Golden Gopher Baseball: Aiming to Prepare Student-athletes for the Next 50 Years
University of Minnesota head baseball coach John Anderson has drawn from more than “weight rooms, training centers, practice facilities, strength and conditioning coaches, exercise physiologists and nutrition specialists,” to become the career record holder for most wins in school and Big Ten history. As the leader of the Golden Gopher baseball team, coach Anderson incorporates several team building exercises that have helped Gopher baseball become one of the most respected and acclaimed athletic programs in the Big Ten Conference. With the assistance of sports psychologist Dr. Rick Aberman, Coach Anderson holds team meetings that focus on concepts such as “emotional intelligence,” “moral competence,” and “team culture.” While most teams focus their allotted practice time on the field, as soon as the fall semester begins, the Gopher baseball team can be found engaging in activities, conversation and debate regarding the best ways to maintain a consistent high level of performance.
The players soon discover, from the tutelage of Coach Anderson and Dr. Aberman, that baseball is about more than developing a strong throwing arm, learning how to catch a pop fly, and being able to lay down a sacrifice bunt. Players learn that such practical skills are mere “threshold competencies necessary for success, but not sufficient for building championship teams.” With the help of past research, Coach Anderson shows that “emotional intelligence” and “emotional competency” wield twofold the significance of the cognitive and technical skills in terms of sustained success in any field. Players ultimately learn that moral and emotional intelligence can be learned and strengthened over time. Coach Anderson leads the coaching staff and players through numerous exercises and activities designed to increase each individuals “emotional quotient,” which the team refers to as “E.Q.”
After the players develop an understanding of emotional intelligence it is time for Coach Anderson to direct the process of defining the team culture. Through another series of exercises and activities the Gopher baseball team identifies their “top five” values, also called “pillars of success,” which all players and coaches will be challenged to uphold both on and off the field. Coach Anderson does not independently choose the “top five” values, but allows the players to shape and form the team culture. This encourages the players to take ownership of the team. Through disciplined thought and discussion, and the guidance of Coach Anderson and Dr. Aberman, the team finalizes their “pillars of success.” As the leader of the Gopher baseball team, Coach Anderson persistently aims to establish a high achieving team that strives to sustain optimal performance. However, Coach Anderson’s ultimate goal is not just to win baseball games, but to “prepare (the) student-athletes for the next 50 years of their lives.”
University of Minnesota head baseball coach John Anderson has drawn from more than “weight rooms, training centers, practice facilities, strength and conditioning coaches, exercise physiologists and nutrition specialists,” to become the career record holder for most wins in school and Big Ten history. As the leader of the Golden Gopher baseball team, coach Anderson incorporates several team building exercises that have helped Gopher baseball become one of the most respected and acclaimed athletic programs in the Big Ten Conference. With the assistance of sports psychologist Dr. Rick Aberman, Coach Anderson holds team meetings that focus on concepts such as “emotional intelligence,” “moral competence,” and “team culture.” While most teams focus their allotted practice time on the field, as soon as the fall semester begins, the Gopher baseball team can be found engaging in activities, conversation and debate regarding the best ways to maintain a consistent high level of performance.
The players soon discover, from the tutelage of Coach Anderson and Dr. Aberman, that baseball is about more than developing a strong throwing arm, learning how to catch a pop fly, and being able to lay down a sacrifice bunt. Players learn that such practical skills are mere “threshold competencies necessary for success, but not sufficient for building championship teams.” With the help of past research, Coach Anderson shows that “emotional intelligence” and “emotional competency” wield twofold the significance of the cognitive and technical skills in terms of sustained success in any field. Players ultimately learn that moral and emotional intelligence can be learned and strengthened over time. Coach Anderson leads the coaching staff and players through numerous exercises and activities designed to increase each individuals “emotional quotient,” which the team refers to as “E.Q.”
After the players develop an understanding of emotional intelligence it is time for Coach Anderson to direct the process of defining the team culture. Through another series of exercises and activities the Gopher baseball team identifies their “top five” values, also called “pillars of success,” which all players and coaches will be challenged to uphold both on and off the field. Coach Anderson does not independently choose the “top five” values, but allows the players to shape and form the team culture. This encourages the players to take ownership of the team. Through disciplined thought and discussion, and the guidance of Coach Anderson and Dr. Aberman, the team finalizes their “pillars of success.” As the leader of the Gopher baseball team, Coach Anderson persistently aims to establish a high achieving team that strives to sustain optimal performance. However, Coach Anderson’s ultimate goal is not just to win baseball games, but to “prepare (the) student-athletes for the next 50 years of their lives.”
Golden Gopher Baseball Pillars of Success Example
• Family
– Healthy relationships w/ teammates, coaches, support people, friends, family
– Trust
– Communication
– Honesty
• Integrity
– Making “good” decisions and choices when no one else is watching
– Doing what you say you will do
• Leadership
– Self-discipline
– We are all leaders because our behavior is observable by others
• Excellence
– The consistent pursuit and commitment to excellence
– Working on our weaknesses
– Do what it takes to reach individual and team potential
• Flexibility
– Dealing with change
– Adapting and adjusting to adverse situations and circumstances
• Family
– Healthy relationships w/ teammates, coaches, support people, friends, family
– Trust
– Communication
– Honesty
• Integrity
– Making “good” decisions and choices when no one else is watching
– Doing what you say you will do
• Leadership
– Self-discipline
– We are all leaders because our behavior is observable by others
• Excellence
– The consistent pursuit and commitment to excellence
– Working on our weaknesses
– Do what it takes to reach individual and team potential
• Flexibility
– Dealing with change
– Adapting and adjusting to adverse situations and circumstances
Luke MacLean
Annandale Middle School and High School Activities Director
Works Cited
Ambrose, Chris, and Rick Aberman, Ph.D. "Managing Yourself & Leading Others: Developing Moral & Emotional Competencies."
Annandale Middle School and High School Activities Director
Works Cited
Ambrose, Chris, and Rick Aberman, Ph.D. "Managing Yourself & Leading Others: Developing Moral & Emotional Competencies."