Fundraising for high school sports is a constant struggle. In order to provide a team with the equipment that they need and the gear that they desire, some teams have to get creative with their fundraising. 

Most teams have a very small budget, or none at all, at the start of their season. Especially at the high school level, money is very tight, and teams are rarely sponsored to help with the funding issue. This leaves many coaches and athletes to think of how to obtain the money themselves. 

At RCHS, a common fundraising option is selling coupon cards. Both the baseball and football teams sell these cards in order to gain money. 

Junior Thomas Armstrong has been selling baseball cards for the program since eighth grade. 

“We sell $25 cards that have local businesses and restaurant coupons on them,” said Armstrong, “The reason we sell them is to upgrade our equipment and our field.”

These cards not only benefit the teams, but also the local businesses. By circulating coupons, the local food and business industry experiences an increase in customers. 

Other teams at RCHS have team stores in which they sell their apparel in order to raise money. Most teams make this link available to anyone who wants to purchase gear to increase their funds and support by getting their name out to the community. 

A third common fundraiser that teams use to raise money is an old-fashioned car wash. Athletes can sell tickets in advance, or customers can pay when they get to the car wash. Aside from strictly fundraising, this can also be used as a team-bonding activity where the athletes have a good time washing cars together. 

Lastly, the soccer program at RCHS has thought up a unique way to fundraise: writing letters. 

Senior John Huss Clement has taken part in this fundraising process as long as he has been a part of the program. 

“We ask loved ones and friends who would support our soccer team to donate the money that we need to get team gear,” said Clement.

Letter writing has not been taken up by many other teams aside from soccer, but other sports may be inspired by this practice after hearing about it. 

The biggest obstacle for high school sports is often money and how to obtain enough of it to adequately equip and dress athletes. Sometimes without sponsors, teams have to get creative and think of new ways to raise money in order to keep their supporters interested. 

If after reading this you have any interest in participating in one of the fundraisers that in-season teams are doing, please contact Athletic Director Adam Haynes for more information!