Success in football starts with getting everyone on the same page. If communication isn’t right between players and coaches during games, on-field performance will suffer.

And as sideline communication technology continues to advance, being able to operate it effectively on game day is critical in making sure conversations between coaches on the sideline and coaches in the booth are going off without a hitch.

Mike Podoll of AFCAweekly.com recently offered 10 ideas to help coaching staffs avoid sideline communication problems on game day

• Make the right investment. Budget play a big part in decision-making, but it is important to invest the necessary time and money to buy the right headsets for your program. Ask questions. Evaluate system features and set-up. What are the antennae options? Seek references from fellow coaches.
• Make sure everyone can operate the headset. To make sure the system performs to the best of its ability on game day, everyone needs to know how it works. There’s no time on third-and-4 to figure out what’s wrong. Test the system. Put alternate coaches in the booth and the sideline in case someone is sick or away on game day. Have a point person, but don’t rely on a single technician as the only one who can fix problems, then get left helpless on game day when the system malfunctions.
• Avoid surprises. Coaches ask their players to be prepared on game day. The same standards should be set with the coaches’ communication system and the stadium – home or away. Learn as much as you can about your upcoming venue ensures that you’ll have no surprises when you get there.
• Change the batteries every game day. This may seem like a simple task, but it’s an area that too often gets overlooked. Batteries and charge times can vary per system, so be sure to leave ample time to charge them – and any back-up batteries – each week. It also is important to understand the battery management guidelines with your system – overcharging risks, offseason charging, etc.
• Know the power availability. Your system may use battery, AC power or both, so know the availability of power in every road coaches’ box. Keep extra extension cords in your accessory case in the event you need to access power in another room, hallway or outside the press box.
• Setup and test time. Leave ample time to get equipment set up and tested properly. Setup times can vary so allow time to test the system’s functionality. Testing should be conducted with at least one person in the press box talking to at least one person on the field. Refrain from having too many people on the headsets during testing.
• Learn the best antenna locations. The antenna is the most vital part of system setup. Improper setup or location can result in poor performance or even system failure. Whenever possible, always open the windows – tinted or not – to remove obstruction between the antenna and the field. This provides the best possible scenario for optimal performance.
• Coordinate with others. Guess what? You’re not the only one on game day who is using wireless. Check with other gameday personnel such as scoreboard operators, radio stations and other media to see what types of wireless equipment they use and exactly where they’ll be using it. Don’t find out at kickoff you are sharing a channel with someone.
• Cable and cord management. Whether it is a headset cable or a wired belt-pack cable, a simple, effective way to avoid user errors and user injury is to tidy up in the press box during setup. Taking extra time to clean and secure the environment makes for a better gameday experience for coaches in the press box and prevents inadvertent damage or preventable issues with the system.
• Post-game breakdown, clean up. One of the best things to ensure consistent, long-lasting performance from a headset system is to take care of it. Just as important as system setup is the system breakdown and clean-up procedures. Be sure that the system is powered-down properly, cables are tended to neatly and everything is placed properly and securely within its designated storage place.