How To: Manage A Boys Sports Team

In this how to I will give you 5 and a half easy to follow steps on how to manage a high school boys sports team.

Step 1: You don’t. In all honesty you do not manage high school boys.  When going into the job of managing you can not think that you can actually manage them.  If I have any advice to give it is that boys do not listen.  They like to think that they are in charge of what happens even though they are not.

Step 2: Become a babysitter. High school boys are like 4 year olds.  If you find that you can actually manage what the boys do and keep them in line it doesn’t last long if they aren’t entertained.  They need constant reminders of what they need to do and how to do it.  You must speak in calm tones and not get angry with them if they don’t understand what you mean.  If they see that you are angry then it encourages them to continue their naughty behavior.

Step 2.5: Give out jobs. The best way to keep boys busy is to give them jobs. If they time to do other things they get in trouble.  The boys will try to get out of the work so you must find one that will do what you ask and make him do it and then the others will follow.

Step 3: Make friends, increase rank. Boys sports teams are mostly about where you rank on that team.  As manager you rank higher than the underclassmen but lower than the upperclassmen to start off.  By making friends with the upperclassmen you are able to increase your ranking within the team.  If your rank increases then you have more power and control.

Step 4: Be organized. If you do not organize the boys no one else will.  They need someone who will pick up after them. You must check the bleachers or sideline for anything that may have been left behind.  You are the last resort.  You will always be the last one on the bus and the last one off.  You need to know exactly what equipment needs to be brought, make sure it gets brought, and make sure it all gets brought back and put away.

Step 5: Listen and learn. Even though they act like 4 year olds most of the time, sometimes, some of them, say something smart.  No matter what sport it is you manage those boys work hard.  You will see all the hard work they have done and see them accomplish great things.  You can learn from their dedication to a sport.  You get to see those boys from a point of view that no one else truly gets.  You see the tears of victory and the tears of defeat.  You stand with them as a member of the team win, lose, or draw.
These steps may seem silly.  There are things you will do that are ridiculous and you will hear conversation that you wish you didn’t.  But in the end you are like a mother to those boys.  They will complain to you about the coach, talk to you about the victory, ask what time practice is and what time the bus leaves.  They won’t realize that you are essential to the team until next season when you aren’t there and no one is telling them what to do.  They will lose headgear, leave water bottles every where, and probably miss the bus at least once.  One thing you can count on is that those boys will be happy to see you at one of their games.  They will ask you about college and wonder about your life beyond the team just like they do with any other player who has left their ranks.  You are a part of their team and no one can take that from you.