Athletic Booster Clubs in Wisconsin

Athletic booster clubs provide support for Wisconsin teams.

Athletics booster clubs are nonprofit organizations that raise funds for a variety of school-sponsored sports teams. Booster club membership may consist of parents, fans and other members of the local community. Most school districts in the state of Wisconsin have at least one booster club. These organizations most often support high school or collegiate athletics, and the types of sports funded by each club varies widely.

North American Booster Club Association

Many Wisconsin booster clubs are affiliated with the North American Booster Club Association (NABCA). The NABCA offers educational seminars and other types of training to parents, coaches and other club members. It also provides advice and support to club members by facilitating interaction among members of booster clubs across the nation. Wisconsin booster clubs benefit from the presence of local NABCA-trained club advisers who are available to assist with short-term or long-range planning. Although affiliation with NABCA is advantageous, Wisconsin booster clubs are not required to become members of a national organization.

Comprehensive Athletics Support

Several booster clubs in Wisconsin provide comprehensive support for athletics within a district high school. These clubs may raise funds for small or large athletics programs, with some covering more than 10 distinct sports groups. Comprehensive booster clubs may assist in meeting the needs of basketball, football, swimming, gymnastics, tennis and other teams. Parent representatives from each sport usually hold an office or representative seat in the booster club. This type of booster club exists in multiple school districts across the state. Wisconson school districts using the comprehensive athletics support model include Watertown, Greendale and Middleton.

Single-Sport Booster Clubs

A smaller number of high school booster clubs in Wisconsin focus upon a single sport in their fundraising efforts. These clubs may sponsor both girls' and boys' divisions of the same sport, or only one of these divisions. The Muskego High School Hoops Club engages in fundraising for all student basketball players. The Wisconsin Dells Football Booster Club supports the school's all-male football team and is unaffiliated with any female athletics sponsorship. Due to their narrow focus, single-sport booster clubs may be able to provide for their team's financial needs that comprehensive clubs may be forced to delay in favor of a different sport.

College and University Booster Clubs

Many Wisconsin college and university athletic teams have affiliated booster clubs. These clubs operate similarly to their high school counterparts, but must comply with additional requirements set forth by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The NCAA limits contact between boosters and potential university athletes and also places regulations on usage of funds. Most collegiate booster clubs operate under the single-sport model. For example, the University of Wisconsin at Stout has separate clubs for each sport, including the Touchdown Club for football and the Blue Line Club for hockey.

References

• North American Booster Club Association: About the NABCA
• Watertown High School: Watertown Athletic Booster Club
• Greendale Panther Athletic Booster Club: Mission Statement
• Middleton Booster Club: About the Cardinal Booster Club
• Muskego High School: Hoops Club
• Wisconsin Dells Football Booster Club: About Boosters

Resources

• University of Wisconsin at Stout Athletics: Compliance Guidelines for Boosters