By Kathryn Roth, staff writer
Every sports season, student managers at River Hill have an opportunity to support a team by making the game run smoother while also taking on other responsibilities that are soon to come with having a leadership role.
Understanding the sport is a great skill to have under your belt as a manager. They score and possibly keep track of players’ stats as the game is happening. Most coaches are very helpful in teaching new skills, such as how to work the scoreboard. Team players are always willing to teach the ways of the game as well.
Ice Hawks manager Vichi Tran has loved her time being a manager so far.“The space is very inclusive! I met this year’s players, and they were all really nice. The group dinner at Ledo’s was a lot of fun.” Even though a manager is not a player on the team, they still have a welcoming environment and social space to go to.
It is interesting to be a manager for a sport you have never played. Vichi added, “I actually became the hockey manager on a whim in freshman year… I usually do the book during the game which includes goals, penalties, shots on goal, and more!” Managing is a great chance to learn new things and focus on something you do not know very well, says Vichi.“I learned so many new things! I knew nothing about hockey until I became a student manager.”
Lynn Paynter, Varsity Volleyball Coach, thinks having student managers is an excellent thing to do, remarking, “Managers are a tremendous help… I’ve been fortunate to continue on having terrific managers – don’t know what game day would be without them!” Working on things like the scoreboard and keeping stats are helpful ways to keep the game running. Even helping set up the gym before a home game takes the pressure off of the players and coaches.
Some students are not aware that this opportunity is available and open to anyone. It’s as easy as “just reaching out to a coach and show your interest in becoming a manager.” Coach P continues, “The coach then shares with the student their responsibilities as a manager, and hopefully, there is a mutual agreement that the student will be a good fit for the team!” It is great to put yourself out there and participate in as many school activities as you can while also knocking off some checkmarks on a college resume.
Coach Paynter explains that River Hill has a positive reputation. She states, “Other schools have often complimented me on how organized and efficient our work teams have been,” highlighting the importance of managers to teams and coaches.