By Vicki Friedman
If University of Massachusetts basketball player C.J. Anderson made a list of five experiences that shaped his life, he’d include a mission trip to Atlanta from his high school days and a college trip the Minutemen took to Paris and London. But what quickly jumped to the forefront is taking part in the 2016 NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum in Phoenix from April 7-10.
Anderson and Saint Louis University field hockey player Maya Bentley represented the Atlantic 10 in the forum of student-athletes, coaches and administrators from all three NCAA divisions.
“Being able to put that experience in my top five of all time means a lot,” said Anderson, a sophomore guard from Memphis, Tenn. “I met a lot of great people out there, and I learned so much.”
Ditto for Bentley, a leader since her days as captain of her field hockey team at Kents Hill High in Readville, Maine. “I was always a natural leader, but now I want to work to be a more conscious leader.”
“This was a wonderful opportunity for Maya to engage and make a difference with the NCAA. We are proud to have Maya represent both SLU and the Atlantic 10 Conference,” said Saint Louis Athletic Director Chris May.
The NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum is a nontraditional form of education that works to cultivate leadership skills of the more than 200 NCAA athletes in attendance. Student-athletes separate into small teams for projects and discussions led by the facilitators who explore the relationship between personal values, core beliefs and behavioral styles. Participants leave with a more complete understanding of themselves and gain a new network of friends from three and a half days of togetherness.
"C.J. is a positive example for his fellow student-athletes at UMass,” Massachusetts Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford said. “He certainly enjoyed the opportunity to attend the NCAA Leadership Forum, learn from his peers from across the country and brought those elements back to campus. We're proud of the leadership role C.J. plays within our department."
Anderson admits to being an outspoken, aggressive guy and an encourager who isn’t shy about adding his voice. Among his biggest takeaways from the forum was recognizing other ways to lead. One of Anderson’s more soft-spoken “teammates” at the forum made an immediate impression by exerting influence with quiet confidence.
“I realized there’s more than one way to lead,” Anderson said. “Not everybody learns the same way, so everyone shouldn’t lead the same way. I’m this super crazy encourager, but he’s soft spoken, and some people respond to that.”
Bentley, a junior, said she benefitted from taking a test that identified her strengths as a leader. She’s a relationship builder with a goal-oriented mindset; whereas some of her peers, including Anderson, are more task oriented and seek to spread their positive influence to those around them.
“It’s important to seek out other leaders who have strengths you don’t have,” she said. “Being able to understand that and look to others for that strength is key.”
The weekend included numerous interactive games, including a rambunctious session of “Rock, Paper, Scissors,” integral to establishing the camaraderie for the team building portion of the weekend. It was a competitive exercise – “When you get a bunch of athletes together, that’s what happens,” Anderson said – but it also promoted cohesion.
While everyone started out as competitors, eventually the field was narrowed to two, and participants became cheerleaders for their peers. “It was a fun way to rally behind something together, especially because we all didn’t know each other well early on,” Bentley said. “It built an atmosphere of support.”
During the weekend, Bentley and Anderson also took part in a community service project benefitting a local child crisis center and an organization that provides help to foster children. The student-athletes packed lunchboxes full of nutritional food and bagged school supplies, including homemade jump ropes.
“We even made a contest out of that,” Bentley said.
Bentley and Anderson look forward to sharing everything they learned with their teams and as part of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the organization on each campus that offers input on rules, regulations and policies that shape the lives of student-athletes.
“I’ve only been back a couple of days now and I’ve already spoken in front of the SAAC, which I’m part of, and in front of two of my classes,” Anderson said. “For me, the biggest aspect of being a great leader is passion. Everything else falls behind it. If you love something, you’re going to work hard for it, you’re going to be responsible and you’re going to be accountable for your actions. If you have passion for something, you’re going to do whatever it takes to succeed.”
UMass Academic Services Assistant Director Peter Montague said Anderson’s peers picked up on his level of enthusiasm. “His excitement was palpable when speaking at our SAAC meeting the night he returned to campus,” he said. “He shared how the activities identified areas he needed to improve on as an emerging leader and the different ways you can lead. In addition to seeing personal growth in C.J. already, I’m looking forward to using his input as we develop a leadership academy for student-athletes on our campus.”
Bentley plans to become an even more active leader on her team. She wants the Billikens to remain a cohesive unit as they prepare for next season. “I want everyone to keep the bigger picture in mind,” she said.
In addition, Bentley said she will strive to be a mentor to the freshmen on the team and create an all-inclusive atmosphere. “I want to help the freshmen get their footing,” she said. “If I see a freshman struggling, I want to reach out to them and help them through.”
Speakers for the event included ESPN’s LaChina Robinson and body language and communications skills coach Justin Patton. Anderson touted Patton as having a huge effect on him when he offered this quote: “Any choice is the right choice.”
“That’s the best quote I’ve ever heard in my life, and it’s so simple,” Anderson said. “You’re going to have moments when you doubt and second guess yourself. But no matter what you do, you can make it a positive result. Even if it’s the wrong choice, you learn from your mistakes. Once he said that I realized, no more second guessing. I’m going for it.”
Both of the A-10 representatives at the forum said the lessons they learned in Phoenix will stay with them well past graduation. Anderson, a communication and sociology major, plans to play professionally after earning his degree and hopes to become a coach and ESPN analyst.
Bentley, a double major in emergency management and psychology with a minor in women’s studies, would like to work with females in crisis and immigrant populations but has developed a recent interest in gender inequity in sports.
“It’s really good to know your leadership style and what you can bring to the workforce,” she said. “I have a better understanding of what kind of atmosphere I’d like to work in one day.”
The NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum has hosted approximately 5,000 student-athletes since its inception in 1997. Each Division I conference offices selects two students-athletes from among its member schools and one conference administrator.
Vicki Friedman is a freelancer working from Virginia. A former Virginian-Pilot reporter, she frequently contributes to Atlantic10.com. She also runs the LadySwish women's basketball blog.