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We all know that hard economic times are upon us. Countless people have lost their jobs, had their future investments unravel, and face a different world today than the one that existed even a year ago. Much of this is changing the way we must do business in high school sports.

Even if your program is feeling just the slightest pinch, it's time to examine the issues and think about how you would deal with economic adversity. So take this opportunity to go over some of the tough questions facing many in interscholastic athletics.

For example, what trends are emerging that will create a different playing field for those who participate in high school sports? What can we do to anticipate what might happen as the stability of our economic future is threatened? There may be some difficult decisions placed upon athletic administrators, and forward thinking can help create a good course of action.

Tough Cuts
What sports will you eliminate? If budgets are tightening, we may have to eliminate sports, reversing the trend of adding. Participation remains at an all time high nationwide, again exceeding the seven million mark in 2008. At North Hills, in the last three years we have added boys' j.v. golf, girls' j.v. and varsity lacrosse, and boys' j.v. and varsity lacrosse.

If we now must prioritize which sports to eliminate in the next budget year, how would you choose? Would you reverse what you just added? Would you do it by the number of participants, choosing to keep track and field over cross country?

Another thing athletic directors need to examine is their preparedness for the ultimate cut. What would you do if athletics were cut from your school's budget completely?

Scheduling Changes
How would a four day school week affect your athletic program? Not too long ago, educators were preaching the need for year-round schooling. Now there are talks of a four-day week being implemented, or having students attend school nine days in a 15- day span. While there would be savings in areas such as transportation, questions remain regarding how the changes would impact extracurricular activities.

For example, at what times would practices be held on the days student-athletes are not in attendance? If parents are working, how would junior high or middle school students get to those practices? If other schools still had five-day weeks, could games be scheduled on your school's off days? Would more students be interested in sports since with more down time, or would the opposite occur and interest wane because of a parent's inability to transport students?

Here's another scenario to think about. Some high schools are going to a later schedule, having school start at 9 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. This can wreak havoc on athletics and scheduling. How would you handle it?

Parent Problems
Will helicopter parents be grounded? Will they be able to afford private hitting instructors or to pay the cost for travel teams? When they need to job search, or are facing foreclosure on their homes, will parents have time to be an overly involved? A return to a time when sport was played for the love of the game is not a bad concept. Excessive parental involvement and interference in athletics is at the top of almost every athletic director's list of annoyances.

No Easy Answers
While there may be immediate challenges to interscholastic athletics, there may be more far reaching obstacles in our rearview mirrors. The governor of Pennsylvania, Edward Rendell, called for the elimination of 400 school districts in the state in his 2009-10 budget proposal. Think about the impact that would have on education, let alone athletics! Looking at the trends that are on the horizon can only be beneficial to those who are entrusted with the important task of keeping kids involved in positive outlets such as athletics.

As I read story after story of schools forced to make tough decisions in order to balance their books, I use it as an exercise in "what if?" By hypothetically putting myself in these unfortunate shoes, I can put myself in a better position to deal with these financial punches down the road if need be.

Dan Cardone is Athletic Director at North Hills High School in Pittsburgh, Pa. He is a frequent contributor to Athletic Management.