The column below, penned by Union College (N.Y.) Assistant AD/Sports Information Eric McDowell, CoSIDA's Third Vice-President. It appears in the April 2012 issue of NACDA's Athletics Administration Magazine.
Beginning with the 2009-10 academic year and with its new partnership with NACDA at that time, the CoSIDA leadership was invited to contribute to each issue of the Athletics Administration Magazine. In October of 2009, CoSIDA President Justin Doherty penned the first "CoSIDA Column."
In this 2011-12 academic year, several CoSIDA leaders contributed CoSIDA Corner columns. They have been authored by CoSIDA President Tom Di Camillo, Assistant Commissioner of the Pacific West Conference (in October and November); Rich Herman of Clarion (in December) who is the former DII-SIDA President; Sam Atkinson (February), who serves as Gallaudet College SID and is the Chair of the CoSIDA Goodwill and Wellness Committee; and Shelly Poe (Auburn), CoSIDA 2nd Vice President who wrote the March column about the upcoming June Convention.
Each Athletics Administration issue is sent to over 10,000 university and athletics administrators, with CoSIDA's voice, thoughts and expertise shared with these key constituents. The magazine is published each October, November, December, February, March, April, June and August.
See the CoSIDA Corner archives HERE.
April CoSIDA Column - by Eric McDowell, Union (N.Y.) Assistant AD for Sports Information
A partnership of promotion. It just makes sense.
The extraordinary students of the NCAA’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committees (SAAC) are leaders of today and tomorrow. They balance their outstanding academic achievements with their competition in the playing arena and with volunteer services in the community regionally, nationally and globally. These students make the most of their opportunity on their
campus. They have stories to tell.
The athletics communications professionals (SIDs) on campuses (and conferences) are the people who tell the stories of the student-athlete.
They know all about the statistical achievements, the conference, regional and All-America awards, the records. They also need to know about the extra-curricular activities. The student who wrote and performed in her own play. The student who used a term abroad to
assist in building a hospital for children in a third world nation. The student who leads teammates in a clean-up for a natural disaster. These student-athletes give hope to others with their dedication. These are the stories that the SIDs are looking for. These are the stories that the members of the media, college administrators, alumni, community and
athletics stakeholders are looking for.
With this in mind, and with the continuing and expanding developing relationship between CoSIDA (the College Sports Information Directors of America) and the NCAA, presentations by CoSIDA members have been made to the national SAAC organizations for Division I, II and III, at recent NCAA Conventions. These presentations are designed to educate the
student-athletes about the benefits of the relationship, how to develop it and how both parties can benefit from the relationship.
This past February, CoSIDA held a national webinar for its membership which featured four SAAC national leaders which generated plenty of buzz and participation.
“This is a very important relationship for our student-athletes to have,” said Brittany Petrella of Rowan University, a member of NCAA Division III SAAC through the spring of 2012. “The SAAC student-athletes are the experts in community service initiatives, and they work with and inform the other student-athletes. If they have this relationship with the SID, they can
communicate what they are doing to the communications professional.”
“This is extremely important with Division III’s partnership with Special Olympics. If the SID has that relationship, it is easier for the community to see what these student-athletes are accomplishing,” Petrella said, who recently graduated and works for the Rowan Foundation.
Prior to the athletics year, the SAAC leadership on campus approaches the athletics communications staff. They not only provide information for the website, but also a plan of action for the upcoming athletics year. This would include meeting schedules, with the SID invited to attend. If the SID cannot attend then the SAAC leadership would provide a review and notes for the website as well as for the SID’s schedule. Consistent communication is key.
“We have been working together with national SAAC to get the word out, telling their conferences about the SIDs and the importance of the relationship,” Petrella said. “Personally, I believe that we have seen that effect nationwide.”
For example, when a team plans a community event, the SAAC representatives of that team should alert the SID two weeks prior to the event. In many cases, the SAAC President could sign out a department digital camera to take photographs of the student-athletes at that event. This is essential to assist SID departments with limited personnel as well as larger departments who have many individuals traveling with teams on set athletics schedules.
After the conclusion of the event, the SAAC representative at the event can email quotes from various team members to the SID, along with quick facts about the event and the purpose. A photo and story can be posted on the website. In some cases, the SID can alert media prior to the event, for an excellent feature for print or broadcast media.
“Sports information directors do so much for us as student-athletes and by creating a stronger partnership we can find ways to help our SID, and in return our SID can help promote the SAAC,” said student-athlete Brett Halvaks.
The relationship is a two-way street. Athletics communications pros can assist members of SAAC in resume development, now and for the future. Freshmen, sophomores and juniors could have their resume “fine tuned” as they go through their careers and look into internships, study abroad opportunities and summer employment. Seniors’ resumes
will be geared toward the field and position that they are looking for at the next level, after the diploma.
The SID also can serve as a reference for the SAAC senior student-athlete. In addition, the SID can benefit from a SAAC President who writes a letter of support for the SID’s evaluation. After all, what better document can an athletics communications professional provide then a letter of support from the person whom they serve, the student-athlete?
There also are a variety of ideas that the SID will provide when it comes to team bonding, fundraising and generating interest, among many other areas. Whether it be a major group initiative, ie., with Special Olympics, a SAAC team wide competition event for charity or a team community event competition, the SID and SAAC will enjoy these fun, exciting and beneficial event discussions and plans that will serve the student-athletes, campus and local communities.
Halvaks offered advice to assist in this initiative. “I would advise SID’s looking to become more involved to reach out to us. Student-athletes love to get to know you more and those student-athletes involved with SAAC would love the opportunity for you to work with us. Having a staff member in athletics communications who is willing and available to promote SAAC activities, and be involved as well, is something that all institutional SAAC’s would love to have.”