Ken Larimore knows about paying attention to detail. As a professional
sports equipment manager, Larimore says sweating the small stuff will pay
off in the long run.
"A couple of years back, a coach had an athlete help me with the laundry
as I tore down the electronics and other parts of the game setup. When I returned
to the laundry room, I made sure all warm-up sleeve cuffs were right side
out and not balled up. I made sure the collars were rolled back neat and straight.
I matched up the socks and folded them," Larimore remembers.
"[The athlete] asked me why I took all the time to do that. The warm-ups
get worn for about three minutes and he doesn't fold his socks when he
does his laundry. I just told him that I felt it was important for them to
look good. I can't help them by blocking a shot, but I could make them
look their best. A few years later when he stopped by, he told me that now
as a high school coach he understands what I showed him the year before. Pay
attention to the small details and the rest is easy," explains Larimore.
Details have made all the difference to Debbie Trout, who works as an assistant
equipment manager for a professional women's basketball team. "Sometimes
you may have a boss who only seems to notice you when things go wrong. Keep
the faith. Somewhere along the line, if you stay determined and focused on
doing a great job, someone will catch you doing things not only right, but
really right!"
Sam Trusner, an equipment manager, says it is wise to assess the demands
that different sports exact from their support staff before choosing equipment
managing as a career. "The uncertainty of job security at some levels and
the hours spent away from my family is the least attractive component of this
type of work," he says.
If you've decided this is what you want to do, Larimore offers this
advice: "While in college, get a job anywhere in the athletic department.
Games assistant [the set-up and tear down crew] or anywhere you can be noticed
by administration. Work hard, be early to work by 10 minutes and NEVER [be]
late. No student who has shown up late to an interview with me has ever worked
for me."
He adds: "Look to see if there are jobs with the team you are interested
in working with. Hockey and football have very different demands than basketball,
baseball and track."
Along with its demands, this position provides more than its share of laughter.
"One of the funniest things that ever happened to me," says Don Barnes, equipment
manager at Drake University, "was when I got yelled at by a famous football
player for being in HIS locker room without HIS permission!"
Trusner likes to tell this story: "A former player came in as a freshman
for his helmet fitting. After giving me his size, we tried the helmet on and
I inquired about the fit. He replied, 'Fits just like the one in high
school.' Turning the helmet sideways had the player looking out one of
the ear holes. 'Yep, just like high school,' he replied.
"I convinced him he needed to wear a smaller helmet since he wouldn't
be able to see otherwise. The player ended up being an All-American, the second
pick in the NFL draft and the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. I feel like
I might have made a difference," Trusner says.