Job Description - Team Manager

USC Swimming & Diving 

Team Manager

Free athletic gear, priority class registration, travel opportunities, and USC Athletic Department connections. Working as a team manager gives me all the perks of being an athlete, except I don’t have to work out 35 hours a week! 

Working in college isn’t always a blast, but finding a job you love on-campus can make work feel like a fun extracurricular. Plus, a little extra cash to burn on the weekends never hurt. For the last four years, I have managed the USC Swimming & Diving team. What exactly does a swimming manager do since there are no balls to shag or water bottles to fill? Good question.

An athletic team manager’s role changes throughout the athletic seasons (such as championship season or off-season). My main contributions to the swim team are: 

·         Practice Assistant

·         Apparel

·         Meet Management

So, what does a manager’s day-to-day (or season-to-season) look like?

Practice Assistant

There are two practices daily: 6-8 AM and 2-4 PM. Compared to other sports, a swim practice has a pretty simple structure. The athletes don’t require much attention, but there are a few important things team managers help coaches with during practice:

·         Setup timing systems or other technology that may be used

·         Organize equipment and storage space

·         Ensure post-practice nutrition is set up

·         Record times and video, as necessary

These responsibilities are straightforward. With minimal training, anyone could jump right in!

Apparel

One of my favorite parts of working for the team is helping order and distribute team apparel. With some creativity and a little bit of an organization obsession, this can be one of the most fun roles. Here is the general process I follow to get the team some new swag:

1.         Review the team’s competition calendar and look for key dates. For example, the first meet, NCAA championships, and senior day are all usually important.

2.         Start talking with preferred vendors to set a timeline.

3.         Communicate your needs to the athletic department’s equipment room staff.

4.         At the beginning of each season, collect all sizing information from the athletes and send it to the vendors and athletic department.

5.         Using the University’s preferred designs, consult the team captains on preferred styles and colors.

6.         When the time comes, you should have all the information you need to place orders.

7.         After receiving your order, double check to make sure you have all the right sizes, styles, and that all embroidering has correct spelling.

8.         The team has nearly 60 people, so it is important to distribute things efficiently. Label everything and bundle all the items that go to an individual. 

I also order additional items and keep them in storage. Parents and young spectators love to buy team apparel, but unfortunately, the bookstore doesn’t sell any swim team gear. When we have big meets, we sell the extra apparel to spectators as a team fundraiser.

Meet Management

“Meet” is the swimming term for “game” or “competition.” In contrast to the simplicity of practice, swim meets are complicated and fast-paced. Team managers shine and bring value to the team during meets. Competitions require a tough set up and are problematic to run properly. For this reason, managers should have a swimming background.

Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Despite all the preparation, something always comes up when it’s show time. Here are some common problems that, even four years later, I can’t seem to solve:

·         The announcing system won’t work

·         Even worse, the announcer wasn’t invited

·         The scoreboard freezes

·         Even worse, the donor who gifted it is in attendance 

·         The storage room keys have completely disappeared 

·         Even worse, they are locked in the storage room

·         The magic laser the officials need to measure the size of the pool is missing

·         Even worse, the competition pool length is either too long or too short

Stay calm, this has all happened before and it will surely happen again. Be flexible, ask for help, and laugh it off. Although managers are not technically part of the team, running this large organization is a complete team effort.

Fun fact: All athletic team managers must “comply” to the same rules as student-athletes and coaches per NCAA regulation. No March Madness brackets or Super Bowl bets for us!

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READABILITY

Flesch Reading Ease = 61.1

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level = 8.1

Passive Sentences = 0.0%