Sport Internship at the YMCA
Stephen
Experience Information
Employer: David D. Hunting YMCA
Job Title: Volunteer Sport Intern
Major: Sport Management
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: No
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
This YMCA had about 18 department heads in the back office and about 150 other daily staff members. I mainly worked with three managers, the building manager, the sport director, and the lead sport specialist.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
I was in charge of the setup and tear down of equipment for both the youth and men's basketball league, as well as managing the scorekeepers and referees during the games. I also assisted in running a free baseball league for the innercity kids of Grand Rapids, MI. My tasks were to attract clients, data entry, manage equipment and uniforms, collect gloves from the glove drive, manage the coaches and umpires, and to follow the state's regulations while passing out free meals to the kids after the games.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
Through this internship, I sharpened my social skills by interacting with parents and their kids on a daily basis. I learned the procedures the managers perform behind the scenes of a league, the data entry, and how to stay organized while doing all those things.
Favorite Part of the Experience
My favorite part of the internship was meeting all the great people throughout my time at the YMCA. My managers, coworkers and even the people in the league taught me how to look at life from a different perspective and it really was a joy going to work every day.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
I loved all the work I did preparing leagues and managing them along the way. The work wasn't bothersome because I really enjoyed doing it. This definitely helped me realize this would be a great career for me.