If you manage an athletic league, you know all about competition when it comes to sports. But 
you probably also know how competitive it can be to get some attention from the media and even from your community. In today’s increasingly competitive and fast-paced world, attracting the kind of attention you need to build your team is more than a little challenging. The key to increasing awareness is to think like a company and create a memorable brand image that makes promotion, training and orientation a snap.
Why brand your league?
Your brand tells the community what your league is about and helps it stand apart from its competitors. It also helps you promote specific values that are important to your league’s goals and identity. One of the most effective (and budget-friendly) ways to create and promote your league’s brand is by designing a “package” for your league’s materials by using a league-branded accordion folder featuring league colors, logos – even the mascot.
Training tools
Every professional coach knows that having a central place to store data sheets and training materials is a critical part of making sure the team and individual athletes are as successful as possible. Having one central location to store league or club rules, team handouts and other training information so that it’s easily accessible on the road as well as on home turf makes playing more fun (and wins more frequent).
It works on an individual level as well: Most athletes - from Little League and youth soccer players to professional players – keep a collection of tip sheets, guides and even newspaper clippings to help them improve their individual game and serve as a powerful motivational tool. Athletic leagues and teams that provide team-branded accordion folders to their members can promote that spirit of teamwork and camaraderie that can help make a team more competitive and more successful.
Team orientation
At the start of a new season or after a big recruitment effort, getting every team member to pull together can be challenging. Having a team-branded accordion folder promotes the values of teamwork and good sportsmanship and makes it easy for leagues to communicate with both new and old players. Orientation kits might include practice schedules, game schedules, rule of the league, rules of the game, membership information and basic team information regarding uniforms, team photos and events. Including volunteer information and signup forms makes it easy for team members (and their families) to increase their role and their involvement. Likewise, including a list of contact names and numbers can aid in developing a strong sense of community among team members and creates a chain of command that can help the league operate more smoothly.
Fundraising and promotion
If your athletic league or sports team relies on contributions from business or private donors, an accordion folder is an ideal way to promote your team and also provide the donor with important information about the team they’re supporting. Pockets can be used to hold a welcome or thank you letter from the team manager or coach, general team information, a schedule, information about how the league or team uses its funds, copies of news articles about the team – even a team or league photo, decal or bumper sticker. Presenting your team in a more organized, even professional manner helps donors understand that their contributions will be making a meaningful difference to a group that’s serious about its sport and the service it provides to amateur athletes as well as the community at large. And, of course, if you select a colorful, bold design for your folder, it can provide a visual reminder to the donor’s customers and colleagues every time they see it.
The same accordion folder can be provided to media outlets like newspapers, radio and television stations or to individual sports reporters. Be sure to include your most recent press release as well as a couple of general, short news stories that could be used as news briefs. Newspapers and other news outlets appreciate receiving information that’s of interest to the community they serve, especially when it comes from a source that presents itself as a professional and reliable source of information.
Every successful group or organization knows that creating a strong brand is an important part in its success and longevity. Branded accordion folders can help you develop and promote your league’s brand at a cost that’s easily affordable.
