During my career in athletics I was asked to wear many hats. From the typical role of coach, teacher and mentor to wider spread roles as an athletic director. Student journalists who all seemed to eventually ask the same question frequently interviewed me. Explain the normal day of a coach or athletic director? The answer is simple. There is no normal day.
Every day for a coach and athletic administrator is different especially during this time of Covid-19 and each day brings a whole new set of issues and challenges. Most issues you try to deal with based on your past experiences and lessons learned along the way. You reach out to experts and rely on advice of colleagues who help form your professional network. Almost everyday you encounter unique situations where you have to make gut decisions based on best analysis of the situation.
I think of the different situations I faced as a coach and an administrator and realize how poorly prepared I was for them. I was not prepared for events like losing the life of a student-athlete to a tragic accident, athletes suffering horrible injuries, an athlete nearly beaten to death at an off campus fraternity, suicidal threats, drug and alcohol addiction, financial aid difficulties, coach/player relationships, systemic racism, Title IX issues, and having their senior seasons cut short due to Covid-19. There are very few professions who ask more and provide less in training than being a coach and administrator.
Today, our coaches and administrators are being placed in no win situations. They are not educated medical professionals but are being asked to take on that role. Many schools have great athletic training and medical staffs but some are stretched thin and coaches have to take on these roles. Student athletes are joining our teams with more mental health issues than ever before. Parents have gone from the much publicized helicopter parents to today’s bulldozer parents. No longer just hovering above their child, they now insist on helping clear their path. And now we are demanding our athletic staff organize and run a safe and healthy practice and game day during the time of Covid-19.
I believe it is imperative to prepare our athletic staffs with the tools to be successful. Leadership in the high school and college athletic programs must take it upon themselves to assume that nothing is normal anymore. Your staff is going to face many new challenges moving forward from dealing with sick players, their parents to even loss of life due to this pandemic. Many of these situations they will face are unique to them and they will not be prepared to handle them alone. The mental stress on everyone is just beginning. Make sure you help your staff wear only the hats that they can handle. Is it too much?
Oh Geez Sports 