Getting Started with Sports Program Printing
Sports programs are essential for any sporting event. Often, teams will do a season program with possible inserts for team rosters and other individual information. Since our sports careers don’t last forever, high school and college game day programs as souvenirs will keep the memories alive for years to come.
The key to creating a successful sports program is to think like a fan – what would they want to know? It’s easy to fill with information that an organizer wants attendees to know, but this may not always be relevant to fans. When sports fans attend a game, they often don’t just want to watch it they want to become involved. Here’s what you need to keep in mind when designing your sports program.
Important, Relevant Pages
You don’t need to overthink every single page, but you do want to include the essentials. These pages are the heart of a great sports program and what fans, families, and sponsors actually want to see. Here’s your go-to list to make sure nothing important gets left out:
- Cover Page
- Table of Contents
- Schedule of Upcoming Games
- Nightly Promotions
- Varsity/Junior Varsity Team Photos
- Full Player Roster (individual players with name, picture, number and position)
- Meet the Manager/Coach/Coaching Staff
- Photos and a letter from each
- “Meet the Seniors” Page
- Booster Club, Cheerleading and Mascot Information
- Action pictures (from previous games, practices and pep rallies)
- Information Pages
- Thank You Page
- List of Advertisers/Sponsor Pages
Here’s a real sports program from Tioga Athletic Booster Club, available as a digital flipbook so you can preview each page just like it’s printed.
What to do with Empty Pages
Fans, parents and family want to see pictures and they don’t necessarily want their program to be crowded with text. Keep it short and sweet, with relevant information about the game or team.
Sometimes your content doesn’t perfectly match your final page count. Instead of leaving blank pages, this is a great opportunity to get creative and add value.
Here are a few ideas to make the most of that space:
- Autograph or Notes Page: Leave a blank page with lines or boxes for signatures, messages, or team memories. It’s a great space for teammates to write to each other or to collect any autographs.
- Game Rules or “101” Pages: Add a “Volleyball 101” or “Wrestling Basics” page for fans who are new to the sport. It’s helpful and fun, especially for younger siblings or first-time watchers.
- Booster Club or Volunteer Shoutouts: Shout-out the behind-the-scenes heroes like team moms, organizers, snack bar crews, or just long-time supporters who help make each season possible.
- Quote Page or Team Traditions: Add in favorite team chants, motivational quotes from coaches, or funny inside jokes. It’s a great way to add a little extra personality.
- Extra Photos: Add in more photos, a full-page photo collage is always a win
Unused space doesn’t have to feel like an afterthought. Filler pages can add personality and more meaning that make the program more enjoyable.
Local Advertising
Asking for sponsors can be an easy way to get involved in the community and for the community to give back to its schools and sports organizations. When a local business donates to your program, they are not only helping you, but they are utilizing cheap advertising and brand awareness.
You can even ask the parents and families if they’d like to recognize their athlete with a personal program ad! Though you should absolutely consider using the team or players for physical fundraisers like a car wash. Not contacting families and local businesses means missing out on community involvement and a lot of free money for your team.
Ready to Print?
Creating a sports program might feel overwhelming at first, but once you know what to include, it all starts to come together. If you touch on all these points, we are sure your sports program printing will be a success! Whether you designing a program for football, baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, wrestling, swimming, volleyball, cheerleading, track & field, or more, we can handle your printing needs. Use our free templates, online design tool, or reach out with questions anytime. We’re here to make the printing part easy!
