Following up on my last post, I wanted to dive deeper into a reality that every Sports Information Director (SID) knows all too well: we are professional observers.
On Wednesday, the dust usually starts to settle from a tournament. The results are posted, the galleries are uploaded, and the "Pioneer Invitational" becomes a set of stats in the archive. But for those of us behind the scenes, the day after the tournament is often the day we realize how much of ourselves we poured into the event.
The Myth of the "Limited Role"
Yesterday, I mentioned my role was "limited" to photography and support. In hindsight, there is nothing limited about it. To capture a great athletic moment, you have to anticipate it. You have to know the student-athlete’s tendencies, the coach’s temperament, and the flow of the game.
As an SID, you are:
The Historian: Recording the legacy of the program.
The Shield: Supporting coaches so they can focus on the game.
The Hype-Man: Ensuring our student-athletes feel seen and celebrated.
But who supports the supporter?
The "Mid-Week Reset"
If one day is about taking a timeout, the next day is about the Reset. We often talk to our athletes about "short memory"—forgetting the bad hole or the missed shot to focus on the next play. We need to apply that same grace to ourselves.
Taking time for yourself isn't a "break" from the work; it is maintenance for the machine that does the work. If I am burnt out, the photos lose their soul, the captions lose their wit, and the support I offer my team becomes hollow.
Three Ways to Reclaim Your Day:
Audit Your "Must-Dos": Not every idea needs to be a post. If a project doesn't serve the student-athlete or the college's mission, let it go to make room for rest.
Change Your Scenery: If you spent the weekend on the golf course, spend your Wednesday morning away from the screen. A change of environment triggers a change in perspective.
Acknowledge the Wins: We spend our lives tallying wins for others. Take a moment to acknowledge a personal win—maybe it was a perfectly framed shot of a birdie putt or just the fact that you prioritized your mental health over a Monday deadline.
Looking Ahead
The life of a student-athlete is fast-paced, and there’s always another game on the horizon. But I’ve learned that I am a much better storyteller for SMC when I allow myself to be a part of the story, rather than just a ghost in the machine.
Stay tuned—I’ll be sharing some of my favorite shots from the Invitational later this week. You'll see exactly why they were worth the wait.
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