As the phrase goes, it takes a village to raise a child. One component of many "villages" that has been helping foster growth and development in young people for many years is high school football.

However, high school football in and of itself does not exist in a vacuum. It requires help and support from an entire community.

There are many logistical details that are required in order for your team to have a successful season. Some of those details include a thriving booster club, well-oiled concession stands and various support groups and personnel to ensure that a high school football team is ready to take the field on Friday nights.

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The booster club helps raise capital for the team so they can travel to away games, obtain the latest gear and find innovative ways to generate revenue to plan for things that may arise during the season. Many booster clubs are the backbone of their programs, and often they do not receive the credit they deserve for all of the fundraising efforts players can sometimes overlook.

What is a high school football game without a booming concession stand? Parents and volunteers are constantly sacrificing their time to raise more money for the team by selling traditional favorites like hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, boiled peanuts and in the South particularly, hot pickled sausages that normally run out by halftime.

To date, I have been removed from high football for over a decade but my mother still volunteers on Friday evenings to give back to our community and our young men. My mother is grateful for the platform my high school afforded me, and how I was able to obtain my dreams of earning a Division I scholarship. The village made my dream come true!

Another component of the game is the support groups. Whether it be the cheerleaders, the band or other performers, they certainly keep the atmosphere exciting and get the players hyped up.

There are a lot of moving parts to ensure success to high school football games, but it is no better feeling to witness all of the support from community stakeholders, family members, and friends to watch you play. It is truly special!

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High school football brings a diverse group of people together weekly and has been uniting communities and individuals from all walks of life for years. The beauty of it is we all get to play a role in making our community a better place, and we are just weeks away from mentoring the next group of young people and helping them achieve their dreams and goals.

High school football is invaluable and it will continue to be a community staple for years to come.

Work hard. Be great.

Ashton Henderson was a four-year letterman at defensive back for Michigan State University as well as an honor student and co-author with former teammate Travis Key of “Beyond The Gridiron: How to successfully transition into collegiate football,” a detailed account of what it takes to be a Division I college football player and successful in life. To learn more about their mission and purchase your copy today, visit: www.beyondthegridironllc.com