would have to receive student’s loans which they get to pay back after they get employment, assuming the parents do not have the necessary means of financing their higher education.

Since most soccer academies provide scholarships for athletes when they enroll for the programs, parents who have noticed some type of potential in their child will desire to nurture such talents for the child to have a shoe in for college education. This is usually one of the major targets of soccer academies.

Another set of people that will be interested in enrolling for a soccer academy are the kids that desire to become professional soccer players. The possibility of receiving college scholarship could be another idea that may sweeten the deal for parents, however should the child have real potential; they may actually make it to the big leagues.

Parents who love the sport and would like to see their children become professionals. Usually parents like to live through their children, maybe they may not have had the opportunity to chase their dreams of becoming a professional athlete, but they can get their children enrolled in the academy at a very young age, so that the child may have a shot at going professional.

3. Decide What Niche to Concentrate On

It may be difficult to identify niches in this type of business seeing that the business itself is a niche on its own. However, there are different reasons for getting people signed up in a soccer academy and you could establish one of those different purposes as your major niche.

Sometimes many parents enroll their children in academies like this for the sake of securing them sports scholarships. You could make this as one of the major purposes of your academy, or some people simply develop players until their values are very high and then when they have improved immensely, they sell such player to another club. Whichever option you choose, as your signature practice you would have to be the best at it in order to stand out.

The Level of Competition in the Industry

With how profitable this business is for coaches and soccer academies, it is no surprise that one who wants to get into this business would have to fend off other coaches who would want to get their hands on young talent. I would say that the level of competition in this industry is low, due to the unappreciated level of soccer in the United States.

This means that there are great talents out there but very few are able to access quality training due to financial implications.

So, the few that are able to pay for coaching services are less in number compared to the talent available. When a brand knows the areas in which their competition is lacking, they can develop themselves to take full advantage of these weaknesses in emerging as the number one in their field.

4. Know the Major Competitors in the Industry

The ones who are considered the best of the best in every industry is one to pay attention to. The thing about well-known brands is that they have some type of leverage in the area of popularity and effective service delivery, making one wonder how they would be able to rise in success.

But to win over this, one must first of all know who they are. Below are therefore some of the leading Football Academy Businesses in the United States;

• FC Barcelona Football Academy
• LA Galaxy Football Academy
• New York Red Bull
• Real Saltlake group
• Vancouver Whitcaps
• Seattle sounders

Economic Analysis

The financial constraints of starting a football academy can be very high. With the money needed to pay for permits and so on, not to mention the money that goes into paying for the facility, team jerseys and so on.

One would have had to secure a large amount of money to get this type of academy off the ground. When it comes to bringing a board together, one must be able to actually see how the money would come in, seeing that they have to take care of so many multiple parts.

It would be a wise decision to have someone who knows the technical aspect of this type of business to consult with you, so that you know if putting your hard-earned money into this venture is worthwhile.

5. Decide Whether to Buy a Franchise or Start from Scratch

When you decide to start your academy from the scratch then you would have an uphill work cut out for you when it comes to building your brand to the point where you begin to make lots of profits and strike a general name for yourself.

Acceptance may also be a challenge for you when you start from the scratch, but if you are someone who already has some type of standing in the American Soccer industry, then starting your own soccer academy can be a lot easier for you seeing that you already have a name to leverage over.

Unfortunately there are not so many franchise opportunities when it come s to football academies so if one is going to go into this business, starting from scratch appears to be the best option.

6. Know the Possible Threats and Challenges You Will Face

The major set of threats facing this particular type of business is the level of importance given to certain other sports. These would be first of all American football, a game most loved by Americans, then baseball, practically every American love’s baseball, then Basketball.

These three sports are the three most loved sports in America and because of how Americans love these sports, there is little or no serious attention given to developing the soccer industry. Many aspiring sports professionals would readily opt for baseball or American football, then soccer. The opportunities available for these other sports in America far outshine those that await the soccer aspirant.

Other threats could also stem from the high cost of coaching exhibited in the industry and the difficulty in accessing proper training academies in the country. These and other factors pose a threat to the soccer academy industry in the United States of America.

7. Choose the Most Suitable Legal Entity (LLC, C Corp, S Corp)

The best legal entity to use for this type of business is the Limited Liability Company option, because of its flexibility when it comes to tax issues. The liability suffered by members of the board in this type of legal entity is limited and does not affect the properties of the persons involved in the business.

The worst kind of legal entity to use for this type of business is the sole proprietorship, apart from the fact that liability and taxation issues may be very detrimental to the owner, seeking funds for this very cost demanding business would be very difficult for the owner who registers the academy as a sole proprietorship.

Looking at the various things involved with the business, many investors will feel more comfortable investing their monies in a proper limited liability company or even a private company, due to the fact that they would feel safer if they knew that the company was not simply operated like a one-man business.

8. Choose a Catchy Business Name from the ideas Below

A catchy name can be a creative way to keep the idea of your brand in the minds of the people. The name of your football academy may not affect the performance of the business, but it also has a role to play.

Even when it comes to establishing your website or other advertising strategies, a unique name can help your academy to stand out and eliminate every suspicion or confusion with another brand. Some of these names are very good for naming your football academy;

• Future Football Academy
• Premium Football Academy
• Optimum Football Academy
• Alliance Football Academy

9. Discuss With an Agent to Know the Best Insurance Policies for You

When it comes to a business like this, insurance is so important due to the possibility of things going the wrong way. Some of your students might get injured or something may go wrong in the facility, not to mention certain allegations that may come up in the area of malpractice or performance enhancement drug use.

The list is endless, so make sure that your academy is properly insured. Some basic insurance policies for your football academy business in the United States of America are;

• General Insurance
• Payment protection Insurance
• Overhead expense disability Insurance
• Risk insurance
• Liability Insurance
• Health Insurance
• Workers Compensation
• Business owner’s policy group insurance

10. Protect your Intellectual Property With Trademark, Copyrights, Patents

One can run a business like this without necessarily filing for intellectual property protection except for certain things like the coach’s playbook. The playbook contains the different formations the team has trained for, some of these plays might have been passed down from coach to coach since the institution began.

To have such materials in the hands of a rival club would be very disastrous. So, when materials like these are copywritten, then the information written there is safe by the law. Should such items be found in the possession of an unauthorized person, or should they use the formation in the playbook, such a team could be subject to criminal prosecution.

Other things that can be protected by the intellectual property laws could be training routines, diet and nutrition methods and so on. All of these are intellectual property of the school that originated it.

11. Get the Necessary Professional Certification

One does not need any professional certificate before they can start their own football academy. Although it would help the business tremendously if the owner has been in the soccer industry for some time before they decided to start an academy like this.

Their experience in the industry can be the certification they need to provide confidence in the hearts of investors and parents alike.

12. Get the Necessary Legal Documents You Need to Operate

One cannot run a business successfully in the United States without meeting certain legal conditions and the football academy is no different. This could be one of the major areas in which establishing a business like this could be delayed.

The owner/owners have to make sure they get all the permit, licenses and documents that will make them law compliant. Some of these processes could take months to complete, but no matter how difficult the process is, only those that persevere are able to have all of their legal documents in place. Some of these documents include;

• Certificate of Incorporation
• Operating Agreements
• Business Plan
• Insurance Policy
• Employment Agreement
• Operating Agreement for LLCs
• Employer Identification Number (EIN)
• Consulting contract documents
• Online Terms of Use
• Online Privacy Policy Documents
• Company Bylaws
• Memorandum of Understanding

13. Raise the Needed Startup Capital

Funding is a most important aspect of putting a business like this together, it is financially demanding as was mentioned above and your ability to get it up and running will depend strongly on this. One of the things that will inspire confidence in investors would be your ability to present to them some type of credible plan for generating revenue and securing a high return on investment.

This would mean that you would have to have a strong knowledge of the industry and the demographics you intend to sell your services to.

This type of knowledge could come from past experiences or you could get a consultant to tell you what you need to know in order to make this a financial success. Some of the ways to generate funding for your football academy business include;

• You can get money from your personal savings
• Loans are easily obtained from family members and friends
• You can sell properties and items you own.
• You can raise money from selling stocks
• Investors and business partners
• Get seed funding from business angels and organizations that do such
• If you have the collateral, you can get loans from a bank
• You can sell your shares to interested people who will love to buy into the business.

14. Choose a Suitable Location for your Business

The location for your academy matters a lot when it comes to a business like this. One option could be setting up your boarding facility in an area that is away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Your business office can be in the city, but the place where the students are nurtured may be elsewhere.

However, if you do not choose to run any kind of boarding facility, then a place that is accessible by parents would be very effective.

Placing your academy close to a school is also a great way to strategically position your academy so that parents can have easy access to you. Below are some other key factors that you need to consider when picking a location for your football academy;

• Closeness to regular colleges or secondary schools
• Ease of access by various road routes
• The major demographics of the area
• The rules and regulations of the area, where the school is situated

15. Hire Employees for your Technical and Manpower Needs

Your will need your scouts who go out into the various communities to look for potential soccer stars to recruit. You will need you Lawyers to set up contracts and deal with the other professionals in the soccer industry. Coaches and Coaching assistants are also another set of people you would need.

When it comes to the administration of the business, you will need your business manager, secretary, accountant and so on.

You will need your jerseys, boots and other sports materials required for the players to meet the standards permitted by the regulating authorities. You will need office furniture, printers and so on for the administrative offices and classrooms.

The Service Delivery Process of the Business

When a student is enrolled in the academy, most times they would receive strict training routines they would have to be involved with. Their parents would be informed on how to feed them with the described diet plan given to them by the academy.

Fitness is a very important thing and nothing helps one get fit like proper diet and exercise. Once the candidate enters the upper level of recruitment they could be signed unto a bigger deal, this may entitle them for some type of scholarship as they continue to develop their skills for the career they want to pursue in soccer.

Most times the candidates get to the place where they get signed into a proper soccer team in order to play professionally, this of course is the destination for most who sign up for the football academy. On the other hand, some do not make it into the big leagues and are taken out of the academy for not meeting the cut. So, it just goes to show that getting into a football academy is not an automatic key into playing professional soccer.

16. Write a Marketing Plan Packed With ideas & Strategies

Football academies hardly have open tryouts for the general public. Their access to young talent is usually through the scouting system.

However, should a soccer academy want to spread the word about their existence, especially if they have just begun and are looking for a large number of candidates to sign up, then below contains a list of possible approaches to making that happen.

• You can send brochures to households around your area of interest.
• Take advantage of the great opportunity the internet gives for marketing your school.
• Be part of the academies listed in the yellow pages.
• Attend international football academy and football services expos and events.
• The local directories should have your academy listed there also.
• Employ traditional marketers to market the academy business.
• Radio, TV Stations and Related magazines are excellent places to advertise your academy.

17. Develop Iron-clad Competitive Strategies to Help You Win

This sport is competing with other sports like baseball or basketball and also competing against other soccer academies within the same industry. The way to win over your competitors is to stick to your niche and make that your promise going forward.

If you want to be known as the kind of institution that establishes soccer players for a professional career, then let that be the thing you emphasize and sell the most. This means that you will generally attract those whose real intention is to go professional; this is always a great idea in making your light shine, putting your best foot forward.

If your niche is simply generating some type of buzz around players in order to get them to play college soccer for the chance at receiving a scholarship, then that too is acceptable. In whatever the case, stay true to your strength and make sure you are well respected for what you do best. This way your competitors will not be able to win you at your own game.

18. Brainstorm Possible Ways to Retain Clients & Customers

There is no other way to retain customers than to deliver on promises made. Whatever it was you used to get parents to sign up their children with you, you have to make sure you deliver on your promise.

The word will spread as to how you are one with integrity. Also assuring parents that you have the best interest of the students in your mind is another point that will make more and more parents come to you if they need the services of a proper coach.

19. Develop Strategies to Boost Brand Awareness and Create a Corporate Identity

One cannot establish a business and nobody knows it exists. One would have to employ a good number of strategies in order to create awareness for what is going on. One interesting suggestion would be to organize a local league for the immediate community, so that various youngsters can come and play in the league.

Prizes would be won on different levels, youngsters and parents alike can get to know of your football academy and begin to consider enrolling their students.

Apart from doing this for a community, you can also organize a league for various private or public schools, such an event may be tedious to put together but by the time the league is over, every student in those schools would be talking about your football academy and the word will spread with heightened interest.

Other ideas that can help boost the awareness of your football academy are;

• Branded items could be worn by staff, management, coaches and of course players at certain times during the week.
• There are areas within the city where you know parents as well as children would be interested in joining your academy, you can share fliers and handbills around that area.
• Billboards and Banners are excellent in drawing attention to what you do, ensure that such are placed at very specific areas within the city.
• Word of mouth is one of the best ways to advertise, encourage it.
• Your website is like an interactive flyer; ensure that you advertise your academy there.
• Make sure that all cars, buses or vehicles of the Academy are well branded.
• Ensure to make full advantage of digital marketing.
• You can use the direct approach by reaching households and talents directly.

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Building a program by design: Creating the year round plan

Designing the Four-Quarter Plan:

The high school football game has evolved quickly in the modern age and the expectations of the head coach have expanded far beyond X’s and O’s. A head coach in the 21st century football era needs to wear many hats and meet the demands of their stakeholders in a multitude of ways. In previous articles we discussed establishing the belief, marketing, public relations and branding plans of developing a program by design. In this installment, we will take a deeper look into how to orchestrate a four-quarter year-round program that fully supports your business plan.                                                                                       

Event Planner

As the head coach and CEO of the football program, it is our job to establish the vision of the program and then work intently to create experiences that support and enhance these beliefs. Every event that is brought into your program must tie back into your belief, vision and mission in a specific and intentful way. We are the writers and producers of our program book. If the belief, vision and mission are the words then the experiences we create act as the illustrations. If executed well, the experiences can serve as an emotional connection to your belief system and exponentially reinforce and enhance the words you have created. Experiences bring to life our program and give dimension and a sense of tangibility to our vision. The old saying of “show me, don’t tell me” rings true when developing a program. Without experiences to support your belief system, the words will fall flat and be viewed as lip service. This is a hard prospect for many as it means that every decision and situation must be thought out from all angles and its overall impact on the program. However, if we truly want to strengthen and grow our program it is an essential step in its maturation process. The life of a program’s culture is dynamic and never static. Each day small experiences made by each stakeholder are either strengthening or weakening it. Understand it, communicate it and be relentless in your desire to uphold what you have worked so hard for.

RELATED CONTENT:  Building a Program Culture by Design: Beliefs/Behaviors/Mission/Vision

The season is over, and the equipment is turned in. Now is the time to begin to build and plan your program’s yearly calendar. Coaches are exhausted and families want their dad back, but if we take the opportunity to reflect on our previous year and build for the upcoming it can save us time in the long run. The reflection process is essential to a program’s growth mindset. If we agree that a program’s culture is never static, then we must review what we did in the past so that we can grow in the future. “Feed the roots to get to the fruit!”

 Ask the questions:

• What went well?
• Where are we strongest?
• What would I change?
• What areas are we weakest?
• What does this new group need from our program?

Be honest in your personal evaluation, take the rose-colored glasses off and allow yourself to be vulnerable. If we can be unbiased in our assessment, then we can truly create a program that will grow our culture. 

RELATED CONTENT:  Strategic Planning Aligning Your Program Through a Systematic Approach

Collaborate

The reflection process should not be limited to just the executive team. Allow the players, parents and staff to be part of the work. When we allow everyone to have a hand in the reflection process it affords each person the opportunity to increase their investment in the program. Collaborative reflection allows those who want more to buy more and those who want to opt out to step aside. I have found Google forms to be an asset when trying to compile a large amount of data. We create two end-of-year surveys – one for our staff and one for our players, each with the same foundation of questions with only slight variances included. For our players we will ask them to list 10 program enhancements that they would like to see for next year. While we make no promises that we will address all of them, we do make them a priority and try to accomplish at least half. When players see their opinions being heard, it strengthens their bond to the program. At St. Charles North, we say that WE> ME.

Program enhancements for 2018

• Xbox lounge
• Oversized logo for helmet
• Five-minute brain breaks in practice
• Practice posted and staying true to it (end when we say we will end)

The coaches survey also plays a large role into our program planning. With the staff, an emphasis is placed on their overall experience within the program culture, practice planning, work/life balance and scheme. As a head coach we must be flexible and value the input of the assistants. We must always view our program from their position in order to see what they see. What looks good from the head coaches chair might not from the assistants. In our program every coach has a stake in how the program is run. Their investment and value to the program is enormous and as the head coach we must make sure that they are having a positive experience within our culture as well. Consequently, discussions on vision and mission alignment must be had. The importance of proper staff alignment cannot be overlooked. There can never be a coach who is not aligned with the program’s belief system. I will take a coach who supports our vision and mission over a X’s and O’s savant every day of the week.

When involving the parent group, allow them the same ownership as you do your players and coaches as we are all equal in this! The parent experience is just as important in our program as the player experience. Their investment is the greatest in my opinion. The financial commitment, time investment and, most importantly, emotional support they must provide is enormous.  Parents are allowing us to support them in their child’s journey to adulthood. What a huge honor and privilege. The least I can do as a head coach is offer them a voice in how that transpires.  At St. Charles North, we rebranded our parent group, gave them a logo and shared the program’s vision and mission. We have aligned the belief system and they are a huge part of our program.

RELATED CONTENT:  Building a program by design: marketing, branding and public relations

The Fun Factor

The reflection process allows the head coach to evaluate the state of the program as it currently stands. Once that has concluded, it is time to identify the year’s outcomes. Where do you want the program to grow? Where can it stand to improve?  What experiences will the program create? The answers to these questions will change from year-to-year. However, one aspect that should not be forgotten is that there needs to be enjoyment and fun. The thread that holds together the tapestry of your program should be fun. At St. Charles North we define fun in two ways, organic and planned fun. Planned fun are the calendared events that run throughout our yearly phasing. These can range from team outings and family events to philanthropic opportunities. However, we also include planned fun in our daily practice planning. At the end of the day the kids are out here because they either enjoy being around their friends or they enjoy playing the sport. By taking time to allow our kids and staff to enjoy the moment, we allow everyone to connect on an emotional level and associate our program with positive feelings. When speaking in terms of organic fun, these are the come together moments that galvanize and forms the team infrastructure. We place a high importance on finding the fun in the hard moments, the exhausting moments, the moment when you feel you can’t push anymore. Our players have bought into this idea and understand and, more importantly, enjoy the enormous amount of work that will be required to be elite. 

Invest in your Investment

In closing, there are many ways to create a successful program and what has worked at St. Charles North may not work at another school. You must find out how to reach your program in its own unique way. Research it, study it, plan it and then execute it. Make the monetary and emotional investment into your program. Work within the budget you have set but do allocate some funds to this development plan as it will pay you back ten-fold.

How to Start a Successful Soccer Academy (Full Guide)

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If you plan to start a soccer academy but don’t know where to start, you’re in the right place. While soccer may not be the most commonly played sport in the US, it has recently started to receive much more attention than before. 

Right now, many soccer lovers in the US want to express their love of the game by actually playing it rather than just watching professional games. And this is precisely what soccer academies are meant to provide: a proper climate for soccer players to practice the game as a hobby.

This guide will sift through the main things you should do and pay attention to start a successful soccer academy. 

Learn About The Soccer Industry

• Starting From Scratch vs Franchise 

Pick a Strategic Location for Your Academy

How to choose a name for your soccer academy, licensing your academy, work on protecting your intellectual property, increase brand awareness.

The first step of any successful business is market research. You have to keep in mind many aspects before starting a soccer academy. In comparison to Europe and South America , for example, the soccer industry in the US is not as robust.

The period between 16 and 20 is critical for any young player to develop the skills necessary to play at the club level. Still, in the US, most players enter professional leagues after college at 21-22, when most European players are already playing in professional leagues.

This is one of several challenges you might encounter, but if you want to stand out among your competitors, the best way is to figure out the reasons behind their success and spend time planning on reaching and even exceeding what they have. 

Here’s a list of the best-known football academies in the US:

• FC Barcelona Football Academy
• LA Galaxy Football Academy
• Real Saltlake group
• New York Red Bull
• Seattle sounders
• Vancouver Whitecaps

If you tried but couldn’t compete with them, you can specialize in one aspect of soccer, like a strikers academy. This way, you will attract young strikers who perceive your academy as an authority to practice their favorite soccer position.

After achieving success by specializing in only one position, you can expand your business into midfielder and defender training. And don’t be intimidated by the abundance of strong competitors. You know it’s a healthy industry when you see them thriving! 

You have to decide whether you want to build an academy that raises strong youngsters to compete internationally or you want to coach them and get paid . 

Starting From Scratch vs Franchise 

Starting a football academy from scratch and establishing a name for it is far easier said than done. However, if you already have a name in the soccer market, starting your academy will be easier since you already have a name to leverage.

Regarding soccer academies, there are few opportunities for franchises; thus, starting from scratch looks to be the best alternative for someone who wants to get into this industry.

Invest Available Fields

As we mentioned before, research is key when it comes to starting a soccer academy, and a part of it is finding out the available training spaces or fields. 

We recommend you make a list to know exactly how many are available. You may want to inquire with the recreation authority in your country or city to know the availability of these spaces.

Ask if any teams or groups receive preferential treatment, as this could affect your field time. For example, if there are any semi-professional or top competing teams, they may bump your field time if their games or practices were to be rescheduled.

If the fields get busy more often, or you risk being bumped sometimes, you will need to schedule training away from the field.

Look for places where you can do some creative exercise, such as hill jogging or practicing footwork at a local beach. It’s crucial to know what’s accessible as a plan B.

A soccer academy is one of those businesses whose location is crucial to their success. Setting up a boarding facility away from the city hustle is one option. 

The business office can be located in the city, while the training sessions can be held elsewhere. If you don’t want to manage a boarding facility, a location that parents can access would be ideal. 

Your academy can also be placed near a school, which is another excellent option to strategically place your academy because that way parents can easily reach you. 

There are some other elements that you should keep in mind concerning the place, like security, accessibility through multiple road routes, the demographics of the whole area, and the laws and regulations that govern it. 

You can do several things to get your academy’s name out there, and among those things is to rank on top of the search results in search engines.  One of the easiest ways to do that is by opting for a strategically chosen name.

Giving your soccer academy a proper and unique name can drastically benefit your business, not just because people will recognize it easily but also because they will find it more easily on search engines.

Otherwise, your academy will have to rely only on word-of-mouth and pay to advertise to be noticed in your local area and beyond. 

Make sure to incorporate your local city or county name into your soccer academy name. This way, you will set yourself up for search engine success.

For example, if you give your academy the name “Salt Lake City Soccer Academy for Strikers”, your website will contain the words “Salt Lake City Soccer Academy,” a typical phrase someone would type if they’re searching for a soccer academy in Salt Lake City.

These keywords indicate to search engines that people looking for a soccer academy in Townsville could find your website and services useful. Thus, you will be increasing the chances to gain higher rankings by search engines such as Google.

Below is a list of possible soccer academy names to give you some inspiration (just make sure to incorporate your country name in it) :

• Premium Football Academy
• Future Football Academy
• Alliance Football Academy
• Optimum Football Academy

Choose a name for your academy that is in line with your future aspirations, but if you’ve already chosen the name and started to grow, stick to it .

Since it takes time for a website’s domain authority and social media profiles to be established and grow, it’s possible that changing your website URL will confuse both your customers and search engines!

Now that everything’s set, the next step is to get insured and licensed, which will put your soccer academy under the aegis of the government in case anything happens. 

The first step towards this is to learn more about the competitors’ certifications or licenses. Then, research to determine which license(s) would fit your academy.

Don’t forget to inquire about any complementary liability insurance that sometimes comes with certification or licensing.

It’s also important to list any certifications related to training, safety, or health on your academy website to convey your quality and safety standards.

There are some soccer organizations that you want to look to for certifications like those. In the United States, look to US Club Soccer , US Youth Soccer, SAY Soccer, and The American Youth Soccer Organization.

In Canada, you can look to Canada Soccer or Provincial & Territorial Soccer Associations.

Apart from some items, such as the coach’s playbook, running a business like this is possible without having to file for intellectual property protection.

The playbook lists the many formations for which the team has prepared. Some of these plays may have been passed down from one coach to another since the institution’s inception.

Imagine how disastrous it would be if this fell into the hands of a competing academy. Therefore, when such works are copyrighted, the information contained within them is protected by law.

If such things are discovered in possession of an unauthorized entity, or if the formation in the playbook is used, the team that uses them can face criminal charges.

Diets and training routines are examples of items that intellectual property laws can protect because they are the intellectual property of the institution that made them.

If no one knows about your business, it’s not yet confirmed. There are many things you can do to boost your brand awareness.

You can, for example, put together a local soccer league for your academy’s surrounding community and allow plenty of youngsters to participate. 

This way, parents and youngsters will learn about your football academy and enroll.

Joel is a seasoned soccer journalist and analyst with many years of experience in the field. Joel specializes in game analysis, player profiles, transfer news, and has a keen eye for the tactical nuances of the game. He played at various levels in the game and coached teams - he is happy to share his insight with you.

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Youth Soccer FAQ

How do you know if a youth player is good.

A youth player is great at soccer they will have some of these qualities; ball control, endurance, speed, movement, strength, leadership, creativity, attitude, will to play, and will to win.

How can a parent support their child in soccer?

+ Play for fun with them . Don’t “coach” or “train” your child, just play soccer games with them! + Take them to soccer games . Getting kids around soccer is one of the best ways to grow their love for the sport as well as their game IQ.  + Sign them up ! No matter what level your child is at, there are opportunities to play. + Choose the right level . If you want to help your child, choose a team/level that suits their abilities and interest level.  + Be the biggest cheerleader . Leave the coaching to the coach. As a parent, your job is to encourage your child and support them.

Do youth players get paid in America?

Players in the United States only get paid for playing soccer when they sign a professional contract. This is normally possible when a player turns 18 years old. In Europe, it is common for players to earn a salary when they are 16 years old.

What are the roles and responsibilities of a youth soccer coach? 

+ Selecting a team + Organizing training sessions + Communicating with parents + Scheduling practices + Scheduling games + Registering for tournaments/leagues + Attending league meetings + Administrative duties (e.g. registering players)

What are the youth soccer levels?

The youth soccer pyramid is now incredibly complex and often confusing. There are three separate organizations (USYS, USSSA, and US Club Soccer) sanctioning several divisions for youth soccer players, resulting in multiple high-level youth leagues. 

Thanks for reading our articles - we hope you've enjoyed them - have fun playing, coaching, and or watching soccer.

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Keys for building a successful high school football team

Most of what we believe was taken from other coaches we respect and have learned from. At some point, it’s hard to give credit where credit is due, because these concepts simply become who we are as a program and as coaches.

My strongest influences are my father, Ed Rux, Hall of Fame coach from Oconomowoc (Wisconsin); Ron MacBride, former coach at the University of Utah; and Jeff Trickey, a Hall of Fame coach and my quarterbacks coach.

In the last few years, it has become more difficult to get out to coaching clinics since my family has grown, so I get the most out of spending a day or two watching and listening to college coaches whom I respect and who are gracious enough to allow me to hang around for a day.

Usually, I’ll take about five hours and study their film, but I get the most out of listening to them teach and fine-tune their concepts. I especially enjoy hearing how other coordinators call their formations and plays, and much of our terminology comes from that or from our own players coming up with a term we can remember. I also benefit greatly from reading books written by coaches or people who have gone through a challenging experience. I highly recommend:

• Leading With the Heart , by Mike Krzyzewski.
• Faith in the Game , by Tom Osborne
• Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success , by John Wooden/Jay Carty
• Quiet Strength , by Tony Dungy/Nathan Whitaker
• When the Game Stands Tall , by Neil Hayes

Here are some quick thoughts on leadership within your program.

• Accept mistakes. “Own them, learn from them and flush them. Sometimes, you have to screw it up to truly understand it. Continually making the same mistake is unacceptable.

• Risk being wrong, risk taking ownership.  Take chances, and embrace your role as a leader.

• Develop a ‘Unity Council.’ Six players are chosen by teammates at the beginning of March to lead the team through the spring and summer months. Players have a lot of say in how the team will be run. They can determine if practice is too difficult or not rigorous enough. They have a say in playing time and suspensions. If a player has violated the code, and he is not ready to play because he has not changed his ways, they can extend his suspension.

No one besides the unity council and the head coach can be a part of the direct conversation. When we vote on team issues, the coach gets a vote as well.  Whatever is decided, the team must follow, even if the coaching staff does not agree.

The Unity Council has an obligation to police the team. This means socially, during strength and conditioning, and negative comments and acts off the field.

• Everyone works. It’s as important for a player with Division I ability to train to his potential as it is for a player who is not blessed with the same gifts. This basic philosophy is what makes a team great.

Developing the football philosophy

• Respect your opponent, and then knock his block off in between the whistles.
• Straight answers are the best answer. If you want a coach to move on, say ““Yes, coach.””
• We support freedom of expression. Nothing wrong with a blue mohawk in my book.

• Leave everything on the field, and don’t leave anything in the tank.
• Don’t swear, don’t get 15-yard penalties.
• Have fun, and cherish the moment.
• The big time is where you’re at. Don’t get sucked into the belief that the “grass is greener” someplace else.
• Players who do more should have the chance to do more on the field.
• Don’t disgrace the gifts that have been given to you by not making the most of them.
• Luck is that place where preparation and opportunity come together, and it’s what you do with it at that very moment.
• Attitude, commitment, respect and performance. Attitude is how you respond to adversity. Commitment is how you go about you business of preparing in strength and conditioning, during practice, academically and socially. Respect is how you treat others. Performance is what you do when it’s show time. The first three everyone can control.
• Throw your helmet and you won’t sit on the bench — you’ll be on the bus. How will you answer adversity?    
• “ There should be a place for everyone within your football program. We have had special needs student-athletes, foreign exchange players, and female athletes come out for football. All were coached, and all were treated with respect.

Thoughts for coaches

• As coaches, we have to decide what are our non-negotiable points. Everything else requires flexibility, but what do we hold true to our program philosophy.

• We don’t give out helmet awards from week to week. We’ve found that players start playing for the sticker and lose site of what’s important.

• Coaches at the varsity level have to be year-round coaches.  Lower level coaches need to be there when absolutely necessary. Coaches who do more should have the ability to make more decisions and have more responsibility.

• Coach within your personality.  You cannot be anyone else, and no one can ever be you.

• I yell because I want to be heard.  The coaches’ voices should be respected by all players in the program. Don’t allow them to ignore you.

• The ‘best-effort guarantee.’  The only guarantee in our program is that we will coach our players to the best of our ability, and do everything we can to put them in a position to be successful. Other than that, players have to earn everything they get, regardless of what they have done in the past.

The players sort it out. However, if we have two players that are playing at about the same level, they both play until one rises above the other.

• Two-way player flexibility. Players play on offense and defense if they are obviously head-and-shoulders better that the next man.

• Switching positions. Players can ask to play another position, but ultimately coaches must make the decision of who plays where and how much. The Unity Council always has a say in the matter.

• Player attendance. If a player needs to miss practice, he needs to call the head coach of his respective level. I like their parents, but I want to hear from them. It’s a part of growing up.

• Be on time or we all run.  I don’t run, but the players will. It’s important to respect everyone’s time and show up when you’re supposed to.

• Conditioning should be done by position group.  Be creative with your conditioning — don’t just run.

Our championship season

When our team was placed in the “”bracket from hell”” during the Wisconsin Division I playoffs, we decided to take our fight to the field. There was no looking ahead, and we knew every practice and every down mattered.

Our team had a sense that we were playing for something more than just the game. There was a spirituality to our team that was demonstrated day in and day out, and it was player driven.

Players also gave support for me and my family. They knew that our situation with our daughter in need of a heart transplant could take me away at any time. They had a sense of our crisis, and they were there for us.

Offseason training

Our football program supports the multi-sport athlete. We find that players who compete in other sports are not afraid of competition on the football field because they experience it all the time. As a result, they don’t get rattled when the game is on the line.

If a player is not in a sport, we expect him to treat the offseason strength and conditioning program like a sport. If a player is not doing his part during the offseason, as a rule I will have a conversation with him three times before I leave him alone to make his own decisions. I encourage other players to encourage teammates who are sorting out who they want to be, but I never force it. Ultimately, it’s the athlete’s decision to make.

We train four days a week from December to August. During the season, we lift on Saturday and Monday. For the most part, we follow the Parisi Speed-Training Program. Our running program greatly intensifies the last eight weeks before two-a-days begin.

Players who do not play another sport and do not train like they should in the offseason are still allowed to try out, but they have to earn their playing time. The coaches and our Unity Council determine when this is.

Passing leagues are optional, but we want to know when and why you aren’t participating. It has to be a good reason. Family vacation and events count.

We have our five-day camp the last week in July. Everyone gets coached. We don’t get bent out of shape if players miss one day. Five days of camp is ideal, four is better than three, three is better than two, and two is better than one. If a player only attends one or zero, there better be a good reason.

We expect student-athletes who are in summer baseball to also train with us consistently. Players should participate in the make-up of our offseason program. If there are changes that need to be made, and the Unity Council agrees with them, then we will all change.

The YMCA and home gyms do not replace the offseason program we have set up for our athletes. Specialized athletic-training facilities with certified personal trainers are an option for players, but we prefer a blend of our program, training with teammates, and the time spent there. The team-chemistry created in the offseason program, where players spend hours working and sweating together, is critical.

Steve Rux has won two state championships and finished state runner-up twice as head coach of Waukesha West High School in Wisconsin. His teams have made the postseason for 10 consecutive seasons.

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Indoor Soccer Facility Business Plan

Start your own indoor soccer facility business plan

Dribbling Indoor Soccer

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">.

Dribbling Indoor Soccer is the only indoor soccer facility in the Wingback County area.  The population of Wingback County is 240,000 residents.  Dribbling Indoor Soccer has two professional-style, lighted fields, (73′ x 140′) featuring Field Turf ®, for fast-action, fun soccer.  No matter what the weather conditions are, day or night, soccer players will find a safe, clean, and friendly atmosphere for soccer enjoyment.   

Several divisions for youth, men, women, and coed provide all players–from beginners to highly skilled–the right environment for recreational yet competitive soccer.  League play is continuous year round.  All league participants are required to become members of Dribbling Indoor Soccer.  The annual fee is $40.  Team registration per session is $700.  Each session has 10 games with championship awards being given to the first place team.   

In addition, skills clinics are available for beginning adults and those wishing to polish their skills.  The two fields can also be rented for practices, birthday parties, corporate events, preseason and post-season team parties, camps, clinics, school grad nights, fund raising tournaments, organized lacrosse and field hockey leagues and more.  A soccer store is on site to provide leading soccer brands to players, teams, leagues and schools.  The facility will also have a small cafe that will serve drinks, sandwiches, and pastry.   

Dribbling Indoor Soccer projects that the center will have more than 1,000 members, 30 adult teams and 30 youth teams by the end of year one.   

1.1 Objectives

The objectives for Dribbling Indoor Soccer are the following:

• Build facility membership to more than 800.   
• Register 30 adult and 25 youth teams by the end of first year of operation.   
• Develop facility potential to be rented for special events.   

1.2 Mission

The mission of Dribbling Indoor Soccer is to provide Wingback County residents with a state-of-the-art soccer facility that will enable both youth and adults to enjoy the sport of soccer year round.   

Company Summary company overview ) is an overview of the most important points about your company—your history, management team, location, mission statement and legal structure.">

Les Klew has been a fixture of the county’s soccer community for the past twenty years.  Over the years he has coached hundreds of children.  Many of his first players now have children of their own.  Currently, he is the supervisor of soccer officials for Wingback County area.  His level of expertise in soccer has made him an important contributor to the development of the sport in Wingback County.  He has instant credibility with players and coaches.   

Like Les, his wife Noh has been an important booster of soccer in Wingback County, especially women’s soccer.  Noh has coached numerous girls teams and has served as the chairperson of the Wingback County Soccer Association.   

The opening of Dribbling Indoor Soccer is a natural next step for this couple that has been so important to the growth and love of soccer in the county.   

Both will actively use their contacts to promote the facility to players and coaches.   

2.1 Company Ownership

Dribbling Indoor Soccer is owned by Lester (Les) and Naomi (Noh) Klew.  The business will maintain a sole proprietorship status for at least the first two years of operation.  The business projects that the Ouisterfield facility will be so popular that a second indoor operation will be established in the nearby city of Midfield.  At that time the business will reorganize to become an S Corporation.   

2.2 Start-up Summary

The start-up cost of Dribbling Indoor soccer is focused primarily on the field installation and the setup of the soccer store.  The Les and Noh Klew will invest in the business, and, addition, the Klews will obtain a long-term loan.  Details of start-up expenses and funding and shown in the tables and chart below. 

2.3 Company Locations and Facilities

Dribbling Indoor Soccer is located on West 18th Street in the city of Ouisterfield.  The 30,000 square foot facility is a former warehouse that will be converted into a playing facility.  The location is easily accessible to all city residents.  It is nearby Southtowne Park with is the largest and most popular city park.  This unique location is perfect.  In addition, the facility has ample off-street parking.

Products and Services

Dribbling Indoor Soccer is an indoor soccer facility that offers league play, soccer training and a soccer shop.  The facility is also available to be rented out for special events.   

The following is the fee schedule:

• Annual Facility Membership: $40
• Team Registration per Session: $700
• Facility Rental Fee: Member $55 – 65/hr, Non-Member $80/hr
• Skill Clinic Fees: Range from $80 (per week) for children, to $400 for groups

They are led by soccer skill instructors with “A” Level Coaching Certification.  The skill clinics are geared toward the novice who wants to improve their soccer skills.   

The facility also has a soccer shop that sells the very best in soccer gear, indoor and outdoor.  The shop has the best selection of turf shoes available in the city.   

Market Analysis Summary how to do a market analysis for your business plan.">

Soccer is a popular sport in Wingback County.  Currently there are 6,000 children participating in the youth soccer leagues, and 3,000 adults participating in the adult league.  The number of players are growing dramatically.  There are two factors that are impacting the popularity of soccer.     

• The first is the large number of children in the county under the age of 12.  There are approximately 30,000 children in the county under the age of 12.  The projection is that the percentage of children under the age of 12 will continue to grow for the next five years.  The most popular sport with this age group is soccer.   
• The second factor is the growing number of young people between the ages of 24 – 35 that are participating in team sports.  Participation in coed softball has increased by 20% each year for the past three years.  The demand for fields has led to the county building four new playing fields this year.  Adult outdoor soccer league has grown by 50% over the past two years.  Currently, there are 24 adult league teams participating in the outdoor city soccer league.   

4.1 Market Segmentation

Dribbling Indoor soccer will focus on the following target customers:

• Youths, ages 6-14 years of age.   
• Adults, ages 24-35 years of age.   

Strategy and Implementation Summary

Dribbling Indoor Soccer will aggressively pursue membership and team registration by discounting both the membership fee and the team fee.   

• Membership Fee : Dribbling Indoor Soccer will offer a 25% discount on membership fees for the first six months.   
• Team Fee : The team fee will be reduced by $100 if the team registers before the early sign-up deadline.   

In addition, we will sell the facility rental potential to local schools, churches, and civic organizations.   

5.1 Marketing Strategy

Marketing programs The marketing strategy for Dribbling will differ throughout the year, depending upon demand for the facility.  During the winter, when the weather is bad, and most leagues play indoors we will have to do very few marketing or advertising campaigns.  During the summer however we must make sure that the center retains top of mind share with local recreational soccer players, and parents looking for activities for their children during school holidays.   

Marketing programs during the summer will consist of:

• Discounts: e.g. rent for one hour, get the second hour free.   
• Advertise in the sports section of the local paper.   
• Post fliers at other sports and recreation facilities.   

Pricing All league participants are required to become members of Dribbling Indoor Soccer.  The annual fee for individuals is $40.  Team registration per season is $700.   

Teams can also purchase clinics.  A 1/2 day clinic, that can include up to 15 people will cost $400.  Children’s clinics/camps will be priced at $80 for five half day sessions.   

The fields will be available for rent on an hourly basis to members.  Rental of a field will cost $55 per hour during the day and $65 per hour during the evenings and weekends.   

5.2 Sales Strategy

Dribbling Indoor Soccer will sell the indoor facility to the current outdoor soccer teams.  We will operate a booth at the city’s soccer fields on the weekends for the two months before Dribbling opens.  In addition, we will call the team captains and coaches directly and sell the quality and convenience of the facility.  Dribbling Indoor Soccer will offer membership rates for field rental to these teams to get them in the facility.  Spring is notorious for poor field conditions prior to the beginning of the soccer season.   

During the first two weekends in April, Dribbling Indoor Soccer will offer free indoor soccer clinics for children and adults.   

5.2.1 Sales Forecast

The following is the sales forecast for the next three years.  The clinics, cafe, and the soccer shop will have direct cost of sales.  The clinics will be hiring the coaches to lead the clinics.  The soccer shop’s direct cost will be the wholesale price of the shop’s inventory.   

Dribbling Indoor Soccer will make a strong push to expand league play in the summer.  The summer is usually softball and baseball season and only competitive soccer teams play during the summer months.  These competitive teams represent only 10% of young soccer players.  The outdoor adults soccer leagues also don’t operate during the summer months, leaving a large number of recreational soccer players with opportunity to play.   

The only slow period for sales will be in November and December.  Though league sessions end in mid-November, December has proven to be a poor month to begin a new league session.   

Management Summary management summary will include information about who's on your team and why they're the right people for the job, as well as your future hiring plans.">

Les and Noh Klew will manage the day-to-day operations of Dribbling Indoor Soccer.  Both Les and Noh are considered very people-oriented and excellent supervisors of staff.  They are familiar with every aspect of the sport and both are certified to serve as officials for indoor soccer games.   

Les has been instrumental in the popularity of soccer in Wingback County.  He was a founding member of the Wingback County Soccer Council.  At the time there was only a handful of people interested in sport.  Over the next five years of his leadership, the Council acquired a budget of $200,000, a staff of six and became the major catalyst for the city’s new outdoor soccer facility which will be hosting this year’s Region 2 regional competition.   

Noh was also an important influence in the development of soccer in Wingback County.  Noh served as the Council’s marketing and fundraising coordinator for six years.  She increased donations by 15% each year over that period of time.  She established the Council’s marketing campaign to increase youth and adult soccer teams in Wingback County.   

6.1 Personnel Plan

The personnel of Dribbling Indoor Soccer are as follows:

• Manager (Klew, Les);
• Asst manager (Noh Klew);
• Senior staff (2);
• Store staff person (1);
• Cafe staff (2).

A janitorial service will be contracted to clean the facility.   

Clinic coaches will be hired, short term, as needed and paid out of clinic receipts.   

Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

The following is the financial plan for Dribbling Indoor Soccer.   

7.1 Break-even Analysis

The monthly break-even as shown below, is based upon forecasted sales, listed earlier in this plan, and all our anticipated monthly expenses.   

7.2 Projected Profit and Loss

The following table and charts will highlight projected profit and loss for the next three years.   

7.3 Projected Cash Flow

The following table and chart highlight the projected cash flow for three years.   

7.4 Projected Balance Sheet

The following table highlights the projected balance sheet for three years.   

7.5 Business Ratios

Business ratios for the years of this plan are shown below.  Industry profile ratios based on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code 7997, Sport and Recreation Club, are shown for comparison.   

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Football Coaching Business Plan Template & Guidebook

Every football coach dreams of having their own successful business, but many are unsure of how to put together a winning plan. With the #1 Football Coaching Business Plan Template & Guidebook, coaches can create an effective, comprehensive plan that will help them achieve their goals. This guidebook offers detailed information and advice on how to create a strong business plan that puts the coach in the best possible position for success.

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• How to Start a Profitable Football Coaching Business [11 Steps]

How to Write a Football Coaching Business Plan in 7 Steps:

1. describe the purpose of your football coaching business..

The first step to writing your business plan is to describe the purpose of your football coaching business. This includes describing why you are starting this type of business, and what problems it will solve for customers. This is a quick way to get your mind thinking about the customers’ problems. It also helps you identify what makes your business different from others in its industry.

It also helps to include a vision statement so that readers can understand what type of company you want to build.

Here is an example of a purpose mission statement for a football coaching business:

Our mission at [Football Coaching Business] is to provide quality, effective coaching and instruction to a diverse range of individuals and teams. We strive to ensure that each participant reaches their highest potential through our commitment to excellence and our passion for the game of football.

2. Products & Services Offered by Your Football Coaching Business.

The next step is to outline your products and services for your football coaching business. 

When you think about the products and services that you offer, it's helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

• What is my business?
• What are the products and/or services that I offer?
• Why am I offering these particular products and/or services?
• How do I differentiate myself from competitors with similar offerings?
• How will I market my products and services?

You may want to do a comparison of your business plan against those of other competitors in the area, or even with online reviews. This way, you can find out what people like about them and what they don’t like, so that you can either improve upon their offerings or avoid doing so altogether.

3. Build a Creative Marketing Stratgey.

If you don't have a marketing plan for your football coaching business, it's time to write one. Your marketing plan should be part of your business plan and be a roadmap to your goals. 

A good marketing plan for your football coaching business includes the following elements:

Target market

• Who is your target market?
• What do these customers have in common?
• How many of them are there?
• How can you best reach them with your message or product?

Customer base 

• Who are your current customers? 
• Where did they come from (i.e., referrals)?
• How can their experience with your football coaching business help make them repeat customers, consumers, visitors, subscribers, or advocates for other people in their network or industry who might also benefit from using this service, product, or brand?

Product or service description

• How does it work, what features does it have, and what are its benefits?
• Can anyone use this product or service regardless of age or gender?
• Can anyone visually see themselves using this product or service?
• How will they feel when they do so? If so, how long will the feeling last after purchasing (or trying) the product/service for the first time?

Competitive analysis

• Which companies are competing with yours today (and why)? 
• Which ones may enter into competition with yours tomorrow if they find out about it now through word-of-mouth advertising; social media networks; friends' recommendations; etc.)
• What specific advantages does each competitor offer over yours currently?

Marketing channels

• Which marketing channel do you intend to leverage to attract new customers?
• What is your estimated marketing budget needed?
• What is the projected cost to acquire a new customer?
• How many of your customers do you instead will return?

Form an LLC in your state!

4. Write Your Operational Plan.

Next, you'll need to build your operational plan. This section describes the type of business you'll be running, and includes the steps involved in your operations. 

In it, you should list:

• The equipment and facilities needed
• Who will be involved in the business (employees, contractors)
• Financial requirements for each step
• Milestones & KPIs
• Location of your business
• Zoning & permits required for the business

What equipment, supplies, or permits are needed to run a football coaching business?

• Protective Gear for Players
• Coaching Equipment (training cones, agility ladders, etc.)
• Field for Practice and Games
• Business License or Permit from Local Authorities
• First Aid Kit and Supplies
• Insurance Coverage for Staff and Players

5. Management & Organization of Your Football Coaching Business.

The second part of your football coaching business plan is to develop a management and organization section.

This section will cover all of the following:

• How many employees you need in order to run your football coaching business. This should include the roles they will play (for example, one person may be responsible for managing administrative duties while another might be in charge of customer service).
• The structure of your management team. The higher-ups like yourself should be able to delegate tasks through lower-level managers who are directly responsible for their given department (inventory and sales, etc.).
• How you’re going to make sure that everyone on board is doing their job well. You’ll want check-ins with employees regularly so they have time to ask questions or voice concerns if needed; this also gives you time to offer support where necessary while staying informed on how things are going within individual departments too!

6. Football Coaching Business Startup Expenses & Captial Needed.

This section should be broken down by month and year. If you are still in the planning stage of your business, it may be helpful to estimate how much money will be needed each month until you reach profitability.

Typically, expenses for your business can be broken into a few basic categories:

Startup Costs

Startup costs are typically the first expenses you will incur when beginning an enterprise. These include legal fees, accounting expenses, and other costs associated with getting your business off the ground. The amount of money needed to start a football coaching business varies based on many different variables, but below are a few different types of startup costs for a football coaching business.

Running & Operating Costs

Running costs refer to ongoing expenses related directly with operating your business over time like electricity bills or salaries paid out each month. These types of expenses will vary greatly depending on multiple variables such as location, team size, utility costs, etc.

Marketing & Sales Expenses

You should include any costs associated with marketing and sales, such as advertising and promotions, website design or maintenance. Also, consider any additional expenses that may be incurred if you decide to launch a new product or service line. For example, if your football coaching business has an existing website that needs an upgrade in order to sell more products or services, then this should be listed here.

7. Financial Plan & Projections

A financial plan is an important part of any business plan, as it outlines how the business will generate revenue and profit, and how it will use that profit to grow and sustain itself. To devise a financial plan for your football coaching business, you will need to consider a number of factors, including your start-up costs, operating costs, projected revenue, and expenses. 

Here are some steps you can follow to devise a financial plan for your football coaching business plan:

• Determine your start-up costs: This will include the cost of purchasing or leasing the space where you will operate your business, as well as the cost of buying or leasing any equipment or supplies that you need to start the business.
• Estimate your operating costs: Operating costs will include utilities, such as electricity, gas, and water, as well as labor costs for employees, if any, and the cost of purchasing any materials or supplies that you will need to run your business.
• Project your revenue: To project your revenue, you will need to consider the number of customers you expect to have and the average amount they will spend on each visit. You can use this information to estimate how much money you will make from selling your products or services.
• Estimate your expenses: In addition to your operating costs, you will need to consider other expenses, such as insurance, marketing, and maintenance. You will also need to set aside money for taxes and other fees.
• Create a budget: Once you have estimated your start-up costs, operating costs, revenue, and expenses, you can use this information to create a budget for your business. This will help you to see how much money you will need to start the business, and how much profit you can expect to make.
• Develop a plan for using your profit: Finally, you will need to decide how you will use your profit to grow and sustain your business. This might include investing in new equipment, expanding the business, or saving for a rainy day.

Frequently Asked Questions About Football Coaching Business Plans:

Why do you need a business plan for a football coaching business.

A business plan is an essential document for any business, and a football coaching business is no exception. A well-written business plan serves several purposes, including outlining the goals and objectives of the business, identifying potential sources of financing and revenue, estimating costs and profits, determining marketing strategies, and offering a roadmap for achieving success. Furthermore, a business plan can provide detailed information on industry trends and regulations to ensure that your football coaching business is meeting all requirements. Finally, if you're looking to secure financing from investors or lenders, a comprehensive business plan can be an invaluable tool in helping to explain your idea and demonstrate the potential for success.

Who should you ask for help with your football coaching business plan?

You should ask a professional business consultant or a qualified accountant for help with creating your football coaching business plan. Additionally, you may want to reach out to experienced business owners in the same industry for advice and guidance.

Can you write a football coaching business plan yourself?

Writing a successful business plan for a football coaching business requires comprehensive planning, research and an understanding of the coaching industry. It is best to consult with professional business plan writers and advisors to ensure that your plan is well-researched, comprehensive and tailored to your individual needs. Business plan writers can help you identify key elements of the plan such as mission and vision statements, market analysis, target demographics, financial projections and more. Professional advice is helpful in order to craft a plan that will attract interest from investors and financiers.

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How to Write a Youth Sports Business Plan

Understanding the youth sports market

Youth sports business plan template, executive summary, organization summary, market analysis summary, strategy and implementation, financial plan, marketing plan, performance metrics and evaluation.

• Growth Opportunities and Future Plans 
• Training Programs : Group and individual coaching sessions for various sports, focusing on skill development, fitness, and game strategy.
• Leagues and Tournaments : Organized competitions for different age groups, with emphasis on teamwork, sportsmanship, and fair play.
• Camps and Clinics : Specialized programs during school breaks and holidays, featuring guest coaches and experts in various sports disciplines.
• Sports Equipment and Merchandise : Sale of sports gear, uniforms, and Eastland Bobcats branded apparel.
• Community Outreach : Build relationships with local schools, community centers, and sports clubs to promote our programs and recruit new athletes.
• Marketing : Develop a strong online presence through our website, social media channels, and email campaigns. Use local media outlets and sponsored events to increase brand awareness.
• Partnerships : Secure sponsorships from local businesses and organizations to offset costs and provide additional resources for our programs.
• Continuous Improvement : Regularly evaluate our offerings, coaching methods, and facilities to ensure the highest quality and relevance for our athletes.
• Funding Sources : Membership fees, training program fees, league and tournament registration fees, equipment and merchandise sales, sponsorships, and facility rental income.
• Expenses : Facility maintenance and improvements, staff salaries, marketing and promotional costs, equipment purchases, insurance, and licensing fees.
• Financial Projections : Detailed projections for revenue, budget , expenses, break-even, and cash flow over a three-year period, with annual growth rates and profitability targets.
• Website : Develop a user-friendly and informative website that showcases our programs, services, and facilities. Include registration forms, payment options, and regular updates on events and achievements.
• Social Media : Share news and updates, and showcase our athletes' accomplishments on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
• Local Advertising : Place ads in local newspapers, magazines, and online community forums, targeting families with children in our age range.
• Community Events : Promote our programs at local events, such as fairs, festivals, and sports tournaments.
• Referral Program : Encourage word-of-mouth marketing by offering discounts or incentives to current participants who refer new athletes to our organization.
• Enrollment Numbers : Monitor the number of athletes enrolled in our programs and the retention rate of existing participants.
• Revenue : Track revenue generated from various sources, including program fees, merchandise sales, and sponsorships.
• Customer Satisfaction : Gather feedback from athletes and their parents through surveys, testimonials, and informal conversations to gauge satisfaction with our initiatives and identify areas for improvement.
• Athlete Development : Analyze our athletes' progress, both on and off the field, to ensure our programs are fostering healthy development.

Growth Opportunities and Future Plans

• Facility Expansion : Acquire additional land or facilities to accommodate a growing number of athletes and expand our range of sports and programs.
• Scholarship Program : Ensure equal access to our programs by providing financial assistance to athletes from low-income families.
• Coach Development : Implement ongoing training and professional development opportunities for our coaching staff to enhance their skills and stay current with industry trends.
• Partnerships : Explore opportunities to collaborate with other sports organizations and community groups to enhance our programs and reach a broader audience.

Tips for running a youth sports organization

1. get a youth sports management platform.

• Create a professional website using customizable templates. 
• Provide seamless online registration for parents. 
• Manage schedules for practices, games, and other events. 
• Communicate with parents and coaches through email and text. 
• Run background checks and manage athlete rosters. 

2. Choose a niche

3. find a good location and facilities, 4. market your league , social media, sponsorship opportunities, local events and networking, 5. get your licenses and permits, 6. obtain insurance, create your youth sports business plan today.

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St george news.

• 93 104/ 76 Sat 95/ 73 Sun 97/ 74

Region 9 football: Desert Hills faces daunting schedule with experienced returning starters

ST. GEORGE — In the first three weeks of the high school football season, Desert Hills will have two challenging road trips to Las Vegas, Nevada, sandwiched around a home game in Week 2 against Lehi, one of the top 6A programs in Utah.

And that’s before the gauntlet of Region 9 play even begins.

But the Thunder is approaching the season one game at a time.

“We just got to focus on what we do and take it week by week,” Desert Hills offensive coordinator Sam Stevens told St. George News after practice Wednesday night at Thunder Field.

“Right now we’re focusing on Faith Lutheran, the following week we’ll focus on Lehi, and then we focus on the other big team in Vegas that we play, Centennial,” he added. “And then we’ll get into region. It’s a rival week every single week in this region so we got to be prepared for whoever we go against.”

Last year the Thunder showed glimpses of its power-running game and dominant defense that won the 4A state title in 2022.

Desert Hills finished 7-5 overall and shared a three-way tie in second place in Region 9 at 4-2.

The Thunder was dispatched from the 4A state playoffs in a 34-16 quarterfinal loss to backyard rival Crimson Cliffs, the eventual state champ.

This year Stevens said the Thunder are much improved in their second season under the direction of head coach Solomona Tapasa.

“Last year was the first year, so there’s a lot of adjustment that needed done on how things run,” Stevens said. “But overall this year I think the adjustments are done. We’re familiar with what we want to do, we’re familiar with what he expects us to do. The boys are familiar with that.”

Desert Hills expects its strength on offense to be a strong running game that is driven by a large, physical line.

Keying that effort will be senior running back Tytan Mason, who looks to improve upon last year’s numbers of over 2,000 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns.

Also returning is senior quarterback Gerritt Grondel, who played his first season at Desert Hills last year after moving in from Hurricane.

“Consistency is everything, right?” Stevens said. “Having guys come back that are a little bit more experienced, they understand the offense a little bit more, they understand the defense a little bit more.

“It definitely gives you an advantage, as far as going into the season prepared for other teams,” he added. “Granted, we still have to work hard, we still have to execute. But just having that experience helps a lot.”

Defensively Desert Hills will be led by two senior returning starters, University of Utah-recruit Cyrus Polu and Cooper Clark. Juniors Anyzja Cummings and Beau Meredith also expect big years on that side of the ball.

Listed on the roster as Thunder captains are Mason, Grondel, Polu and senior wide receiver Topper Pattison.

Friday night’s opponent, Faith Lutheran, finished 9-4 last year and advanced to the third round of the 5A playoffs in Nevada.

“It’s going to be hot down there, but it’s not much different from the heat we experience here,” Stevens said. “I think the boys are ready. They’re just jumping at the chance to play somebody other than ourselves.”

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eric George Goold came to St. George News from southwestern Colorado, where he was a radio news reporter. He has been a journalist for over 20 years in five different states. He graduated with a master's degree in English from Kansas State University and writes nonfiction as well. Goold has been published in Sunstone Magazine and has done multiple public readings about local history. When he has free time, he enjoys chess, movies and dogs.

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Lakeland approves funds for new Lakeland Prep scoreboard

Lakeland Preparatory School's existing electro-mech scoreboard at its football field would be upgraded to a state-of-the-art video board under a new proposal from the city. (Courtesy Lakeland School System)

The Lakeland Preparatory School football field could be getting a major upgrade sooner than district officials expected.

Following a discussion on Thursday, Aug. 15, the suburb’s Board of Commissioners approved up to $270,000 related to the sponsorship and purchase of a new video scoreboard for the field. The process is in the early stages, and leaders have not decided on the specifics of the scoreboard.

Lakeland Mayor Josh Roman said he has seen other video scoreboards in nearby communities used as a way to promote the local municipalities.

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Michael Waddell

Michael Waddell is a native Memphian with more than 20 years of professional writing and editorial experience, working most recently with The Daily News and High Ground News.

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Mason County Central football preview: Spartans look to handle business in 2024

• Updated: Aug. 15, 2024, 4:27 p.m.
• | Published: Aug. 15, 2024, 2:47 p.m.

Mason County Central football helmet. (Photo courtesy of Dave Smith) Dave Smith

• Tom Mitsos | Special for MLive.com

SCOTTVILLE, MI — The Mason County Central football team clinched just its second playoff appearance in the past eight seasons in 2023 despite starting a freshman quarterback and losing two of the team’s top running backs to injuries.

The Spartans slashed their way to a 5-4 regular season record and a district semifinal appearance but couldn’t keep pace with small-school juggernaut Kinglsey in the opening round of the Division 6 playoffs. The Stags went on to defeat Almont 38-24 in the Division 6 state championship game.

Despite the early postseason exit, the entire Mason County Central program believes last season paved the way for bigger and better things in 2024.

“We made the playoffs last year, which was a big thing up here, but, for me, that’s what we should do,” said second-year MCC head coach Dave Smith about his program’s goals in 2024. “The next step is making that an every-year thing … let’s make a run at something. We want to be competitive in every game and I think we can compete for a conference championship if we can handle our business.”

Youth and injuries were the key storylines of last year’s season for the Spartans. While this year’s team is one year older, wiser and stronger, the injury bug already has bitten the Spartans before the first kickoff.

Senior defensive back and backup running back Elijah Gonzalez tore his ACL in seven-on-seven practice and will miss the entire season. However, senior running back Peyton Merz, one of the two running backs injured last season, will look to guide the Spartans to back-to-back playoff appearances.

Smith said he anticipates Merz will be a key contributor this year after missing half of the season in 2023.

“Peyton Merz, you’re going to hear his name a lot,” Smith said. “He was injured a lot last year, but we’re a whole different team when he’s in the backfield. He’s a bruiser. He’s going to be a different maker for us this season.”

Pierce Bladzik returns as the team’s starting quarterback after showcasing a high ceiling of potential as a freshman last season.

“Pierce, he’s a great kid,” added Smith. “He’s going to end up being, by far, the best quarterback I’ve ever coached. He puts the time in, he’s one of the hardest workers on a team, one of the smartest kids in the school. He’s got bright days ahead of him.”

Smith noted that while youth and injuries certainly didn’t help his team last season, MCC found itself in big deficits too many times due to mental lapses. Learning to overcome those mental mistakes was a big talking point during preseason practices.

“In the last year, we’ve made big strides physically, whether in the weight room or conditioning,” Smith said. “So, my goal is for these guys (to take steps mentally).”

The Spartans will roster 12 seniors this season, including All-Conference first-teamers Merz (RB), Eathan Huffman (WR) and Grayden Wilson (DL). Junior Kyle Peters (G) was an honorable mention.

“We have a lot of weapons,” Smith said. “I mean, we’re pretty deep in the skill position, even though we lost a couple of guys. … We’ll be able to do a little more throwing with the seasoned quarterback and some skill guys that we’ve brought up from the JV and (due to injuries) that we had from last year. So the next step for us is that confidence in knowing we’re a pretty (darn) good football team.”

Mason County Central will be on the road for its Week 1 matchup against Godwin Heights on Aug. 29.

2024 Mason County Central Spartans

Head coach: Dave Smith (2nd season; 5-5 overall)

Conference: West Michigan Conference (Rivers Division)

Key players: Pierce Bladzik (So., QB/DB), Eathen Huffman (Sr., RB/DB), Peyton Merz (Sr., RB/LB), Grayden Wilson (Sr., OL/DL), Quentin Lange (Sr., WR/DB), Brayden Jeffries (Sr., RB/DB), Kyle Peters (Jr., OL/DL).

2023 review: The Spartans finished 5-5 last season despite starting a freshman at quarterback and dealing with several injuries to key players. They registered notable wins over Godwin Heights (27-7), Ravenna (34-20), and Shelby (28-7). They were ultimately eliminated from the postseason by eventual Division 6 state champion Kingsley (61-12) in the opening round of the district tournament.

2024 outlook: Mason County Central returns healthier and more experienced this fall and has the playmakers to contend for a West Michigan Conference Rivers Division title if the squad can reach its potential. The first three weeks of the Spartans’ season will set the tone as they face Godwin Heights, Ludington and North Muskegon.

2024 schedule (conference games indicated by *)

Aug. 29 – at Wyoming Godwin Heights

Sept. 6 – at Ludington

Sept. 13 – at North Muskegon*

Sept. 20 – at Holton*

Sept. 27 – Ravenna*

Oct. 4 – Hart*

Oct. 11 – Hesperia*

Oct. 18 – at Shelby*

Oct. 25 – Manistee

Follow Josh VanDyke on Twitter and Facebook for more West Michigan sports content

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• Hart football preview: Pirates looking to reload not rebuild in 2024
• Kent City football preview: Eagles eyeing elusive district title in 2024
• 25 Muskegon-area high school football players to watch for the 2024 season
• Hesperia football preview: Panthers ready to turn the corner in 2024
• Muskegon-area football teams explode out of the gate during 1st day of practice

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Transfer Centre

Liverpool mocked by Spanish press after Martin Zubimendi snub - Paper Talk

Plus: Manchester City expected to pull off a surprise move for club-less England U20 striker Divin Mubama; Erik ten Hag says his team is not ready for the start of the new campaign; Mauricio Pochettino set to take over as new USMNT head coach

Friday 16 August 2024 08:45, UK

The top stories and transfer rumours from Friday's newspapers...

THE GUARDIAN

Erik ten Hag says Manchester United's ambition is to win the Premier League, claiming they have only been second best to rivals Manchester City since his arrival in 2022.

Mauricio Pochettino looks set to take over as the new manager of the US men's team.

Howard Webb has said much of the criticism of VAR is because people don't like the outcome of a decision, as the head of the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) tries to rebuild trust in refereeing in the Premier League.

• PL season opener: Man Utd vs Fulham LIVE!
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• Transfer news: Premier League ins and outs
• PL Predictions: West Ham to beat Villa on SNF
• Spurs sign Burnley winger Odobert
• Alcaraz ANNIHILATES racket! | 'He has melted that thing!'
• Maresca: Gallagher not available vs City and training away from team
• Emery must solve Aston Villa's midfield dilemma following Luiz exit
• West Ham's powershift - can they do a Leverkusen?
• Man Utd transfers: Ten Hag says club 'can't stand still' on more incomings
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• Done Deals: Premier League | WSL | Championship | Scottish Premiership
• A big season for: Grealish, Rashford, Mount, Nunez & more...
• PL Predictions: New season, same old woeful Man Utd?

Everton plan to test Dele's readiness for a Premier League return with several matches behind closed doors before deciding whether to offer the former England international a new contract.

Police in Catalonia have arrested four people after Mounir Nasraoui, the father of the Barcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal, was stabbed in a car park in Rocafonda, near Barcelona.

Transfer Centre LIVE!

Papers - latest headlines

Premier League ins and outs

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Manchester United icon Jaap Stam insists Erik ten Hag needs to leave the club before delivering a damning verdict of the Dutchman's style of football as Red Devils boss.

Liverpool have been brutally mocked by the Spanish press after Martin Zubimendi became the latest player to snub the Premier League side.

Crystal Palace have rejected Newcastle's third bid for Marc Guehi of £55m plus £5m in add-ons.

The body in charge of Premier League referees will make their referees appointment policy public for the first time in a move to protect football's integrity.

West Ham have enquired about a move for Spain and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Carlos Soler.

Saudi Arabia have reportedly targeted a move for Real Madrid star Eder Militao.

FIFA has signed a major sponsorship deal with a USA firm for the first time since the Department of Justice gave world football's governing body a clean bill of health.

Erik ten Hag says his team is not ready for the start of the new campaign after a busy pre-season.

Manchester City are expected to pull off a surprise move for club-less England U20 striker Divin Mubama, who recently left West Ham.

Jack Grealish's image rights company has scored big - banking a £7m bonanza from sponsorship deals.

Nine Chelsea stars are set to be axed in order to balance the books at Stamford Bridge.

Sean Dyche revealed that every one of his players is still for sale at the right price with Everton stuck in takeover limbo.

Referees and VARs will be prohibited from officiating in matches involving clubs they support, have a personal connection with or are in the same city in which they live, the policy of the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) on conflicts of interest states.

INEOS is exploring the possibility of releasing a behind-the-scenes film on Manchester United as it documents its journey following the partial takeover.

THE INDEPENDENT

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters says they "don't want to normalise asterisks on the league table" as the competition faces up to a potentially critical season over its regulatory future.

Premier League ticket prices have risen by an average of 6.7 per cent, according to figures supplied to the Independent by the Football Supporters' Association [FSA] and supplementary analysis, with Crystal Palace the only one of last season's 17 surviving clubs to not raise their prices. Nottingham Forest have been responsible for the biggest increase.

DAILY MIRROR

Julen Lopetegui has vowed to ensure the West Ham captain's armband does not weigh heavy upon Jarrod Bowen.

Joe Cole believes Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea frustrations were clear in the weeks before the manager left Stamford Bridge, despite overcoming a tough start to finish sixth in his one Premier League season.

Roberto De Zerbi has claimed he left Brighton because he clashed with owner Tony Bloom and he could not accept "unfair things".

Tony Pulis has praised Wrexham's coaching staff and players for remaining focused on football amidst the 'circus' the Hollywood owners have created.

THE ATHLETIC

Southampton are working on a deal to sign Cameron Archer from Aston Villa.

Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is set to miss the start of the season through injury.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says new signing Joshua Zirkzee is "close" to being ready to start for the Premier League season opener against Fulham on Friday.

Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic is surplus to Enzo Maresca's stylistic requirements only a year after joining from New England Revolution of MLS.

American businessman John Textor has entered a period of exclusivity to pursue the purchase of Farhad Moshiri's majority stake in Everton.

Chelsea have made midfielder Cesare Casadei available for transfer.

Southampton are in advanced talks with Chelsea to sign Lesley Ugochukwu on a season-long loan.

Manchester United sponsor Qualcomm has triggered its two-year extension option on its front-of-shirt deal with the Premier League club.

Chelsea hope to sell striker David Datro Fofana this summer.

Vitor Roque, 19, is close to leaving Barcelona, despite only joining in January.

DAILY EXPRESS

Manchester United will make a renewed attempt to prise Frenkie de Jong away from Barcelona this summer, according to reports in Spain.

Crystal Palace have informed Jean-Philippe Mateta's suitors that the in-form striker is not for sale this summer.

DAILY RECORD

Fears are growing that Rangers full-back Ridvan Yilmaz is set to be out of action for months after being carried off on a stretcher during a bruising Champions League defeat to Dynamo Kyiv.

Former Rangers star John Lundstram has been given pelters by Trabzonspor fans on social media after the Turkish Super Lig side were knocked out of qualifying for the Europa League.

Connor Barron will block out the noise from any Rangers fan protests on Saturday and insists the players are hurting just as badly after their Champions League exit.

SCOTTISH SUN

Rangers have sacked a new Celtic-supporting marketing guru after an offensive social media post was dug up by fans.

Leeds United are reportedly eyeing a swoop for Rangers star Rabbi Matondo.

Adam Idah insists he is not returning to Celtic to be Kyogo Furuhashi's back-up.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle's new owners have stumped up £70,000 to have their kit released by suppliers Puma - after the old regime failed to pay the bill for last season's strips.

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MDEI Courses & Program Structure

The Master of Digital Experience Innovation (MDEI) is a professional, course-based Master's program delivered fully online. The program focuses on the development of creative leaders, with a strong focus on user experience design, marketing, project management, leadership, and business development. Students are taught by faculty as well as industry leaders

MDEI consists of eight (8) core courses anchored by two (2) intensive workshops. These program intensives will provide students with the speed and flexibility of a short online program, while providing exciting real-world learning opportunities developed in collaboration with our industry partners.

Course Work

The program consists of 8 core required courses which can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis:

DEI 612 Working in Teams

DEI 613 Digital Media Solutions 1: Design Principles and Practice

DEI 614 Principles of Marketing in a Globalized World: Leveraging Digital Technology

DEI 623 Digital Media Solutions: Project Management

DEI 616 Special Topics (Design and Innovation)

DEI 625 Business Innovation and Impact

DEI 626 User Experience (UX) Fundamentals and User Research (UER)

DEI 627 Special Topics 2

*Please note this information is reflective of the 2023 academic year. Current students should refer to the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar for course requirements.

Full-time Program Plan

Students enrolled in the MDEI full-time stream will take four courses per term for a total of two terms. The full-time program is eight months in duration. MDEI Program Intensives will take place at the beginning and the end of the program:

Part-time Program Plan

Students who wish to complete the program part-time will take two courses per semester, and will complete the program in 2 years (20 months). MDEI Program Intensives will take place at the beginning and the end of the program:

Intensive Workshops

The program intensives take place at the beginning and the end of the program. They are developed by faculty in collaboration with industry partners and are designed to teach fundamental competencies and to reflect the outcomes of the core courses taught in each semester. Students will design, prototype, and evaluate innovative, forward-thinking design solutions, including problem formulation, solution design, and solution delivery.

Participation is required.

Learn more about the Intensive Workshops →

Industry Projects

The Master of Digital Experience Innovation is a professionally-oriented program that connects you to the real world. You'll be mentored by professors and corporate partners, and complete industry projects that reflect real opportunities in the digital media sector.

By merging theory with business practice you'll be prepared to not only identify challenges – you'll have the proven ability to propose, develop and implement timely, innovative digital solutions that enable businesses to grow and prosper.

• Sun Life Financial Students worked in a start-up environment on a new business initiative launched in August 2016, Sun Life Digital Health Solutions. Leveraging insights gained through research, students built a go-to-market strategy including designing an online interface. 
• IBM Watson Analytics - Cognitive Marketing  Students utilized user-centered strategies and practices to imagine the next generation of IBM Watson Analytics as a cognitive data visualization tool incorporating artificial technologies. 
• IBM Watson Analytics - Cognitive Healthcare  Students analyzed trends to identify and opportunity and solve a problem with human-centred design and product positioning techniques, and finally prototyped the solution. 
• Toronto Police Service Students created a new digital strategy to facilitate the ways in which the public can interact with the police. This included leveraging its digital presence through a new digital brand and improving the usability and relevance of its tools. 
• Media One Creative  With Media One's current technology and marketing strategy in place, students redeveloped the website, set-up and integrated Salesforce, Pardot (MAP), Vidyard and created functionality within the website to allow visitors to have a fully self-guided sales journey. 

Useful links

• Important dates and deadlines
• Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA)
• Graduate Studies Academic Calendar
• Forms (GSPA)
• Graduate schedule of classes
• QUEST login
• Waterloo LEARN
• Download the MDEI Brochure