National Team Manager Day – November 6, 2025

History
Timeline
FAQs
Importance
Celebrate

National Team Manager Day takes place every year on November 6 and celebrates the unsung heroes and the glue that holds every team together: team managers. Regardless of their sport, league, or size, team managers are often overlooked and undervalued, but today we recognize the countless hours they spend making sure their team’s whole season runs smoothly and successfully, and all the work they put in acting as the liaison between coaches, parents, and players.

History of National Team Manager Day

Whether they’re raising funds for their local basketball team, or making sure that all the travel and lodging arrangements for an out-of-town soccer tournament are taken care of, team managers have a long history of being the organizational linchpins that allow head coaches and athletes to shine. Without their efforts there would be no rosters or league schedules, let alone travel budgets, playbook or practice organization, and facility rentals.

In scholastic sports, the role of team manager is often filled by fellow students. The youngsters aid the team with practice, coordinate the care of their uniforms, and fulfill other support roles all in an effort to help the team focus on the play on the field. Coaches rely on these managers to keep their organizations running smoothly.

Similarly, parents often serve as team managers for recreational sport leagues, organizing fundraising, handling practice and game logistics, and sometimes managing travel expenses and booking. They are an important resource for the leagues and often help coaches coordinate all of the team’s off-field needs.

Team managers have always been prominent figures in nearly every sport, whether it’s local youth hockey, select soccer, or high school swimming. Because of that, they play a key role in making sure the needs of athletes, parents, and coaches are taken care of and have everything they need to be successful. On this holiday, it’s time to make sure that those who take care of everyone else on the field, are taken care of themselves.

National Team Manager Day timeline

1888

The creation of the AAU

The Amateur Athletic Union was created in 1888 by James E. Sullivan, establishing itself as one of the most influential amateur sports leagues in the United States.

1923

AAU starts sponsoring championships for women

The inclusion of women into the sporting lexicon has created more opportunities for team managers throughout history to make sure that all youth athletes have the resources they need to succeed.

August

Little League World Series

Team managers are an integral part to every successful Little League World series, let alone making sure they have a strong showing at the World Series.

September

High School Football Season Starts

High school football season is a very busy time for team managers, who are often still locking down practice times, fundraising, transportation to away games, and much more.

November 6, 2019

The First National Team Manager Day

FlipGive sponsors this holiday, which includes a survey, and the first celebration takes place. Want to be a sponsor: learn how.

National Team Manager Day FAQs

What is a team manager in youth sports?

Team managers help league sports teams function smoothly and perform much of the wizardry behind the scenes. The role of the team manager is to help alleviate some of the workload on the coaches by handling, or delegating some of the smaller tasks associated with organizing the team and serving as a line of communication between the club registrar and the parents.

The team manager, in some cases, is a mother or father who assists the coaches with dozens of organizational details central to the team’s smooth functioning. The manager maintains regular communication with fellow parents; collects registration forms and fundraising receipts; organizes road trips; contacts opposing coaches for game confirmations; and performs other duties, large and small.

What does a team manager for a high school sports team do?

Some high school sports team managers’ are as simple as setting up cones and pads for drills and passing out water. At some schools, team managers tape ankles and input data into computers. Regardless of the depth of responsibilities, most student managers put in just as much time as those that actually compete and are crucial to the success of the team.

What is a team manager in professional sports?

For professional teams, sports team managers work with coaches and trainers to be sure each athlete has the training resources he needs to be the best at his position.

National Team Manager Day Activities

Thank a team manager
National team manager day is a great time to stop and thank a team's manager for all the help and hard work they dedicate to the club and making sure the season runs smoothly—whether it's a year-long sport or just an off-season club.
Volunteer to pitch in
Team managers take on so much. They might appreciate having a helping hand. Maybe you could organize the next team social or figure out where the team should grab a bite after the next tournament game.
Join a team
If you're not already on a team, join one! Team managers need to fill rosters so the team always has enough personnel to not have to worry about forfeitures. By joining a team, you not only put yourself in a position to get in great shape and grow as a person, but also help out team managers by filling in empty spots.

5 Qualities Of Good Managers

Honesty and integrity
Honest managers with integrity are able to get people to buy in to the journey they're being taken on.
Vision
It's crucial to have a clear idea of where you are and what you want to achieve in order to successfully charter a path for the future.
Inspirational
By inspiring every member of the team to be the best that they can be, they'll work more effectively to achieve future goals
Ability to challenge
Great managers aren't afraid to challenge the status quo and think outside the box.
Effective communicators
It's important to keep your team informed and to communicate clearly.

Why We Love National Team Manager Day

They're the unsung heroes
Team managers are typically the unsung heroes. They do the dirty work to keep a team going without any of the credit that the coaches get, or (obviously) the glory the athletes earn. Yet, they're just as much a part of the team's fabric and success, making sure that if an athlete needs uniforms, water, equipment, or a place to practice they have it.
They hold the team together
That being said, team managers are the glue that holds the team together. They're that special someone taking care of the small details that propel a team from more than just a coach and an athlete to a full operation with a schedule, itinerary, and a complete roster. They're the glue that binds coaches, parents, and athletes as one unit.
They go above and beyond
Because team managers typically spend most of their time in the background making sure everything goes smoothly, they often go above and beyond the line of duty to make sure the team, its players and personnel, all get what they need and when they need it, often without enough recognition—except for today.