This upcoming winter, students attending South have planned to participate in some winter athletic programs. The sports are led by a team manager, leading the team to success.

Justine Yam, Girls’ Basketball team manager, injured herself playing basketball at the start of her sophomore year. Yam was left with two options: play with the possibility of reinjury, or permanently stop playing. Unwilling to put her body at risk again, Yam accepts Girls’ Basketball coach Scott Nemecek’s offer as team manager. At first Yam was unsure about the position, but looking back, she is glad she took the spot.  

“The more I got into it, I [thought the position was] really fun because not only are you watching the games, keeping focus, keeping stats, you get to watch the game you love playing your entire life.”

Students are interested in becoming a team manager because they might consider a similar career path post high school, Courtney Middleton, Assistant Athletic Director, said.

“We do have some team managers that see [managing or coaching in] their future or [want to] explore jobs within the athletic realm,” Middleton said. “So, this gives them some experience in doing that at just a small level.” 

Students want to be team managers because of their interest in a sport and desire to be involved, Phil Ralston, English teacher and the Boys’ Varsity Basketball coach, said.

“If you really enjoy something, any sport that you might have interest in, [and] you are not able to compete, this is a way to stay in the game,” Ralston said. 

Similarly, Yam’s position allowed her to stay connected to the game, she explained. Even though Yam was skeptical about the position at first, this opportunity opened a new perspective about the game for her, she added.

“It opened a way to connect basketball on top of schoolwork and also activities,” Yam explained. “When I am watching the games, I get to focus on each individual play, each individual player, who shot that shot, who rebounded this, who forgot that foul.”

Team managers should demonstrate certain characteristics and commitments, Ralston explained.

“You have to have a strong interest in that sport,” Ralston explained. “If you really enjoy something, and you are not able to compete, this is a way to still stay in the game.”