New program aims to mould student-athletes into leaders in competition and in life
The inception of the new Guelph Gryphon leadership academy was announced by director of athletics Scott McRoberts in September. The student-athlete driven program is setting an example for other Ontario schools as it is the first of its kind in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA).
The program is partnered with the premier Janssen Sports Leadership Centre, based in North Carolina. This partnership offered the appropriate training to be able to run a leadership program at Guelph.
Now, with the program having completed its first session last week, the impact of the academy is already evident. Forty-five students were nominated by coaches to be a part of the first phase of the program. These students were identified as being potential leaders on their teams and in their community. Students from second and third year were selected, which will allow them to be a part of the program as it grows in the next two years.
“We want to give them enough tools and resources that when they graduate they can be leaders in their communities and in their workplace.”
“It’s really about creating leaders for when they graduate from this university,” said McRoberts in an interview with The Ontarion. “We want to give them enough tools and resources that when they graduate they can be leaders in their communities and in their workplace.”
There are three different modules in the Gryphon Leadership Academy: the Emerging Leaders Program for this year’s student-athletes, the Veteran Leadership Program, and the Leadership 360 Program.
“The Emerging Leaders Program is around providing a strong foundation for select groups,” said McRoberts. “It looks at creating effective leaders by setting example, while setting the stage on how to be a vocal leader.”
The 45 students in the program now will graduate onto the veteran program next year. The Gryphon Leadership Academy then plans on expanding their programs by adding a new class of emerging leaders to the curriculum next year as well. Their aim is to have student-athletes in all three programs in two to three years’ time.
“This program also helps Guelph with recruiting athletes who are seeking leadership support and opportunities.”
The leadership academy is a good resource for student-athletes who want to have a greater impact on their team, and see their leadership benefiting their community. Student-athletes are expected to be committed to the program. They must attend five out of the six sessions offered in their program in order to move onto the next phase of the academy. This helps create a dedicated group of students who are invested in their teams and the program.
“The biggest benefit is having like-minded student-athletes in the room, who are going through the same things. I think some of the conversations we have them engage in allowed them to learn from each other and realize that they’re all going through some of this stuff together,” said McRoberts.
McRoberts explained that they are planning on targeting young athletes, with a leadership academy starting for the junior Gryphon programs next summer as well. This program also helps Guelph with recruiting athletes who are seeking leadership support and opportunities.
The program is setting an example in the OUA and McRoberts hopes that students will feel as though they have the skills and leadership abilities to move forward in their next step in life after they graduate: “We want to graduate better people than when they came here.”
Photo by Mariah Bridgeman/The Ontarion.