Rapport building (aka ways of connecting to the team)

Include FL in practices (BUT don’t distract)(off season “captains practices”)

Attend post-event socializing events with team (e.g., potluck, BBQ)

Create and use casual opportunities for connecting with athletes

Do Monday night dinners with small groups of players

“Hang out” with parents at games (including pre and post event activities)

Focus on building relationships over 4 years

E-mails to players/coaches for big games; check in about how school is going, etc.

Go to games~ athletes notice who is in attendance and really appreciate the support

Have coffee/dessert at house

Schedule a meeting—most student-athletes won’t approach on own

Engage in community service together

Get advance invitation from coaches/teams about upcoming events (games, dinners, etc)

Travel with team

Engage in the sport with the athletes—have athletes teach FL; train with team

Have meals with first year athletes, captains, leadership groups, etc

Share readings on topics of interest with team members

Have pre-game meals with the team

Bring snacks for practice/games—cookies, watermelon, etc

Academics (aka ways of supporting academics)

Faculty convey info about students’ academics to coaches

FL help strategize with coaches on how to help students academically

FL can act as support in situations where athletics and academics conflict

Student and professor go over syllabus and athletic schedule together early in semester to strategize on potential conflicts

Help promote team’s existence—encourage other faculty, staff, administration, to attend games

Faculty member let coach know if player missing classes

Organize or create workshops on time management and study skills

Advise on how to talk to professors about bad grade, assignments, etc

Be a resource for conversations about study abroad, choosing major, post-Bates career, etc

Convey to faculty and administrators “the conflicts and joys of being a student-athlete”

Help student-athletes find the balance between academics and sports

Check in via email on how school is going; how athletic schedule effects school, etc

Coach Assistance (aka ways of supporting coaches)

FL help with recruiting letters, phone calls, meeting with visiting prospective students

FL meet parents—in prospectives’ visits, in stands, in tailgate parties, etc

Help at competition (e.g., spotter, timer, go-fer, etc.)

Keep coach aware that team members “are student athletes, in that order”

Fundraising assistance

Talk to team about responsibilities representing Bates, sportsmanship, image on campus

Connections between academics and athletics (aka ways of strengthening the academic-athletic links)

FL talk about their scholarship/academic interests to athletes

FL learn from coaches about motivation, discipline, cheating, integrity, teamwork

Have a movie series with athletics and academic themes; discussions at end

Learning/talking about academic interests of coaches

Inviting students from teams to academic events(e.g., lectures, poetry reading, art)

Coaches and FL attend student presentations (e.g., Mt David)

Coach encourage players to communicate with professors

Discussion series with FL applies their academic interests to athletics

Encourage coaches, FL, and athletes to use alumni networks