In any athletic environment, there is a lineup of crucial positions to execute the final game. From a stern head coach to each individual player, all positions contribute to the greater athletic process.
Some positions fly more under the radar, a huge one being Team Managers.
For the basketball team, managers like Taj Alfred take care of the work that happens off the court. Alfred joined for community service hours and to socialize. He keeps track of inventory like jerseys and medkits, as well as dealing with a number of team issues.During matches, he works the clock. The most rewarding part of the job is”getting to kick it with the team” says Alfred. For him, managing is a fun memory to look back at. Student management gives students the chance to participate in athletics, even if they don’t want to compete. It also allows students to be a part of a team and its culture by helping with different tasks.
For the wrestling team, “We pretty much help out with whatever coaches want,” manager Em explained. The scoring table can be especially stressful. Em recalled her first time as her most chaotic moment, saying, “It was kind of scary because I just had no idea what the points were for and there was like two people yelling at me at the same time.”She also mentioned that tournaments can get crazy when people get seriously hurt.
Mulan Kukreja is a junior at Garfield, doing her first year of team managing for the boys swim team. She got into the role because of her experience from being on the girls swim team. Her main motivation was her enjoyment of hanging out with the team, and it being a fun way to get service hours. She devotes around 4 hours a week getting time for the swimmers, handing out equipment, and giving advice. While there is reward, it doesn’t come without strain as she says, “they [practice] in the mornings, so they obviously cut on my sleep.” Despite this, she recommends managing to other students, saying, “I am a lot more connected with the team after doing this”,and, “the coaches and other managers as well.”
Madyn Embry, a senior at Garfield, was the volleyball team manager her freshman year of high school. She got the position after both herself and the coaches decided she was a better fit as the manager than a player. Despite this, part of her role was actually going to every practice and game, Embry explaining how she was “treated like any other player”. Besides gaining experience with the sport and management skills, she also made friends with the players from all grades, and was able to maintain the friendships after the season ended. It was rewarding both in the things she learned and receiving, “lots of appreciation and encouragement from the team,” Embry noted.
