Athletic communications (or Sports Information) is a grind that doesn’t just ask for your time—it demands your weekends, your holidays, and a significant chunk of your identity. In an industry where the "hustle" is glorified, burnout isn't just a possibility; for many, it’s the default setting.
Here is an expansion on how to navigate those high-pressure early years without losing your love for the game.
1. Redefine "Always Available"
The biggest trap for young SIDs is the feeling that a missed text or a delayed post-game release is a catastrophic failure.
Set Communication Boundaries: Just because you can answer a text from a coach at 11:00 PM doesn't mean you should. Establish "dark hours" where the phone stays on the nightstand.
The 90% Rule: You don't have to produce a Pulitzer-level feature for every mid-week tennis match. Learn where to give 110% (Championships, National TV games) and where a clean, efficient box score and recap are more than enough.
2. Master the "Off-Season" (Even if it’s short)
In college athletics, seasons bleed into one another. If you handle Fall, Winter, and Spring sports, your "break" might only be a few weeks in July.
Aggressive PTO: Do not let your vacation days expire. Even if you just stay home and play video games, taking five consecutive days off forces your brain to detach from the 24/7 news cycle.
Physical Distance: If you are off the clock, stay away from the office and the stadium. The "sight-memory" of your workspace keeps your stress hormones elevated.
3. Build a Support System Outside the Press Box
If all your friends are also SIDs, every social outing will eventually turn into a vent session about work.
The "Non-Sports" Friend: Maintain at least one hobby or friend group that has zero connection to athletics. It provides a necessary perspective shift that there is a world moving forward regardless of whether your live stats crashed.
Peer Mentorship: Connect with SIDs at other schools. Often, talking to someone who understands the job but isn't your direct supervisor allows for a safer space to decompress.
4. Systems Over Sweat
Burnout often stems from the feeling of being "buried." Efficiency is your best defense.
Templates are Life: Don't write every game preview from scratch. Have "skeleton" documents for every sport so you’re only filling in the new narrative.
Automate Socials: Use scheduling tools for non-time-sensitive content. If you can schedule your "Game Day" graphics on Monday, your Saturday will be 20% less frantic.
The Reality Check: "It’s Sports, Not Surgery"
It sounds harsh, but it’s the most liberating realization an SID can have: No one dies if the game notes have a typo. The stakes in athletic communications feel massive because of the passion involved, but holding yourself to an impossible standard of perfection is the fastest route to a career change.
Pro Tip: Keep a "Win Folder." Save the nice emails from parents, the thank-you notes from student-athletes, and the clips of your best work. When you're staring at a spreadsheet at 2:00 AM, looking at that folder reminds you why you started.
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