By Dr. David Hoch
David Hoch, EdD, is the Athletic Director at Loch Raven High School, in Baltimore County, Md. He is a frequent contributor to Athletic Management.
Athletic Management, 16.6, October/November 2004, http://www.momentummedia.com/articles/am/am1606/gplifeistooshort.htm
As we age and mature, many of us begin to realize that our parents knew much more than we ever imagined. Growing up in our family, I was often hit with different maxims from both Mom and Dad.
Around the holidays, for example, my parents would proclaim that it was better to give than to receive. I can remember thinking, "Who are you kidding? Wonder what gifts I’ll be getting?" Years later, by darn if they weren’t right.
Dad also often postulated that to be happy, "You have to have balance in life." This idea, I have to admit, I’ve been struggling with all of my professional life. Like many of you, I work too many hours and don’t have time for hobbies.
Not to be outdone, Mom would always add, "Live every day to its fullest." I often put in 12 to 14 hour days, and during the course of a week, the total could easily reach 65-70 hours. I don’t think this is really what Mom had in mind.
A few months ago, while waiting for a county athletic directors’ meeting to start, one of the my colleagues blurted out, "When do we laugh anymore?" While no one offered an answer, the facial expressions and nodding heads said it all.
In our complex positions, we contend with details, solve problems, handle complaints, and get bogged down in the minutia of responsibilities and enormous expectations. Very seldom do I go home in the evening and say, "Wow, I had a great day!"
But, every day, we are doing important work that, if we stop and think about it, we should be extremely proud of. Every day, we are surrounded by enthusiastic student-athletes who are doing great things. And, every day, we can surely find something to laugh about if we take the time to find it.
Smell The Roses
Dad also said, "Stop and smell the roses. Life is too short." He admittedly didn’t understand what was involved in a career in educational athletics (he would often ask when I was going to get a real job) and that it is hard to take a break from our hectic days to appreciate what we’ve got. But, in a small way, I’ve been trying to follow his advice this past year.
To start, I’ve tried to begin every day by taking a good look around me. In the mornings when I go out to check the condition of our fields, several four-legged helpers often greet me. I’m now taking the time to chuckle at the deer, fox, and groundhogs that are performing their own inspection. Even if you don’t have similar assistants at your school, perhaps you have mountains in the distance, a river or lake, or maybe distinctive skyscrapers. Take a minute during your day and cherish the view.
An hour later, as students start arriving at school, I try to take a moment to appreciate how lucky I am to work with young people. When our students do great things, I now make a very conscious mental note of it, and try to keep those memories at the front, instead of the back of my brain. Here are some of my reminders:
• Just before our regional championship volleyball game, one of our female athletes stood up to sing the National Anthem, and she nailed it. Then she joined her teammates on the court, and ended up leading our team to the regional championship. That’s impressive, at least to me!
• Preparing for our awards banquet takes a lot time and work, but we get to honor many outstanding young people. Of particular note, all athletes who earn a 3.25 or higher grade point average get a certificate from our state athletic association. For me, it is thrilling and gratifying to be part of this evening where we get to praise the young people serving who are serving as role models for athletics.
• During a boys’ basketball game, one of our top players made a derogatory comment to an opponent. Our captain immediately ran over to the opponent’s bench and apologized to their head coach. At the same time, our coach was ushering a substitute over to the scorer’s table to replace the offending young man. When the player reached the bench, our coach quietly but clearly told him that his behavior was unacceptable and he would not play the rest of the evening. We lost the game, a very close contest, but I was so proud of our coach and captain for the courageous way they responded.
And if those memories don’t put a smile on my face, I try to go out and see a few minutes of a practice session every day or so, in a variety of sports. By watching the kids working hard and the coaches providing constructive instruction, I am reminded of why I got into this business.
Surround Yourself
In the world of athletics, there are many positive people, and there are some negative people. A key to making my job fun again was to surround myself with the right people.
Granted, you can’t totally avoid difficult people. But, when I can control my interactions, I try to fill my circle of coaches and contacts with upbeat, positive, and enthusiastic individuals.
In each season, I have one or two young coaches who I enjoy talking with about coaching philosophies, players, and their approach. If they don’t stop into my office, I’ll make my way out to practice just to get a little injection of their positive energy.
Getting involved with other athletic directors is another good way to surround yourself with positive energy. Recently at a regional athletic directors meeting, I asked a peer who was about to retire after a long and distinguished career to reveal the secret of his success, particularly during the last 10-15 years. He said that he was able to cope with his daily headaches due to his involvement in his state and the national professional associations. His positions and responsibilities in these organizations provided him with a support system and a nurturing outlet for his ideas.
I have had similar experiences and would recommend getting involved to anyone. Obviously the first step is to attend your state and national conferences. Take advantage of the workshops, the training courses, and the opportunities to chat with others. I always come back energized and full of exciting new ideas.
And then take the next step! Contribute to a committee, volunteer your services, or get involved in whatever way that’s most appealing to you. Regardless of how busy you are, the more involved you are, the more you gain.
Laugh a Little
A few years ago, I was struck by Jimmy Valvano’s speech at the ESPY Awards. He said, "Every day, if you cry a little, think and laugh … that’s a pretty good day!"
Well, I don’t have time to think most days and I’m not sure that crying would be well received, but I’ve decided I can sure fit in a few laughs! Every school has its share of jokesters or characters on staff who are simply fun to be around. Make it a point to spend a few minutes with these humorous individuals.
For example, take 20 minutes and go have lunch in the faculty dinning room. Sit at the table where you won’t have to defend what is going on in your program and one at which you can be amused and laugh. In addition, faculty meetings can be much more enjoyable if you make sure to sit next to the jesters in the group!
Of course, kids love to laugh, too. Sometimes, just chatting with them as they’re getting ready to start practice is a great way to fill your daily laugh quota.
Seek the Positives
In my normal day and week, I am bombarded with complaints, problems, impossible deadlines, and mounds of paperwork. It is very easy to drown in this quagmire. So, I try to keep reminding myself that what I do is important. I try to find the positives things I do, even if no one else sees them. I don’t have to look for the negatives because they will fall in my lap, but I’ve realized I do need to make an effort to pat myself on the back from time to time.
You may want to develop your own mantra that you can repeat everyday. Something like, "I’m doing this for the kids and they deserve the best!" Find something that matters to you and say it daily.
Being an athletic director is demanding, no doubt about it. But you can ease the stress by adjusting your outlook and approach. We need to find some balance, as Dad suggested, laugh daily, as Jimmy V. said, and remind ourselves more often of the reasons we entered the profession. Let’s enjoy what we do and appreciate the young people who represent our schools and learn so much under our leadership.