Experience Matters - Grand Valley State University

Sports Intern at Spartan Stores YMCA

Joslyn
Major: Sport Management I completed a wide variety of tasks as the sports intern. The majority of tasks I completed were administrative, which included projects such as a competitive analysis and being sure all sports classes were prepared for and running smoothly. I also oversaw the summer T-ball/baseball league, and taught many different sports classes.

West Michigan Ironmen

Jared
Major: Sport Management I handled player intake, preparation for games as well as production of the game.

Legacy Intern

Christian
Major: Sport Management I helped operate all events. This includes setting up and tearing down, making sure the refs are getting paid, and keeping parents and players happy throughout the process. I also worked the front desk a lot where I would register teams for leagues, register individuals, take payments, and explain the schedule to people who were trying to find their way.

Intern

Dae'Shaun
Major: Sport Management I work directly with the sports based programs that a two clients were working on bringing to the city of Detroit. For one, I helped with the creation and development of her programs to help center it more sport based and the other I helped her with her business focus and all the business operations that go into her organizations like the name and branding.

Fitness Intern

Nikki
Major: Sport Management Assisting with the organization and promotion of all fitness and sports programs. Assist with the new member program including instructing in the use of all equipment to a safe and effective manner when requested. Communicating with new and prospective members of the club about scheduling tours, game plans, training sessions, promotions of the month, and memberships.

West Michigan Whitecaps

Emily
Major: Sport Management During my time with the West Michigan Whitecaps I have tried participate in as many things as possible. Although, the majority of my time has been spent focused on the Whitecaps Community Foundation Reading Club. This year I was able to grow the program to 322 schools (259 participated in 2017) from the West Michigan area. Students who complete the program during March is Reading Month receive the opportunity to attend a Whitecaps game for FREE! I have also attended mascot appearances, worked in the box office on game days, fulfilled phone and mail orders for tickets using Ticket Return, logged all group ticket orders for the Reading Club, assisted with parking on game days, and of course, pulled tarp.

Zeeland Recreation Youth Sports Intern

Rachel
Major: Sport Management I chose a few programs to take the lead on and work with the instructors to ensure they had their rosters, equipment, and everything they needed to run the program. I worked with Zeeland varsity coaches to gather coaching resources and create packets for the youth volunteer coaches. I attended and participated in board meetings, staff meetings, little league drafts, and coaches meetings. I researched and developed new program ideas and initiated the launch of youth pickle ball. I distributed post program surveys, analyzed the feedback from the surveys, and created reports of recommendations and advancement ideas. I helped run one time events such as the daddy daughter prom and little league showcase day. I created flyers for upcoming events and programs. I created program schedules and designed t-shirt logos for live arm, coach pitch, and tee-ball teams. I took inventory and organized over 600 little league hats and uniforms. I have worked with local partnering businesses in picking up equipment and making orders.

Athletics Intern

Ethan
Major: Sport Management Online work scheduling games, refs, and checking contracts. Receive and send emails, work during games and events. Some work would include announcing, scoreboard, tickets, and parking.

Holland Community Recreation

Josh
Major: Sport Management I was a site supervisor for basketball and softball practices, basketball, volleyball, and lacrosse games and tournaments, and for a basketball league that was played in multiple locations. I was in charge of facilities and making sure coaches had what they needed to be successful. I helped run the Lakeshore youth basketball league by uploading scores as well. I assisted in the marketing of the Spring Fever basketball tournament. I planned and coordinated a Junior Adventure Club for elementary kids during their spring break. I was also tasked with researching national recreational trends and comparing offerings with what Holland has. I got to help run one time events such as daddy daughter dances and parents nights out, too.

Grand Valley Athletics Game and Event Operations Intern

Jamie
Major: Sport Management During my time here I was tasked with making sure that football, volleyball, basketball game days ran smoothly. Solving any issues that may have arose during game days quickly and effectively.

GRCC Athletics Intern

Amanda
Major: Sport Management Helped develop a student-athlete success program. Helped with study tables, progress reports, scheduling classes for student-athletes, helped with compliance paperwork, game day operations, and marketing. I also wrote up recruiting letters that we can send to prospective student-athletes, designed end of the season surveys for our student-athletes, setup exit meetings with student-athletes who have completed their two years in athletics at GRCC. Organized volunteer opportunities for student-athletes, made travel itineraries for the volleyball team, as well as order food for athletes before each home game.

Sport Specialist Intern

Rachel
Major: Sport Management Concussion form data collection and computer input, staff meetings, program migration, inventory management, volunteer organization, forming league teams, budget evaluation and forecasting.

Minor League Baseball Grounds Crew Intern

Lee
Major: Sport Management Game days I am at the field for about 9 to 14 hours depending on the start of the game. I would either mow, clean and drag the infield, or do clay work in the morning. Set up batting practice, water the infield, fill in divots, other small things to pass the time. After that set up for the game and drag the infield at the end of the 3rd and 6th innings. After the game I patch up the clay areas that get used and do other general clean up.

Benton Harbor/Saint Joseph YMCA

Ryan
Major: Sport Management I Worked in the areas of administration, maintenance, personal training, youth sports, day camp, and worked closely with youth director and sports director. Some of my responsibilities included working on marketing for personal trainers, revising their EAP, working with maintenance to design better cleaning practices, help supervise weight/cardio rooms, and worked at summer day camp as a counselor.

Wilderness Tripping Leader

Kat
Major: Sport Management I was responsible for planning and leading a 14 day backpacking trip to Isle Royale National Park in the waters of Lake Superior. I planned a program for my participants that was focused around self and group awareness growth goals. I maintained the health and safety of the group during the trip and provided a foundation that fostered self-sufficiency among the participants. Off trail, I completed property maintenance, gear repair and various community tasks as needed.

GVSU Athletics Intern

Caity
Major: Sport Management We were responsible of running all the promotions during the sporting events at GVSU. We also helped promote and market the games to the students as well as the community outside of GV.

Grand Rapids Griffins Youth Foundation Internship

Chase
Major: Sport Management I helped in the planning and the organization of the Great Skate Winterfest. Helped to organize, plan, and set up for the foundations Career Day. Created a comprehensive end-of-year survey for parents and kids, and then broke down the results and data, and presented it to the board of directors. I helped to find grant opportunities for the foundation. I also did research and statistical preparation for Griffins game day radio broadcasts.

Western Michigan University

Megan
Major: Sport Management - Executed all aspects of video operations including film breakdown, game capture, and live coding using SportsCode and Synergy Video programs - Utilized Scoutware program to input recruits and maintain database - Created mailouts and organized the distribution to potential recruits

megan@deltaplex.com

Andrea
Major: Sport Management As an assistant to the event directors, I aided with event organization, ticket sales, and logistics. On event days, I acted as contact person for vendors and promotors and also helped out around the arena where needed. This included working parking, box office, in concessions, and security. I also aided in event setup and execution.

Behind The Scenes: Professional Hockey

Luke
Major: Sport Management My position includes many responsibilities. I performed office hours during the week and work 12+ hour days on game nights. I was responsible for managing the promotional energy crew of 14 people. I acted as a liaison between the Director of Game Operations and outside entertainment personnel. I carried out all aspects of game presentation including game day documents, on-ice entertainment, national anthem coordination, pre-game player entrance, video creation, and coordinated afternoon hockey games. In addition, I planned, coordinated, and supervised an entire theme night through guidance from my supervisor and video production team.

Griffins Game Night Internship

TJ
Major: Sport Management During a regular day, our group of Gabe night interns come in about 4 hours before game time to set up the suites in the Van Andel Arena. After this, we head down to the box office where our primary responsibility is to sell game tickets, manage will call, and help with ticket resolution. After this, we are responsible for helping run and clean up intermission games on the ice, assisting the mascots with their needs, and performing T-shirt toss. Following the game we assist with clean-up, jersey auctions, giveaways, and selling tickets to future games.

NMU Intern

Max
Major: Sport Management While at NMU, I was tasked with supervising the ticket staff which is comprised of ticket sellers and ticket takers. My duties included supervising the staff at games and events, hiring new staff, training new staff, as well as managing events.

Austin Sports & Social Club

Madeline
Major: Sport Management The Austin Sports and Social Club internship was extremely well-rounded, allowing me to truly learn how a sports organization comes together. It also provided the opportunity to specialize in areas of interest, working with those related departments. I focused my time in three main departments: player services, logistics, and marketing. Below are highlights from each department; it is in no means all-inclusive. Player services: Managed the info account for 25,000+ players Managed and sorted data to construct teams Managed the roster compliance database Compiled registration reports Constructed conflict management exam for officials/coordinators Recorded and responded to league survey responses Logistics: Created and posted schedules for multiple leagues Created playoff brackets for multiple leagues Created and managed tournament brackets and standings Compiled venue reference files Marketing: Managed social media accounts with 20,000+ followers Prepared monthly marketing reports utilizing analytics Designed venue placement database for back linking options Established Google My Business accounts On the field: Built knowledge base to successfully officiate flag football Coordinated multiple tournaments Managed championship brackets and standings Enhanced conflict management and public speaking abilities

2016 Masters Outdoor Championships

Torben
Major: Sport Management Designed and ordered medals Advertised for volunteers Catered all the food for volunteers and officials Updated all the website information Designed and certified the race walk course Created national championship patches Designed and ordered volunteer t-shirts Designed the athlete banquet tickets Emailed all banquet attendees Planned and ordered tents and porta-johns for event Delegated responsibilities to my assistant Delegated responsibilities to extra volunteers Assisted in event operations during meet Helped set up and tear down event Assisted in designing the advertisement signage Helped USATF with any necessary tasks

Inner City Youth Baseball/Softball- YMCA Program

Angela
Major: Sport Management As I mentioned above, the YMCA focuses on strengthening the West Michigan Community by giving back and supporting our neighbors. A way I was able to do that this summer, was by helping the Y coordinate and put on their Inner City Youth Baseball/Softball program. This program was absolutely free with the help of our sponsors, Meijer, Fifth-Third Bank, and the Whitecaps organization. The program allowed kids, grades 1st-8th to participate in a free summer baseball/softball league where they were provided with uniforms, nightly dinners, coaches, and a summer full of memories.