Related Content
• CollegeSportsCommunicators.com/360 Archive
This story is part of our CSC 360 package for May 2023, to view more stories, click here.
CSC U Camp helps undergrads and new professionals alike understand the nuts and bolts of the profession
by Laurie Bollig – College Sports Communicators, Director of Membership Engagement
For the fifth year, the CSC U Committee will host a professional development opportunity for those exploring athletics communications as a career and those early in their careers. This year’s camp will be held virtually June 1-2, with two sessions each day. There is no cost to participate, but registration is required.
Register here (FREE)
Who should attend:
- Undergraduate students considering a career in college sports communications
- Graduate assistants looking for that first full-time job in college sports communications
- Full-time professionals with one to five years of experience as a college sports communicator looking to gain more hands-on knowledge
- College sports communicators who manage student worker programs for their department
The camp is hosted by the CSC U Committee, which is responsible for educating college students in the field of sports communications. In addition, it assists educators in learning about careers in the field from the sports communications professional on campus. The CSC U motto is to “educate educators” and “find our future.”
Schedule of events
Session 1: Thursday, June 1, 1:00 PM (ET)
How to Organize and Plan Office Work
Your week is busy, and preparing for deadlines is mission-critical to your success during the week. Get started on the right foot each day by making sure you have deadlines and reminders on your calendar in advance. Some of the topics to be covered during this session include:
- Player-of-the-week submissions and voting
- Graphics, website maintenance and game file updates
- Prioritizing your time and making sure you take care of the “needs” before the “wants”
- “Monday is the SID’s time”
Session 2: Thursday, June 1, 3:30 PM (ET)
Creating and Maintaining Relationships with Coaches and Staff
Forming a good relationship with coaches and staff members is key to performing our jobs to the best of our abilities. In this panel, we will discuss how you can communicate effectively with coaches so you can support your school, programs and student-athletes. We will also talk about how to develop relationships with staff members, including your athletic director. Topics include:
- How to bounce ideas off your coworkers instead of sharing complaints
- Approaching someone at the AD level when you are first starting out
- How to defuse conflict or approach a coach that has issues/complaints
Session 3: Friday, June 2, 1:00 PM (ET)
Game-day Operations Prep
Effectively handling game-day preparation and duties will increase the likelihood of your event’s success and allow you to handle the unexpected. Some items to look forward to:
- Checklists for what to do and when
- Problem-solving when issues arise
- Determining what takes priority on game day
Bonus Session: Friday, June 2, 3:30 PM (ET)
Resources and Advice from the Pros
You’ve got questions. Our pros have answers. We’ve asked some of CSC’s rising stars to share career advice. At your own convenience, enjoy their responses in a short video. Producer: Keonte Herrera, LSU
Talk about these stories on the Slack Community.