By Dr. David Hoch, CMAA
David Hoch, EdD, CMAA, Director of Athletics at Loch Raven High School in Baltimore County, Md., shares his approach for working productively during the summer months while at the same time getting the all-important battery recharge.
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As I write this blog, I am sitting on our back deck with my laptop and my dog Maggie watching the tomatoes grow—the operative word here is “watching.” While I may water every few days and occasionally tie some plants up, it is the laid back, non-intensive effort of observing their growth that I find so appealing.
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After a school year of 14-hour days, dealing with problems and constantly working under the constraints of deadlines, it is necessary to use these summer months to recharge the batteries. It is also important to try and avoid as many of those items on the “Honey Do” List that you can, and I’ve perfected that technique over the years.
For me, battery maintenance includes physical activity. Even during the school year I try to get a run in sometime during the day. It’s important to me that I try to remain physically fit. Running also helps me deal with the stresses of my job. But with games and meetings, it takes great creativity to find the time to run during the school year.
During the summer, however, I simply have to throw on a pair of shorts, tie my running shoes, drink some water and I’m ready. Working on my relaxed schedule, I don’t set the alarm clock. I let nature tell me when it’s time to run.
Do I work over the summer? Sure, what athletic director doesn’t? But with my summer salary being cut again, I’m not officially required to go in as often as I used to. This allows me to get creative with how I use my time. I can—and do—go in through a back door, up the stairs to my office and no one knows that I am there.
When no one knows that I’m in my office, the level of productivity rises considerably. There are no phone calls to answer and if the phone does ring, it goes directly to voice mail. Any e-mail message is met with my out of office notice and the sender doesn’t expect an answer until I am officially expected to return.
Also, there are no calls to come down to the main office to help answer questions or to receive incoming equipment orders. It is just me and my computer, and a list of items to finish or prepare for the start of the fall season. Oh, and I’ve learned not to send or forward e-mail messages until I am ready to leave. There’s no reason to give anyone any ideas that I’m in and ready to be reached.
Of course, I also do work on my laptop at home during the summer, which also adds flexibility to my schedule. Instead of reporting into school at a predetermined time, I can work whenever it is convenient. Working on my laptop while sitting on the deck—which I am doing to write this article—sure beats working in my office, which is not air-conditioned.
What kind of work do I accomplish over the summer? So far, I’ve prepared the fall transportation schedules employing three different vendors, the field lining schedule for our grounds crew, and the security assignments for our stadium contests. I’m currently working on our softball, baseball, lacrosse, and tennis schedules for next spring. I find it’s very convenient to send my colleagues e-mail messages with date suggestions and await their reply and hopefully confirmation.
Well, Maggie just finished her nap and it’s time to join her in watching a butterfly. I can work on the agenda for our fall staff meeting at some other time. After all, it’s summer time!
David Hoch, EdD, CMAA, is the Athletic Director at Loch Raven High School in Baltimore County, Md. He is past President of the Maryland State Athletic Directors’ Association and a frequent contributor to Athletic Management. He can be reached at: dhoch@bcps.org.
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