Value: Somewhere between cost of production and price.

The program determines what equipment and supplies are necessary.

Accomplish by purchase: Objective is to maximize buying power and minimize cost.

• Best quality: Quality of equipment should be sufficient to be safe or activity should be terminated.
• Correct quantity
• Best price
• Best source
• Most auspicious time
• Standardize
• Prompt payment

The importance of keeping a good inventory

• Identify and locate equipment
• Estimate value
• Provide information on serviceability
• Plan future buying
• Identify theft and damage problems.

The inventory system

• Choose appropriate software: simple spreadsheet program, database program?, online system?
• Have a good numbering system or item identification
• Some inventory is in-use (e.g. checking out basketballs) and some is in-stock (e.g. out of season uniforms).
• Perpetual inventory systems can be used, or some take an annual approach to inventory often using the off-season before purchasing to do an inventory.

Receiving equipment: Establish system. Make sure person ordering or using it checks it out.

1. Open immediately by professional to inspect contents
2. Test: Inflate balls and leave for a few days.
3. Label stamp engrave list purchase date.
4. Inventory.
5. Store in proper place

Principles of storage

• Security: Access/check-in/check-out must be controlled to equipment, because sporting equipment has a nasty habit of disappearing.
• Routinely deal with equipment immediately after the end of a season.
• Storage according to central concept where the most valuable items are stored in the most internal rooms with the most layers to go through to get to.
• Proper storage environment: Keep in the least damaging environment (e.g. lower humidity, out of sun, appropriate ambient temperature) and
• Storage state: There are certain ways to store each equipment item. For example, baseball glove should be stored with a ball in it, nets should be hooked up appropriately to avoid tangling, climbing ropes should not have sharp bends or knots when stored, etc.
• Keep equipment organized for ease of access and safety. Avoid throwing equipment on the floor just inside doorways.

Note: some of this information is based on Horine, L. E., & Stotlar, D. K. (2004). Administration of Physical Education and Sport Programs, (5th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.