Mike Hart

Athletics Program Advisor @ PlayOn Sports | Former Athletic Director | NIAAA CMAA | Helping HS AD’s

[Mike Hart @MikeHartPlayOn]

Before fall starts, try the parent test.

Can a first-time fan quickly find the schedule, ticket link, parking info, livestream, weather update, gate location, and staff contact?

Families are not trying to be difficult. Make the basics easy.

ADs, what question do you hear most?

[Mike Hart @MikeHartPlayOn]

Every AD has heard it: “Have we ever thought about adding ______?”

Flag football. Boys volleyball. Girls wrestling. Esports.

Student interest does not wait for facilities, officials, coaches, buses, or budget.

By the time a sport feels obvious, it is already on your desk.

[Mike Hart @MikeHartPlayOn]

Atlanta is hosting the World Cup.
Coca-Cola is making sure everyone knows whose hometown this is.

The lesson for schools?

The more visible your sponsors are, the more valuable they become.

[Mike Hart @MikeHartPlayOn]

Yesterday I had the opportunity to represent PlayOn Sports at the NCHSAA New AD Orientation in Greensboro. Strange to be on the other side after sitting in those same seats in 2014. I made this career change for one reason: to make an impact and help others.

[Mike Hart @MikeHartPlayOn]

If your heat plan is “ask the trainer,” you do not have a plan. Show some appreciation to your ATCs, but build a system around them. Coaches, athletes, parents, admin, and event staff should all know the plan before the first weather delay. Heat safety is not 1 person’s job.

[Mike Hart @MikeHartPlayOn]

Happy National Hot Dog Day! Nothing beats grabbing a hot dog before the game. Did you know GoFan powers cashless payments at concession stands across the country? Faster checkout means more time cheering. Now let's settle the debate: What's the best concession stand snack?

[Mike Hart @MikeHartPlayOn]

The ESPYS have a red carpet.

High school athletics have a folding table, a hot gym, and someone asking where the mic is.

Both can still recognize people.

Student sections. Managers. Parent volunteers. Assistant coaches. Comeback athletes.

Recognition is free!

[Mike Hart @MikeHartPlayOn]

MLB All-Star Week is one big “pay attention to this person” campaign.

High schools should steal that.

Post the glue kid, JV energy kid, student manager, assistant coach, and multi-sport athlete living out of a backpack.

Final scores are fine.

Recognition builds pride.

[Mike Hart @MikeHartPlayOn]

FIFA has fan zones and World Cup fans will paint their face, wear a flag as a cape, and lose their voice before lunch.

You have a student section, a sound system, and students who will do anything for a free T-shirt.

The goal is simple:

Make people who stayed home regret it.

[Mike Hart @MikeHartPlayOn]

That is why I’m excited about what PlayOn Sites can do for athletic departments heading into fall, especially with the recent updates.

If your site is making people work too hard to find the basics, it may be worth taking a look.

[Mike Hart @MikeHartPlayOn]

One month into my role at PlayOn, one thing has stood out:

It is way harder than it should be to find basic athletic department information.

Schedules. Staff contacts. Ticket links. Livestream links. Team pages. Game-day updates.

[Mike Hart @MikeHartPlayOn]

But your site is the front door to your program.

It should make life easier for families, fans, coaches, visiting schools, and your own staff.

[Mike Hart @MikeHartPlayOn]

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce got married at MSG, and the internet became one giant student section.

People want to be part of a moment. Your job isn't to make every event famous, it's to make it feel unmissable.

#HighSchoolAthletics

[Mike Hart @MikeHartPlayOn]

👀Coach wouldn't have to upload stats to MaxPreps if they are using @MaxPrepsAdv because your games are automatically logged and entered into @MaxPreps !

[MaxPreps @MaxPreps]

Your numbers can’t speak for you if they’re sitting in a notebook somewhere. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Mike Hart @MikeHartPlayOn]

Parades. Fireworks. Cookouts. Ballgames.

School events hit different when they feel local: music, theme nights, student sections, easy tickets, a reason to bring the family.

ADs, what gets your community to show up?

Happy 4th of July!

[Mike Hart @MikeHartPlayOn]

Crazy to think fall sports are just a few weeks away.
July is when the season starts taking shape: schedules, eligibility, coach requirements, safety plans, and game-day staffing.
A little structure now can save a lot of stress in August.
What else is on your AD checklist?

[Mike Hart @MikeHartPlayOn]

The Knicks waited 53 years and got a parade. Your student section waits 53 seconds with nothing happening and starts checking TikTok. Game atmosphere matters. Music. Halftime fun. Giveaways. Student buy-in. It does not have to be fancy.

What works at your school?

[Mike Hart @MikeHartPlayOn]

The first home football game usually reveals what didn’t get planned early.

Gate help. Fan updates. Streaming. Workers. Community visibility.

The best fall game-day experiences are built in June and July.

ADs: what creates the most first-game stress for you?

[Mike Hart @MikeHartPlayOn]

ADs: your best game-day crew might already be sitting in 3rd period.

Student broadcast teams, content crews, internships, even class credit. They learn real career skills, your teams get more visibility, and you’re not doing it all from the sideline.

Reach out for more info!