An SID in the Making
College Sports Information Directors of America
By Cody Thorn
Special to the Joplin (Mo.) Globe
lmost every sports fan will get caught up in a game every now and then.
For Kyle Belford, getting caught up in the game has a different meaning.
You see, this 14-year-old has a different perspective when it comes to watching Pittsburg State teams play.
Getting caught up in the game could range from running scores down to press row or keeping shot charts for the basketball team's game because Belford assists the Pitt State Sports Information Department.
Four years ago Belford began helping out sports information director Dan Wilkes. The job began by doing some running at basketball games. Most recently he has started keeping the shot charts for the games.
His official title is volunteer assistant on the game-day crew for the sports information department.
For the past two falls he has aided the crew during football games, passing out scores of other football games to media members. He has done similar tasks during basketball games for the past four years.
His work as already helped make a career path for the freshman at Pittsburg High. He wants to follow in Wilkes' footsteps and become an SID.
"It makes me feel good to have a nationally recognized sports information director take time to teach me things," said Belford. "It is neat he helps me along and trusts me to help him."
Belford got involved in Pitt State athletics due to his father Trent's involvement at games, which started shortly after the family moved to Pittsburg.
Belford's father serves as a local basketball and football official, and, as a child Kyle traveled to various games with his father and his two officiating mates - Glenn Bliss and Bob Walter. The trio refs games in the CNC, SEK and Three Rivers conferences.
The latter two refs were helping out at Pitt State during game days. Walter was the electric scoreboard operator, while Bliss was the game clock operator.
About seven years ago the elder Belford filled in when there was an occasional vacancy at Pitt State games in the press box for football or the press row for basketball.
After his first winter helping out at Pitt State, Belford was appointed to his current job as public address announcer spotter.
And when he went to Pitt State games, so did Kyle.
"He started by running upstairs and getting us stuff," said Belford of his son. "After seeing him over the years, Dan gave him an opportunity to help out there."
Wilkes said, "It started out when he was nine years old, probably getting a pop, and now he has been given a few more meaningful jobs as he matured. He is mature beyond his years. He is a Gorilla fan and is interested in this type of work."
He has assisted the game-day crew, in one way or another, for more than four years now.
"I definitely like helping out," said Kyle. "I keep the shot chart and that is an official stat and it makes me feel good to help out the university."
Last year, one of the highlights of his first season helping out in football was being in the press box at Arrowhead Stadium and passing out scores and stats to the radio stations and P.A. booth.
"He is much younger than most helpers at the games, but he is someone I can count on," said Wilkes. "He takes a lot of pride in his work and does a good job. He enjoys what he is doing."
During the Gorillas' playoff run this year, Belford had the chance to talk to CBS Sports and ESPN, when the networks called for a scoring update.
"I've learned a lot about scoring and a lot about different stats involved," said Kyle. "Basketball comes a lot easier than football because I've done it longer."
On the day Pitt State was playing for the NCAA Division II football national championship, the Belfords were at John Lance Arena for a basketball tournament. Trent was working on press row, while Kyle was sitting two rows back listening to the game on the radio before the basketball team played.
The younger Belford is interested in the career field and talked with Wilkes this past fall about what classes he should look into related to the job.
"I'm pretty interested in the field of sports information," said Kyle. "I see what Dan does and I really like what he does. He taught me how to do a shot chart and I've just watched to see how they do basketball and football stats. I listen and concentrate on what they know."
Said Wilkes: "He is probably ahead of the curve for his age group. He has a strong idea of what he wants to do. He asked me this year about different types of classes that would be S.I.D. or sports-related. He was worried about what electives he should be zeroed in on. It is always neat to see someone at that age show interest in a specific vocation. He is dialed in to what he wants to do and wants to maximize what he is learning with a goal in mind."
The experience he has gained at Pitt State has aided Belford in high school.
The past fall, he helped keep stats for the Purple Dragons football team and videotaped the offensive line during Friday night games. Now, during basketball season he is using his palm pilot to keep stats.
Even when he isn't working, Belford's passion about sports still shines through. He currently has a project he is working on at school. Kyle discovered the lack of records for athletics at the high school and is working on gathering information to fill the void of past statistics.
His latest find came courtesy of his journalism teacher, who discovered a 1911 Pittsburg High School yearbook. Belford noted that looking through the book he found a Pittsburg basketball game where they won 11-3.
His passion for sports also carries over to the football field, the actual football field too, not just the press box. Belford was the starting center and long snapper on the Purple Dragons ninth-grade team this year. The previous year he helped his junior high team finish with a 6-1 record.
He has also played baseball and basketball, but has put those two aside for now.
"He is kind of a sport nut," said his father. "He likes baseball, football and basketball, but he is really into football."
Said Kyle: "I consider myself a sport nut because I'm always in a gym or on a football field."
His father noted that lately Kyle is more into learning the rules of the games and keeping stats and scorebooks. Wilkes noted one key in the field of sports information is experience, something Belford picks up nearly every day attending games, whether his high school games or traveling with his father to games.
"He knows what is going on inside and outside of a game," said Trent Belford. "He has a good insight into games."
Belford noted that he even catches himself at home watching games and starts keeping stats, spotting a tackle or penalty.
There is still a number of home basketball games left this season for the Gorillas and Belford will continue to gain experience.
"I hope I can keep on helping as long as Dan will let me," said Belford. "I do take pride in what I do. It's enjoyable to help out at Pittsburg State. I'm a big fan of the college, but I know there are some who are a lot bigger fans."