Rules for a Football program and why?

1. All ways keep an open line of communications: This includes your athletes, their parents, coaches, faculty members, administrations, the school board, and  community members.  We are now living in an information age where you can facebook, twitter, text, email, most school districts have web pages and the ability to send out mass phone messages.  Use these as tools to help not only promote your program but also ensure there is not an irritate parent because a time, date, or location of a game has changed. What day picture day is on and other special events. 
2. There should be no hierarchy in your program.  From the day the athlete steps into your doors until the day you part ways they should be treated with respect.  No hazing, beating up the sophomore in the varsity locker room.  Once they become a part of your organization they are family.  The San Francisco 49ers of the Bill Walsh era did not haze rookies it was not allowed.  And they went from the worst football team in the NFL to winning the Superbowl in 3 years.  
3. Demand from or hire coaches that will not only work hard for you but will also continually improve themselves with relentless effort. This might involve having to invest in your human capital but it will pay off for them and you.  
4. Even the best of people sometimes will be like water and settle in the lowest places that they can continually demand excellence from them.  
5. Set expectations for every aspect of your program.  I have had the displeasure of going through a 1-9 season when we took over a program.  Several of my fellow coaches did not like riding on the bus after away games because the athletes did not know how to act after a loss.  Well did those coaches tell our kids that you should be somber and self-reflective after a loss? No!  I mean some kids have a Low GSF (See for Definition of GSF) but we did end up changing the culture eventually.