Paper, Online Forms, or Data Governance: Which is Best?
Every AD has faced the mountain of paper packets, the hassle of chasing signatures, and the scramble when a form goes missing on game day. Online forms helped… but they didn’t solve the problem.
The future? Data governance.
Option #1- Paper: Lost, Late, and Risky
Paper forms are familiar, but they’re also fragile. One misplaced medical form or unsigned waiver can expose your school to liability and delay a student’s participation. Paper requires manual tracking, which often means chasing families for missing pages, double-entering data, and spending hours filing, scanning, and shredding.
From a compliance perspective, paper is a blind spot. You can’t easily prove who signed what or when. And when an auditor, athletic trainer, or administrator asks for verification, “It’s somewhere in the office” doesn’t cut it. The risk is real: lost information, inconsistent data, and a lack of transparency that leaves ADs vulnerable.
Option #2- Online Form: A Step Forward, But Still Siloed
Online forms feel like progress- faster submissions, digital signatures, and less physical clutter. But most systems stop there. They collect data without connecting it. Each form still lives in isolation, making it difficult to ensure compliance, track updates, or share verified information across departments.
Imagine an online concussion form submitted correctly but never flagged to the coach or trainer when the athlete returns to play. Or an emergency contact that updates in one system but not another. Online forms reduce paperwork, but they don’t reduce risk. You’ve modernized the process, not governed the data.
Option #3- Data Governance: The Future of Athletic Administration
Data governance transforms information from a task into a trusted asset. It means every form, signature, and update flows into one secure, centralized system- accessible to the right people at the right time.
A governed system like FinalForms gives ADs total visibility: who’s compliant, who’s missing forms, and which athletes are cleared to play. It ensures that medical info, permissions, and eligibility data are always accurate, up-to-date, and protected. This isn’t just about convenience, it’s about confidence. You can verify compliance in real time, protect student safety, and demonstrate accountability to administrators and families alike.
Where Are You Today?
Are you still buried in paper? Halfway there with online forms? Or ready to lead with data governance?
The future of high school athletics depends on safer, smarter systems- not more paperwork.
The Future of High School Athletics
By simplifying registration, streamlining compliance, and improving safety, FinalForms helps reduce the risks and challenges associated with athletic administration. This allows schools to focus on their ultimate goal--creating positive experiences for student-athletes.
About FinalForms
FinalForms is a leader in K-12 education technology, specializing in registration, compliance, and communication solutions. Trusted by thousands of schools, FinalForms empowers administrators to save time, improve compliance, and enhance safety through real-time access to critical student information.
