Back to School

By day, I work as a high school athletic director at one of the of the premier public schools in the State of Washington.

Athletic Director is a job which can look like a walk-in-the-park from the public perspective. The only time you are seen is at pre-season meetings, sporting events, and handing out awards and trophies at the end of the season.

At times, IF the cards are played well, it absolutely can be. The three to six hours of a well-run high school sporting event which is thoroughly planned with all the t's dotted and i's crossed is a walk-in-the-park. The kids perform, the coaches lead, the parents support, and everything runs smoothly.

Awesome during-school wrestling event for our student-athletes at our rival school of 100+ years

A lot goes into making this job look easy.

There are a lot of long days, especially in the Winter. This week, for example, four home events mean three 14-hour days mid-week and another seven on Saturday: Friday, I'll swing by a road Flag Football game on my way home; I haven't seen them compete in a while.

But today, due to some wise planning & foresight: I've got a nice eight-hour back-from-break day to get the ball rolling and I should get out of the office before the sun goes down.

LET'S GO!!!

So, I'm off to the office. I live an hour away from my school, which is not ideal, but it means I get a lot of books on tape read. Right now I'm listening to a Czech Classic - Švejk, the Good Soldier. My good friend Petr in Praha would be proud. More on my connections with the Czech Republic in future posts.

The day is fully planned: knocking out to-do list items: problem solving, coordinating, communicating, taking calls, returning emails, writing coach evaluations, meeting with staff , checking transportation, facilities, grades, official assignments, and hiring. Taking calls from college scouts. Then it's on to planning informational sessions for staff (this time an update on recent legal precedent and changes to NCAA, NAIA, & Junior College eligibility for student-athletes, parents, and staff). Then a quick review of our various Emergency Action Plans to be prepared for a meeting with the Athletic Trainer later this week to make sure we are up-to-date and revised for some recent facilities and personnel changes. The day is should wrap-up collecting signatures and approvals to ensure the event staff is paid for the wonderful work they did in December. It will be a full and fulfilling eight-hour day.

The day is packed and planned to a T and we hit the ball running once I walk through the door; a brief meeting with an administrator and a coach regarding some poor choices made by a couple of young student-athletes. Then its on to the to-do list, until the next "emergency" pops up to pull my focus away. Emergent situations come in many forms, range wildly in severity, and appear at any time in this job. And often what I may not see as critical, is everything to those it is impacting. Perspective is important in this profession.

Too many espressos & coffees to count today, but it is good to be back from break.

Today's unexpected events reared their heads just like any other day. An official's shortage was solved by reaching out to a neighboring officials association, luckily our assignors are amazing, flexible, and creative. Then seven January events were rescheduled. All necessary, so you just put your head down and knock them out; rescheduling events involves a lot of reaching out and communicating with officials, transportation, opposing schools, coaching staffs, insurance updates, administration, facilities & event staffs. A couple of student-athletes had to be met with to revisit our standards of behavior and academics. A small facilities snafu reared its ugly head, a facilities work-order was run so we are ready to host League, District, and State events next month. A few coaches' concerns needed to be heard and addressed.

It is par for the course, nothing terrible today, just a lot of little issues which require attention before they become big problems. You just have to be patient, creative with solutions, and willing connect everyone who needs to be connected.

Then I'm back to my to-do list. Powering away, feeling product. Then boom! Another wrench.

But this is my favorite wrench of all: an email arrives and one of my student-athletes is to be recognized in an unexpected way: they've been nominated for Gatorade Player of the Year.

Makes all the trivial problem solving stress go away. THIS is a task that is fun to coordinate.

Being nominated for GPOY is an amazing opportunity for this student-athlete. Just being considered is an insane honor. But it comes with a lot of paperwork, communication, & organization so that the nomination is presented in the best possible light, giving them a real shot at winning the award. There is a bit of a political feel to it and I want to support my athletes in putting their best foot forward. They work so hard every day & I love them for it.

But this is the best part of the job. Checking the student's schedule, ordering a transcript for their nomination packet, checking their schedule, finding a good time to call them out of class. Yes, this athlete can miss a portion of their Yoga class today. Then I write up a letter for the student-athlete and their family congratulating them and informing them of the next steps. Then finally, I get to meet with the student, share the news, watch their face light up, & help them digest and navigate what is next. So. Friggin'. Fun.

But with that, my one eight-hour day this week gets a huge, albeit awesome, wrench thrown into it. Gone is lunch, and eight hours turns into nine but I'm out the door as the sun begins to set.

Technically, it was still up, so I'll call it Mission Accomplished.

So, while Winter Break is a brief step away from a job which demands a fast pace, a lot of paperwork, pivoting, problem solving, collaboration, and communication. It is an exhausting profession, Athletic Administrator.

...but there sure are some neat moments in this job too.

-Bonnell

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today's daily devotional & reflection (usccb)

Monday after Epiphany

• 1 John 3:22-4:6

• Matthew 4:23

• Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25

Reflection:

"for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."

It can be difficult to avoid being consumed with our role in the world, especially when you feel like you are doing good work. Just put your head down and power through the difficulties & rejoice at the victories. These passages remind me that though I may sit back and marvel in what the world provides in opportunity and experience...I am cautioned to remember that all this world has to offer is but limited, for the birth, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus has revealed "a great light" in our world.

This great light brings a humility and a reminder that more opportunity and experience is provided through the grace and love given to us through Jesus.

I really don't feel worthy and am bewildered that God's love is so great that he would give his own son for my salvation.

Thanks be to God.