THERE ARE several people who make an athlete, but few recognize a prominent pillar of support: The team student-manager. Integral members of each team, student-managers are responsible for managing the team’s finances, coordinating with athletic offices, and addressing the team’s logistical needs for major tournaments such as the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

An exemplar of a student-manager who has proven to be more than capable in handling the responsibilities of the job is Sheena Capinpin, the Ateneo Women’s Football Team (AWFT) student-manager. In her time with the AWFT, Sheena has grown to become efficient in her administrative duties while exhibiting a passion for assisting in the growth of each team member.

Redirecting the spotlight

For Sheena, football hits close to home; it was the sport she played in high school, and Sheena was eager to utilize the background she had in order to assist and engage with the AWFT. Driven by her past experience on the field, Sheena wanted to serve as a pillar of support for the AWFT—ready to assist the team in shouldering the responsibilities of a student-athlete.

Despite her willingness to be of service to the AWFT, Sheena constantly worried about whether she would be a good fit for the team. Yet, she was confident that her knack for time management and flexibility would overpower this apprehension. Above all, Sheena’s work dynamic with her co-managers was crucial for powering through the obstacles that tower over them. Delegating tasks and lending each other a hand have become surefire ways for them to function efficiently.

Determined and ready to put in the work for the AWFT, Sheena was exposed to a wide array of duties that were expected of her as a student-manager. As an administrative manager, Sheena hunts for sponsors, organizes fundraisers, records synchronous training sessions, and initiates team-building activities.

Last year, Sheena helped sort two fundraisers: Play Your Part, for giving back to the AWFT’s coaching staff, and Wellness Week, a joint event with the Ateneo Men’s Football Team (AMFT) that promotes healthy lifestyles. With the possibility of the UAAP’s much-anticipated comeback, Sheena and her co-managers already have fundraisers lined up for the league’s potential return.

However, being a student-manager comes with a load of other responsibilities that entail more than raising funds and tackling logistical concerns. Beyond these fundraisers, she works closely with her two co-managers in addressing the team’s concerns by acting as a mediator. Whatever matters or feedback the team may raise, Sheena sees to it that each member is heard. She then takes the concerns up with the coaches to reach common ground with the team.

Nurturing the athlete

As Sheena was only exposed to the AWFT in the digital setting, her job has not been so easy. Before abruptly shifting to an online setup, the AWFT would merely borrow the AMFT’s managers—resulting in attention being split between the two teams. As such, the AWFT only received their own set of managers during the pandemic, which meant Sheena and the two other managers have only ever gotten to know and meet the team online. Although this tall barrier has hindered her from developing a more tight-knit relationship with the team, Sheena does not let this obstruct her craft.

Sheena and her co-managers’ arrival to the team eventually freed the AWFT from various struggles such as raising their own funds for tournaments and scouting sponsors. “The girls are in charge of mostly a lot already, so the managers are there to lift some of their burdens because obviously, with school also, they can’t do everything themselves,” said Sheena.

In the online setting, the team-building activities Sheena organizes for the AWFT are all geared towards maintaining and nurturing the foundation of the team’s connection—all new experiences for the girls. Albeit seemingly mundane, these video calls usually turn into avenues for the team to strengthen their bond by reminiscing their fond memories together prior to the pandemic.

Sheena’s unwavering assistance is not just bound to the team. As the AWFT continues to train online, the coaches’ view of the members is limited to the minuscule boxes in Zoom, making it difficult for them to singlehandedly monitor the team’s progress. Sheena serves as the coaches’ second set of eyes, getting up as early as 7 AM to attend the team’s training sessions to tally their drills, record their tests, and ensure that they complete their exercises.

All things considered, there lie greater triumphs and worthwhile learnings amid these strenuous duties.

A fulfilling job

Sheena’s classes in Communications Technology Management have boosted her marketing and interpersonal skills, allowing her to successfully land sponsors for the team and promote their fundraisers. Likewise, being a student-manager has also carried over to her content creation and organizational skills in extracurricular activities.

These sharp capabilities were not merely handed to Sheena. They come as fruits of her sheer dedication to managing the AWFT. 

“I feel like the managers are really the support system of the team. Especially now in the pandemic, it’s really not easy for the girls because it’s online, there are no games—it’s very demotivating. That’s where the managers enter. They’re the ones who really try to lift them up, even with creating these team-building activities, there’s a bit of joy in them,” she shared.

Many may not know it, but a student-manager stands among the many individuals that shape an athlete, profoundly contributing to Ateneo’s excellence in sports. While some student-managers go unnoticed as they work in the background, their duties make them undeniably pivotal to the success and development of any team.