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Equipment Manager

Helmet Reconditioning

July 7, 2021 By Jeff Zogg

It's that time of year to start preparing for your helmet football reconditioning. Last year, COVID has wreaked havoc on parts and helmet supply chains, so don't get caught waiting until June to start thinking about your helmets. Plan and prepare now is our best recommendation.

But for reconditioners, the two dozen shops around the nation that make sure the helmets sent to them are prepared for the hits, the season this year has stretched from the normal busy times of early winter and late spring to now early fall—a troubling development.

Owners and operators of reconditioning businesses shied away from talking with us on the record, not wanting to alienate customers. One business owner, who we agreed not to identify by name, talked with us about the issue.

Don't Wait to Send in Helmets

“There is always a certain amount of stragglers and late coming orders,” we were told. “When we get calls asking for helmets to be cared for close to the season, we tell them not to wait a week or two weeks before the start of the season—or even a month before the start of the season—because even then you are pushing it.

“We know there are always exceptions—life happens.

“But we will charge a rush fee.”

Football helmets must be reconditioned at least after the second year of use and every other season after to keep the manufacturers’ warranties and meet minimum NOCSAE (National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment) requirements.

When a reconditioner receives a load of football helmets, or a single helmet, for reconditioning, a long process begins. Each helmet must be inventoried, disassembled, examined, evaluated, cleaned, repainted, reassembled with some new components, and prepared for shipping. Additionally, a certain percentage must undergo specific testing to determine if the helmet does what it was designed to do—offer protection to a football player’s head.

This takes time. Lots of time.

Slim Window for Reconditioning

“We are doing equipment later than normal,” our reconditioning friend told us. “Sometimes this is due to other forces, not just lateness.”

Other forces? Sam Trusner, the intrepid Office Manager for the AEMA (Athletic Equipment Managers Association), explains.

“For colleges, football is a near year-round sport now. Equipment managers must prepare for Spring ball and cannot send helmets out for reconditioning until that is complete. Then, summer workouts and the pre-season begins. There is a small window for reconditioning in there,” Sam expounds.

“For high schools, helmets should be sent out immediately after the season is done.”

It seems, reconditioners say, that the season for reconditioning helmets and other equipment is being stretched to the limits—and beyond.

“One of the biggest needs we talked about (at NAERA) was the need to educate the general public. There is a process to reconditioning a football helmet. It’s not a fast process. You cannot drop off a helmet one day and pick it up the next.”

Do Not Rush Reconditioning

“This is something you cannot rush,” our source said. “We all need to make sure to get it right. Remember, the helmet is going onto someone’s head to help protect, in most cases, a kid—someone’s kid.”

Reconditioners say the shortened off-season, the immediate gratification culture, and a lack of education about the reconditioning all tie into helmets being sent in late.

“We live in a society of immediate gratification,” the reconditioner said. “The largest need in our industry is to educate everyone of the process. Plus, helmets are so different today than they were before.”

Additionally, the ever-increasing number of individually-owned football helmets causes slow-downs in the process.

“The number of individually owned helmets is going up. We see more and more every year and other reconditioners see the same trend.

“The important thing about that is that we need to educate the kids and the parents. The schools and youth organizations are getting pretty good about making sure the individuals know those helmets need to be reconditioned, but they still don’t know much about the process.”

Sam, at AEMA, agrees. “Parents sometimes go out and think they can just buy a new helmet and be done with it. But you must have that helmet reconditioned. My advise is to do it every two years whether you wear it a lot or not.”

The reconditioner goes a step further, saying parents, and the football coaches and league volunteers must make sure they know exactly who is reconditioning the helmet.

Be Sure Reconditioner is Authorized

“The first thing to know is that your reconditioner must be an authorized reconditioner—authorized by NOCSEA and typically that means they are a member of NAERA. There are companies out there that say they will recondition helmets, but they are not meeting standards. They are doing it in a way that puts everyone at risk.”

And, Sam Trusner commends, get those helmets in during a reasonable time.

“You cannot expect reconditioners to do it fast. They take the helmets apart, strip them down, clean them, test them, put new pads in and attach new hardware. Each helmet is rebuilt. So, as soon as your season is over, get those helmets together and get them to a reconditioner right away.”

Reconditioners agree. Get those helmets in well before practice starts.

“This is not a drive-through business.”

Hiring Student Equipment Managers

February 25, 2020 By Jeff Zogg

Note: Originally Published 3-19-2019

Equipment Managers somehow work with the same amount of time every day to maintain scores of football helmets, shoulder pads, track equipment, and coaches. To say nothing of laundry, communications equipment, and tracking truckloads of apparel.

Each day requires more time, more work, more energy.

And so, Student Equipment Managers were created.

Helmet Tracker talked with seasoned college Equipment Managers to create the Top Seven Things to Look For When Hiring Student Equipment Managers.

7

Use Your Student Equipment Managers' Friends Network.

It's not who you know, but who they know.

“We rely on the students who are here working for us first and foremost,” says Sonny Sanfilippo, Assistant Director of Athletic Equipment Services at San Diego State University. “They know what it takes and it seems these kids have a lot of friends on campus.”

You may not think that your student managers, stuck in the bowls of your facility folding laundry at all hours would have a network of friends, but don't underestimate the bright personality that draws other campus students to your Student Equipment Managers – that and being part of your program.

“They know what the job takes–what it entails. They know it isn't for everyone and takes a special type of person,” Sonny says.

Al Cerbe, Head Football Equipment Manager at Kansas State, said he very rarely has to go out and search for Student Equipment Managers.

“Nine times out of ten I tell my current Student Managers when we have an opening and they go out and recruit.,” he said. Those recruits start to add up. Cerbe has 10 people on a waiting list to work in his equipment room.

6

Resumes, Job History, Activities, Grades

Hiring is hiring. It's not a box of chocolates. You don't have to guess what you are getting. Approach to hiring Student Equipment Managers the same way any supervisor approaches anyone applying for any job.

Require a resume. Check their job history. Pay attention to their extracurricular activities. Look at their grades.

“Grades are important because this job takes a lot of time and if we see you had poor grades in high school, chances are you are not going to have success in college,” says Harley Warren, Assistant Equipment Manager at Southern Mississippi.

At K-State, Cerbe says some things stand out to him on an applicant's work history.

“Kids who work on the farm or help out on a farm, they are usually good working kids,” he said.

5

Interview

Schedule and bring in your candidates for an interview. It amazed us how many Equipment Managers mentioned how carefully they pay attention to how potential Student Equipment Managers dressed for an interview.

“If a kid comes in in sweats and a T-shirt, that's not going to work,” Warren says. “Any job interview you have to take seriously. I've worked in fast food and you still have to dress professionally, especially for the interview.”

At K-State, Cerbe interviews each applicant.

“Yes, I do watch how they dress. When a kid comes in and has khakis on and a nice shirt and even a tie, I notice that and I know that he is serious about it and that gives me a good feeling.

“On the other hand, I had an applicant come in just before Christmas. Flip flops and shorts! I wondered if he thinks this is a funny deal or a way to get close to football. When I explained the amount of work, he said that it wasn’t for him,” Cerbe says. “I wasn't surprised.”

At SDSU, Sonny also interviews applicants and makes sure to try to balance the expectations of the job with the good stuff, too.

“Some of the benefits are the game-day duties, maybe getting some gear, and potentially traveling with the team,” Sonny says. “I am always checking for a sense of urgency in people. Things are very faced paced and coaches will not wait for anybody.

“Aside from that, we want to know if they understand football terminology.”

He tells us the number one issue that always comes up is, you guessed it, laundry.

“When we sit down with someone, we tell them the benefits and what the job entails. We talk about laundry because everyone wants to know. It's simple – you wear gloves and throw stuff into a big industrial washer. It's not difficult, just time-sensitive. It's got to be done when it's got to be done.”

What eliminates a candidate?

Lackadaisical attitude.

Desire to get gear.

Showing up late.

Sonny: “I don't have these guys out here more than they need to be, so that means they will be here on time and be ready to work.”

4

References, High School Coaches, Junior Colleges

Equipment Managers start somewhere and so do Student Equipment Managers. Some managed their high school football team or played in high school or managed at a junior or community college.

“Our Equipment Manager Pat (Patrick Stewart, Assistant Athletic Director for Equipment Operations) knows every football coach in the area and they will send kids to work,” says Warren in Hattiesburg. “I'm starting to get to know them in the area, too, so I am starting to hear from them.”

Some applicants even want to make a career in the Equipment Room, Sonny says.

“These types of people are few and far between. We have a student right now who I wish would do that, but most guys who stay really enjoy doing it for a few years and being part of the team and part of the program,” Sonny says. “The hours are long sometimes and the appreciation is low, plus the pay isn't stellar. Kids recognize all this pretty quickly.”

Shameless plug: Student Equipment Managers preparing to take the AEMA Certification Exam should apply for Helmet Tracker's Scholarship.

3

Twitter, Instagram, and Posters (really).

“We needed four people this Spring. We posted on Twitter and Instagram and got a couple of people through that,” says Sonny. But not enough. The Aztecs needed at least one more Student Equipment Manager, so they got low-tech.

Among the Lost Dog, Apartment for SubLease, Summer Painting Jobs, and Join Our Campus Ministry flyers, Sonny posted his “Student Equipment Manager Needed” flyers. It's different. It's fun. It's an opportunity to be part of Sports on Campus.

It worked.

“We needed at least one more Student Equipment Manager this Spring and so we put up some flyers and got one student that way,” says Sonny.

Just about every program posts their needs on Twitter, says Warren. “I follow most of the equipment programs who are on Twitter and they are all posting for student managers,” he said. “It works.”

2

Tryouts, Especially Spring Ball

This makes or breaks a potential Student Equipment Manager. You know it, but maybe they don't.

Your candidates don't have to know it's a tryout, either. In fact, you may get a better idea of who will fit into your staff best by not calling it a tryout.

“In the Spring, we may give some of them a couple of weeks to volunteer and see how they like it and if it doesn't work out we just tell them thanks and move on,” Warren says.

At Kansas State, Cerbe says bringing high school graduates into summer camps used to be a standard way of finding good Student Equipment Managers, but now more care must be taken.

Cerbe says NCAA rule changes prohibit him from hiring someone with a friendship or relationship with a recruit or player, so hiring through camps has to be a bit more selective. Still, it's a good way to see if someone will work out.

“Camps are a little more laid back and student managers can have a lot of leadership there,” he said. “Now, though, we eliminated incoming freshmen from coming to camps.”

Oh, and remember, your student managers are students first. Most won't pursue a career as an Equipment Manager, so it's best to remember their studies are primary.

“We've got some working for us a couple of days a week and we have to work around class schedules,” Sonny said. “We understand there is a whole life outside of here.”

1

Check the Vibe, Listen to Your Gut

Your potential Student Equipment Managers offer clues about if they will be a positive addition to your staff.

“Sometimes it's a vibe and you can pick up on that,” Warren, at Southern Miss, says. “Sometimes you get a bad feeling or you don't think it's going to work out. When that happens, we won't take them.”

Kenzie Obrochta, football equipment manager, is a candidate for our AEMA Certification Exam Scholarship.

The same is true in Manhattan.

“Trust your gut,” Cerbe tells us. “My gut is pretty spot on.”

Helmet Bowl III Week 3 Update

September 25, 2019 By Jeff Zogg

Just a few days left in open Conference voting.

The Ferris State Bulldogs lead the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

For 16 days, voters have filed their choices in all 80 conference polls. Some teams lead by hundreds of votes, others by scores, and others by dozens. Some teams lead by just a handful of votes.

Conference voting ends at noon (Central) on Monday, September 30.

Conference Championship Brackets

In Helmet Bowl III Conference play, the top four teams in each conference qualify for the Conference Championship Brackets. The team with the most votes will be seeded #1 and will face off against the fourth seed. The second and third teams with the most votes will face each other. Bracket voting begins October 7 and each round lasts one week.

We crown Conference Champions On October 21.

Conference Champions Repeat

A dozen teams won their conference championship in Helmet Bowl I then repeated their winning ways in Helmet Bowl II.

How are they doing?

We checked the voting.

New Jersey Lions – New Jersey Athletic Conference

The Lions appear safely into the Conference Championship bracket, but trail the William Paterson Pioneers for the #1 Seed. In this strong voting conference, the Kean Cougars and Wesley Wolverines round out the bracket, so far.

Gallaudet Bison (DC) – Eastern Collegiate Football Conference

The Helmet Bowl I National Champions hold a strong lead in the Eastern Collegiate. Unless challenged by Monday, they will be seeded number one. The other three teams leading now, vie for the other seeds: Dean Bulldogs, Alfred STate Pioneers, and Maritime Privateers.

Ottawa Braves (KS) – Kansas Collegiate Athletic

The Braves always submit a wonderful image for their contest. They lead the Bethany Bison by just a dozen votes. However, it’s the third and fourth place teams in jeopardy. The Sterling Warriors and Bethel Threshers lead by just one and two votes respectively. Any of the Kansas Collegiate teams could qualify for the Conference Championship bracket.

Oregon Ducks (OR) – Pac 12

The Ducks lead the Buffs of Colorado by just six votes as of this writing. If they want to three-peat, votes must push hard; harder than Ralphie. The Stanford Cardinals and Oregon State Beavers may round out the bracket, but are challenged by the Washington State Cougards and the always attractive helmets of the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Look, if you don’t qualify for your Conference Championship, you sure aren’t gonna make it into the National Championship bracket. Get voting!

Idaho State Bengals (OR) – Big Sky

When we first looked to update the Big Sky the thought crossed our minds: Did the Idaho State leave this conference? The defending repeat Conference Champion Bengals are currently in EIGHTH place! The top four here: Montana State Bobcats, Eastern Washington Eagles, Sacramento State Hornets, and the Montana Grizzlies. However, less than three dozen votes separate the last place California-Davis Aggies from the Bobcats, so the Big Sky is truly up for grabs.  

Northwest Missouri Bearcats – Mid-America Intercollegiate  

The Bearcats provided a great struggle against the Central Missouri Mules in Helmet Bowl I conference voting. In HB3, so far, they rest in second place, trailing the Northeastern State RiverHawks. The Mules are in third, and the Nebraska Kearney Lopers hold down fourth place, just three votes ahead of the Missouri Western Griffons.

College of Idaho Coyotes – Frontier

The Yotes lead the Conference with strong voting ahead of the Montana Western Bulldogs, Southern Oregon Raiders, and Montana Tech Orediggers. Just one vote out of the bracket, as of now, are the diagonally designed helmets of the Eastern Oregon Mountaineers.

Finlandia Lions (MI) – Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

Light voting here, but the Lions lead by four votes over a unique Alma Scots lid. The Hope Flying Dutchmen (with an oddly placed anchor) and the Kalamazoo Hornerts round out the top four. Yet, light voting means a couple of handfuls could push anyone into the conference bracket.

Misericordia Cougars (PA) – Middle Atlantic Conference

WHOA! The Fairleigh Dickinson Devils somehow got out the vote! WHOA! They lead the defending Cougars by a factor of about 8X the vote! In third and fourth: he Alvernia Golden Wolves and Lebanon Valley Flying Dutchmen. A bit of advice – avoid fourth place here as the 4th seed will be matched up against the Devils. Take a look at this conference – lots of strong helmets here.

Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils – Southwestern Athletic Conference

Seventh place.

The Delta Devils barely register in the Southwestern Athletic this time around. It’s not too late, we suppose, if they want to make a strong run before noon on Monday. They need to catch the fourth place Jaguars of Southern University and A&M. In first is the helmet of the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Lions, followed by the Prairie View A&M Panthers and the gold-chromed lid of the Alcorn State Braves.

Kennesaw State Owls (GA) – Big South

The Owls reached the quarterfinals of Helmet Bowl I as well as repeating as Conference Champions. Today they sit in third place behind the Garner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs and Campbell Fighting Camels (unique helmet, that). In fourth place, by just a few votes, is the Charleston Southern Buccaneers. Just out of it is the Presbyterian College Blue Hose (the Blue Hose helmet gives no indication of what a Blue Hose is, or why).

Valdosta State Blazers (GA) – Gulf South

Another strong contender struggles. The Blazers, mired in seventh place, may be out of it. The first-place West Florida Argonauts and second-place North Greenville Crusaders are way WAY out front. The third-place West Alabama Tigers and fourth-place Delta State Statesmen could be caught for a place in the Conference Championship bracket.  

TOP TEN

The TOP TEN Conferences with the most votes are:

Sun Belt Conference (NCAA I – FBS)
Gulf South Conference (NCAA II)
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NCAA II)
Southeastern Conference (NCAA I – FBS)
New Jersey Athletic Conference (NCAA III)
Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (NCAA III)
Southland Conference (NCAA I – FCS)
American Southwest Conference (NCAA III)
American Athletic Conference (NCAA I – FBS)
Missouri Valley Football Conference (NCAA I – FCS)

Sun Belt remains the top vote-getter.

New to the TOP TEN: Gulf South and Missouri Valley conferences.

Dropping out of the top ten: Big 12 and Mid-Atlantic conferences.

Bottom TWENTY

Why is this important? Because only the top 60 Conference Champion vote-getters automatically qualify for the Helmet Bowl National Championship Bracket of 64. That leaves out possibly 20 Conference Champions. If your team is in one of these two charts, you are in danger of celebrating your Conference Championship, then going home.

The bottom TEN Conferences with the least votes are:

Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (NCAA II)
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (NCAA II)
Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (NCAA III)
USA South Athletic Conference (NCAA III)
Mid-South Conference (NAIA)
Northeast-10 Conference (NCAA II)
North Star Athletic Association (NAIA)
Sooner Athletic Conference (NAIA)
Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (NAIA 1)
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NCAA II)

New to the bottom ten: Upper Midwest Athletic and USA South Athletic conferences.

No longer in the bottom ten: Norther Sun Intercollegiate (11th from last) and South Atlantic conferences.

Bottom 11 through 20:

North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAA III)
Northwest Conference (NCAA III)
Presidents' Athletic Conference (NCAA III)
College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (NCAA III)
Great Plains Athletic Conference (NAIA)
Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
Old Dominion Athletic Conference 2019
Heart of America Athletic Conference (NAIA)
Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NCAA III)
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NCAA II)

South Atlantic Conference

In fact, the South Atlantic rose to the conference with the 25th most votes in Helmet Bowl III from the fifth from last.

WOW!

Let’s take a look at their helmets.

At the top are the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears with a healthy lead over 2) Limestone Saints (LAX powerhouse), 3) Carson-Newman Eagles, and 4) Newberry Wolves. The Tusculum Pioneers are just 4 votes shy of making the final bracket.

Your Top Ten

Got a list of top ten helmets? Shoot us an email at helmetbowl@helmettracker.com and we will feature your picks in next week’s update.

Helmet Bowl III Begins

August 28, 2019 By Jeff Zogg

POLLS ARE OPEN FOR NATIONALS

You can vote for one helmet, per team, per day.

FBS FCS D2 D3 NAIA IND

NAIA

Frontier Conference
Great Plains Athletic Conference
Heart of America Athletic Conference
Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Mid-South Conference
Mid-States Football Association
North Star Athletic Association
Sooner Athletic Conference

NCAA I – FBS

American Athletic Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
Big 12 Conference
Big Ten Conference
Conference USA
Mid-American Conference
Mountain West Conference
Pac-12 Conference
Southeastern Conference
Sun Belt Conference

NCAA I – FCS

Big Sky
Big South
Colonial Athletic Association
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Missouri Valley Football Conference
Northeast Conference
Ohio Valley Conference
Patriot League
Pioneer Football League
Southern Conference
Southland Conference
Southwestern Athletic Conference
The Ivy League

NCAA II

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Commonwealth Coast Conference
Great American Conference
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Great Lakes Valley Conference
Great Midwest Athletic Conference
Great Northwest Athletic Conference
Gulf South Conference
Lone Star Conference
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Mountain East Conference
Northeast-10 Conference
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
South Atlantic Conference
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

NCAA III

American Southwest Conference
Centennial Conference
College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Eastern Collegiate Football Conference
Empire 8 Athletic Conference
Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference
American Rivers Conference
Liberty League
Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Mid-West Athletic Conference
Middle Atlantic Conference
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
New England Small College Athletic Conference
New England Women's & Men's Athletics Conference
New Jersey Athletic Conference
North Coast Athletic Conference
Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
Northwest Conference
Ohio Athletic Conference
Old Dominion Athletic Conference
Presidents' Athletic Conference
Southern Athletic Association
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Upper Midwest Athletic Conference
USA South Athletic Conference
Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Independent

Independent (all)

 

FBS FCS D2 D3 NAIA IND

Helmet Bowl Rules

Questions? Comments? Suggestions: email the Helmet Bowl III Commissioner at helmetbowl@helmettracker.com 

2019 Helmet Tracker AEMA Certification Exam Scholarship Winner

July 17, 2019 By Jeff Zogg

Flabbergasted.

Elijah Boswell was helping to restore a floor for his parents when we called to tell him the good news this week.

Eli, a student Equipment Manager at the University of Idaho, is the 2019 Helmet Tracker AEMA Certification Exam Scholarship winner.

“I’m flabbergasted,” he said. “It’s amazing that you offer this opportunity for young equipment managers who are working to get into this industry. It’s not cheap to get to Indy and pay for the exam, but if this is what you want to do for a living, this is something you have to do.”

Helmet Tracker Scholarship

Helmet Tracker reimburses one Equipment Manager the cost of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association Certification Exam and the cost of the study book.

“At Helmet Tracker, we love to support young Equipment Managers and give them a leg up in the profession,” said Helmet Tracker co-founder Rich Hardt. “We are happy for Eli and look forward to watching him and his career.”

Co-founder Rick Perkins said that Helmet Tracker is committed to supporting all sports Equipment Managers by offering the most technologically advanced, user friendly equipment inventory software ever created. “We are known for our simple interface and our friendly, helpful customer service,” he said. “The Helmet Tracker Scholarship is just one way we come alongside Equipment Managers.”

Certification Important for Equipment Managers

Though the exam is offered two other times during the year, most Equipment Managers take it at the AEMA Convention. This year, the convention was in Indianapolis where 100 Equipment Managers took the exam and 87 passed.

“As we grow, it becomes even more important to be certified – most schools now require having your AEMA certification or for their Equipment Managers to get it within a year,” said Sam Trusner, AEMA Office Manager.

Sam sends each Equipment Manager who passes the exam a certificate.

“I think we have a busy future ahead of us,” he said. For example, Equipment Managers in the NFL have recently formed a group or association and one of the requirements they have for inclusion is certification from the AEMA. There are nearly 1,500 members in the AEMA.

“They place a huge importance on what we do at the AEMA and how important certification is to the profession,” Sam tells us.

Exam and then CEUs

AEMA Certification begins with passing the exam, but continues with Continuing Education Units. Equipment Managers must qualify for six CEUs in a three-year period, though the requirements are prorated throughout the three-year period of time.

The exam takes about 90-minutes, though 2.5 hours is allocated. It is not sport specific, but indicates that someone who passes the exam is qualified to be an Equipment Manager for any and all sports.

Equipment Managers prepare to take the 2019 AEMA Certification Exam in Indianapolis.

“There is always more to learn in each individual sport, but the AEMA provides the tools and connections to learn,” Sam said. “Our goal with the exam is to make it difficult, but fair.”

There has never been a perfect score on an AEMA Certification Exam, and scores in the 90s are rare. A passing score is adjusted each year depending on the difficulty of the test.

The test is 100 multiple-choice questions and costs $250 to take at the AEMA Convention. Sam strongly recommends the study book as well, at $65.

Eli an Idaho Vandal

Eli reports to work in the Vandal’s Equipment Room next week.

“It is important that you guys offer this scholarship and encourage young Equipment Managers in this profession. It’s an incentive to work really hard,” he told us.

Though classes don’t start until August 26, Fall Football Camp begins August 2. “There is a lot to get done,” Eli said.

Eli is one semester from earning his degree in Geography, so this will be his last football season at Idaho. He plans to look for a Graduate Assistant job in an equipment room where he can pursue a Master’s Degree and continue working with college sports.

“I am really open to where I can find an opportunity. It may be difficult at first as I am graduating in December this year, but I am determined,” he said.

What will he do with the scholarship money?

“Honestly, I will probably use it to buy text books,” he said.

Congratulations from past winners

This is the third year Helmet Tracker has awarded the scholarship.

Last year, then-Southern Mississippi Assistant Athletic Equipment Manager Harley Warren won.

“First of all, congrats to Elijah on earning the Helmet Tracker Scholarship this year,” he wrote. “The Helmet Tracker Scholarship is not only great help financially but it is also just a great honor to be chosen from all of the test taking participants. Good luck to Elijah this upcoming year and just enjoy the ride, I know I have!”

2018 Helmet Tracker AEMA Certification Exam Scholarship Winner Harley Warren

Harley left the Golden Eagle’s staff earlier this year to become a first-year teacher and coach at Stone High School in Wiggins, Mississippi.

“I plan on keeping my AEMA certification active and using the skills I learned while at Southern Miss to properly fit my athletes and help the coaching staff with equipment needs,” Harley wrote. “Being AEMA certified actually helped me get this job and is a great thing for your resume that other coaches do not have.”  

“Thank you to all the guys at Helmet Tracker for all of your support the past few years. I can't wait to vote in Helmet Bowl III as a fan this year!”

The first Helmet Tracker Scholarship winner was Eddie Hardin, now Equipment Assistant at Cleveland State University.

Equipment Manager Eddie Hardin
Eddie Hardin, 2017 Helmet Tracker AEMA Scholarship winner, served as an Equipment Manager for USA Football.

“Congratulations to Elijah Boswell of the University of Idaho for being the recipient of the Helmet Tracker AEMA Certification Scholarship,” he wrote us. “As a previous recipient of the scholarship, I believe the award is valuable more than just the monetary value, but as a door that will present the opportunity for the recipient to make connections and establish themselves in the equipment industry.

“Congratulations as well for earning your AEMA certification. Your hard work will not go unnoticed.”

Eli’s background

When he applied for the scholarship, Eli told us about his journey so far.

Eli played varsity football and threw the shot put and discus for the track team at North Salem High School in Salem, Oregon.

When he got to Idaho, he heard about the jobs in the equipment room and went after it. An unofficial tryout during Spring ball lead to a position as a student manager.

Though he plans to earn his master’s degree in urban and regional planning, that’s a backup plan.

2019 Helmet Tracker AEMA Certification Exam Scholarship winner Eli Boswell

“I love being around sports. Experiencing the game-day atmosphere and traveling with the team is a great experience and the people I work with are just fantastic!” he said.

“This is an awesome profession,” he told us. “Being an Equipment Manager is becoming a more respected and well known profession,”

“Wow, winning the scholarship – it’s awesome!” he said. “I really appreciate it.”

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