AKHS Men’s Varsity Tennis Team

1. AKHS Men’s Varsity Tennis Team Libby Weeks Austin Baker John Dwyer

2. Men’s Varsity Tennis Team • The AK men’s tennis team is made up of 14 players that range from freshman to seniors, but mostly consists of juniors and seniors. The coach is Coach Roy Hudson and the team competes in the spring. • The tennis team at AK is very good but unfortunately, it does not draw a large student crowd. Our group will do research to figure out why there is low attendance and what we can do to draw a bigger crowd.

3. Identifying the Problem • At tennis games, there is a lack of a student support. There are more parents and family members than students. Our group is willing to find out why and what we can do to increase the student attendance.

5. Primary Source #1(Survey) - Responses • We surveyed 15 students are Ardrey Kell randomly. • 5 Females, 10 Males • 7 Seniors, 5 Juniors, 2 Sophomores • Do you attend AK sporting events? • Yes- 14 • No- 1 • Most popular sporting events are football, basketball, baseball and soccer.

6. Primary Source #1(Survey) - Responses • How many games do you attend on average per year? • More than 5 different games a year: 10 • Between 1-2 games per year: 3 • Between 3-4 games: 1 • Never been to a game:1 • Why do you attend sporting events? • Watch friends play • They are fun and exciting • Supporting their school

7. Primary Source #1(Survey) - Responses • Do you consider yourself a spirited person? • Yes: 10 • No: 2 • Others responded with sometimes or maybe • What day of the week do you go to games? • Monday-6 • Tuesday-8 • Wednesday-6 • Thursday-10 • Friday-14 • If you typically leave during the middle of games, why do you? • Homework • AK is losing

8. Primary Source #2 (Interview) • What holds you back from going to sporting events? • Homework-10 • Work-7 • Sports Practice-5 • Family obligations-4 • Don’t want to pay-3 • No interest-3 • Other-3 • Are you an athlete at AK? • Yes-7 • No-8 • Do you have a season pass for AK sports? • Yes-4 • No-11 • Do you believe there should incentives for students going to the games? • Yes-8 • No-7 • Have you ever been to a tennis game? • Yes-0 • No-15

9. Primary Source #2 (Interview)- Responses • Interview with Mrs. Van Veen (Women’s Tennis Coach) • 1. How many wins did the men’s tennis team have this past season? • “17 wins, 2 losses” • 2. How far did the team make it in the playoffs? • “Final Four” • 3. Are you satisfied with the number of fans that attend the Women’s tennis games? • “No because there are around ten people who attend the games and they are mostly parents.” • 4. What could you do to attract more fans and students? • “Give out homework passes and promotions, If we gave out homework passes, we would need another bleacher section.” • 5. Do you believe you advertise your games enough? • “No, we don’t advertise our games enough” • 6. What do you think about the men’s tennis team? • “They came in second place the past season and I like the coach.”

10. Primary Source #2 (Interview)- Responses • Interview with Carter Love, Senior, Male • 1. Have you ever been to a men’s tennis match? • “No.” • 2. Why don’t you attend the tennis matches? • “There is a lack of viewable seating locations” and “I don’t know anyone on the team. Also its kind of boring because it is a non contact sport and is only one on one.” • 3. If you received incentives for attending the tennis matches, would you go? • “Yes.” • 4. Do you have any friends on the men’s tennis team? • “No, but my friend may be trying out this year.” • 5. If he makes it, would you go to the matches? • “yes”

11. Secondary Source • Last season there were 14 members on the team and they lost only two matches and won 17. The team came in second place overall in the state. It is surprising to see the lack of attendance at games because the team is pretty good. The season begins in the spring and this is time when students begin to focus more on their school work because of upcoming finals.

12. Analyze Data • From our interviews with a coach and student, we have come to the conclusion that Men’s tennis games are not advertised at all. Also the sport of tennis doesn’t appeal to enough people since it is consider “boring”, “too quiet”, and “it’s a non contact sport”. Many students would prefer going to football, basketball or baseball games.

13. Recommended Solutions (#1) • Advertise • We will begin announcing the tennis matches on the morning announcements and after school announcements. Captains will learn to take initiative and will broadcast the information about upcoming matches to the students. Having the students advertise will attract more students, rather than adults or teachers. • Players can also advertise using social media such as Twitter and Instagram.

14. Recommended Solutions (#2) • Promote • Mr. Switzer will provide an opportunity for teachers to offer homework passes once a week to the students who attend the matches. Our hopes are that more students will get more involved in sports that aren't as popular like tennis. • Along will homework passes, students that attend all the home matches will get to choose between a free class t-shirt or a $10 coupon to the school cafeteria.

15. Recommended Solutions (#3) • To make games more fun and appealing, each home match will have a theme, just like football games. Hopefully, the themes will encourage students to attend the matches and make them more fun (since many say tennis is boring). Possible themes could be like purple out, black out, white out, American, rave, and Hawaiian theme.