In college athletics there are coaches, players, trainers, clock workers, and many more people that make game day happen. But what about those who ensure the games run smoothly when it comes to lost balls, stats, and penalties? That's where management gets involved.

Nancy Glennon, who is part of the Game Management team at St. Lawrence was able to give us some insight on the responsibilities of her role and how to stay involved in the world of collegiate sports even though you aren't playing. Glennon was a competitive cheerleader during her highschool years and her love for athletics sparked her interest to be a part of college sports, which led her to game management. So if your playing days are over, but you still want to be part of a team, here's how you can make that happen.

Q: What are some of your responsibilities as “Game Management”? Do you get paid for this? 

A: As game management my responsibilities differ depending on what job I am working. I am mostly “box support” which consists of putting in the stats for how much time each player gets on the field. I call for shot clock violations and time for when players get penalties. I get paid for this position by St. Lawrence but I mostly just do it because I would be watching the game anyways. It's been a great way for me to stay involved in college sports and meeting different people.

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Q: Why did you decide to get involved in college game management? Does it stem from you having an athletic background?

A: I decided to get involved in college game management as a lot of my friends are on the teams and sports is a big part of the St. Lawrence community. I was a cheerleader for 11 years of my life so I have always been a side line supporter as I have a heart condition that prevents me from being on the field but I still have a strong love for sports which led me to this position.

Q: What is your favorite sport to support? 

A: I really enjoy supporting lacrosse and hockey as I have a lot of friends on those teams and I find it really enjoyable when you know the players and have a personal relationship with them. It makes it more enjoyable to watch. They are also the most exciting games to track stats for since lacrosse especially is usually high-scoring.

Q: Since you are on the side lines, what has it been like seeing a team's energy shift for the better and the worst? Do you see it correlate with their level of play in a game?  

A: When on the sidelines you feel the same emotions as the team. You watch them play a lot and understand the team's ability and the mistakes they have made in past games. I have definitely seen a goal affect a team's energy but it's invigorating to watch them get it back. You can just feel the excitement all around the field.

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Q: When a team you are supporting wins, do you feel as if you are a part of that in some way? Explain?

A: I don't feel necessary a part of it, but I do feel proud of their accomplishments since you get to see their progress and how hard they work. It is always amazing to watch a team come back from being down, or when they beat a team they once lost to.

Q: Would you recommend game management to other students not a part of teams? Why? 

A: I really would recommend game management to other students not a part of a team as you feel a sense of community and you feel helpful while doing it. It makes me feel good knowing that I am able to contribute to something larger than me.

Q: What are the best and worst parts of this position? Is it hard to balance this responsibly with others? How do you do it? 

A: The best parts of the position are seeing my friends play and have success on the field and the worst is having time taken out of my schedule to not focus as much on school. I usually try and get all my school work done before the game so I can enjoy the game instead of stressing about school.

Overall, based on Nancy's perspective on being a part of game management seems like a valuable experience to be involved in. It's a way to get involved in sports even if you can't play and gives you a sense of purpose. It also seems exciting to watch as teams progress during the season. So if you want to be a part of game day in a role other than the star player, take notes from Nancy and get involved!

Have a story idea or know an awesome athletics staff member we should interview? Email us at [email protected]

* Originally published on August 10, 2022, by Casey Chizmazia