Football organizations offer an abundance of business opportunities and positive exposure for your business. In addition to the industry members of the football council, you will have opportunities to meet and get to know other members of the national football league associations, including business leaders that support the organizations for football.

Affiliation with American football organizations provides lobbying and networking opportunities that can be immensely helpful to your own business interests while you support the industry. Membership in a football association often means access to information and contacts that can be important to your own company. A regional football organization for amateurs offers even more chances to network with local business leaders in your community. Approach your membership in a football group from a variety of perspectives.

1. Expand your network through a football council

2. Support the industry by participating in organizations for football

3. Stay informed with football council publications

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Develop business contacts in youth football organizations

Football organizations hold regular meetings, seminars and conventions for members and interested parties. At football association events, as well as through various committees in which you can participate, you will have numerous occasions to socialize and network with other business people who support and work within the industry. The business leaders you meet could offer a number of trade opportunities for you and your company.

I recommend: American Youth Football and Cheer is a national football league association that promotes young athletes and their sport. Catch 22 is one of the youth football organizations that fosters football participation in communities across the nation.

Meet others who share your interest by joining a football group

If you want to do business with football professionals, fans and players you will want to show your support while building relationships with national and local leaders in the industry. You often can do this best by participating in a football association with both your presence and your financial support.

I recommend: USA Football is a non-profit national football league association that promotes youth football from a grassroots perspective. The American Football Coaches Association has grown to more than 10,000 members worldwide. Members include a variety of professionals in areas that support the sport from amateurs to school and professional athletics.

Keep your company in the loop with football group publications

While you may not have time to participate in a trade group or volunteer on a committee, you can take advantage of membership in a football association through the myriad publications they put out. By keeping up with the reports and news in the industry, you can pick and choose which events will be most beneficial for you to attend while keeping updated on changes or news that affects football and the businesses that support it.

I recommend: Youth Football USA provides a variety of resources for coaches and interested members as well as networking opportunities to meet other like-minded professionals. The American Football Association is a huge member organization that serves a number of football organizations with written resources and networking and player events.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Join a fundraising or membership committee in a football group to develop closer relationships with others who could provide sources of business for your company.