You may read this title and think, Do managers really buy the groceries for these guys? Well we do but to an extent. We mostly buy the guys what they need for a week of practices, workouts, and games. So, no we aren't out buying them meals for dinner or breakfast, but snacks and healthy options that are always available to the team in the locker room.
So what do we exactly buy them? Well first and foremost we don't actually pay for it and appreciate that the University of App allows our coaches with a card that we use to purchase the groceries. Another perk that the App State has is having a tax free card that we use every time we shop at Walmart. When going to Walmart it is best for more than one Manager to go as it will make it easier to push the shopping carts around and so we can get more items for the week.
Now that we are at Walmart and me and fellow manager of mine has been kindly enough to join me, we each have our individual shopping cart and immediately head to the water and Gatorade isle. We usually get five packs of the 40 count and then twelve to fourteen packs of the 12 count gatorades, flavors usually vary on whats available. After that we usually go get the guys four to six packs of yogurt, at least two or three different flavors to give them options to choose from. Then we head to get three packs of the 40 count Motts fruit snacks, two boxes of the 50 count Rice Krispie Treats, and a variety of Nutri Grain bars. Before Covid we would usually get the guys the stuff to make peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, but this year we are just getting the guys Uncrustable's. After that we head to the fruit and get the guys about 15 to 20 bananas and two packs of Cutie Oranges. Finally after filling up about two shopping carts worth of items we head for the checkout where we make sure we hand them the tax free card to help us save some money on our total.
Now that we have checked out we head to either my car or to car of the other manager that came to the store with us and load up the car. Once the car is loaded we head back to Holmes Convocation Center where we unload the car and take it to the locker room and put the items away. Overall we usually spend about roughly $180 a week on the items we buy for the guys. We also usually have to go once a week and some of those weeks we have to get other necessities like laundry items or shampoo and body wash so the guys have something to clean themselves up with after a practice or a game.
I am so intrigued by this post. I was a manager for my high school women's basketball team, but had no where near the amount of responsibilities you have at the collegiate level! I didn't realize that you had to grocery shop for the team (but like you said, mainly just snacks and feelings for practices and other occasions). I love reading about a side of the school and sports teams I didn't know before!
I've always wondered what a sports team's diet is like in between games! I thought they'd be eating things packed with more protein, but who doesn't like fruit snacks and yogurt, right?
This was a super interesting read! I had no clue that managers had to do some of the grocery shopping for the players. I also agree with Mary's comment about the gatorade! That is a significant amount of gatorade!
hahaha this was a fun read! I'm interested to know how many guys are on the basketball team. I think I'm floored by the amount of Gatorade! I think I'm also shocked that this is a part of being the student manager. This was fun and insightful to read!
This was a very interesting read - I Have never thought about grocery shopping in terms of managing an athletic team. I definitely have heard from athletes, including football and basketball players talk about these items, but hearing it from the other side really brings it all together. Thanks for sharing!