Coach Floats Idea That Helps Gators Mix, Match Personalities -- In Canoes
Tuesday, March 29, 2016 | Softball
The Florida softball team hit the Santa Fe River in two-person canoes on Tuesday afternoon for a team-building experience
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Successful corporations are known for using camps and outings where the goal is to build a positive culture. Trust and teamwork are combined with character, and the desired result is higher sales, higher profits, more competitiveness and individual growth along the way.
Well, the UF softball program is not a corporation, but head coach Tim Walton keeps an open mind in thinking about how a No. 1 national ranking brings challenges -- and opportunities -- to stay creative and focused.
So, thinking in the same way as a bank or manufacturing or retailing company, the Gators hit the Santa Fe River in two-person canoes on Tuesday afternoon trying to run downstream with rowing motions and fielded no complaints about having fun.Did it go smoothly? Well, throughout the day there were conversations, laughter -- and even a little crying.
Yes, crying.
Each tandem had to work together not to sway their vessel too far left or right and continue downstream with the rest of the group.
Some canoes had trouble from the start, including seniors Taylor Schwarz and Kelsey Stewart.
"Kelsey and I got off to a rough start and ran into a branch and became stuck very quickly," Schwarz said, smiling. "Kelsey was laughing so hard that she started crying. I was, too."
But teamwork and determination got them out of that predicament. They were thankful they didn't end up with a hole in their boat.
Of course, canoes don't puncture that easily from tree branches.
The matchups for each canoe were set by Walton, who had a plan for his lineup the same as making out a batting order.
"I really looked at each person in each boat being with each other and wanted to them to figure out a way to work together," Walton said after the event. "In some instances I wanted to mix personality types. With others, I just wanted to see how two people would respond in that environment."
Walton, whose partner for the afternoon was his wife Samantha, said he has a goal for the season to have each player develop in a way that is "infectious."
"Our goal is to tie everyone together and grow all our student-athletes into great people," Walton said. "So if we can do that by putting one person with their same or different personality, then I think we can really help them grow as individuals, which will only help us grow as a team.
"Plus, doing an activity like this is a lot of fun!"
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— Gator Softball (@GatorsSB) March 29, 2016
Watching 19 players in the unusual recreational element allowed the staff to take note that everyone had fun in their own way.
Some canoes raced each other; some wanted to explore each spring as their boat rowed past. Some wanted to splash other players by using their oars. And then there were a few canoes that banded together to form a "super-boat."
"We used all of our lifejackets to create a super-boat so that a bunch of us could just float down the river," sophomore Nicole DeWitt explained. "It was so relaxing to be among my teammates and doing something completely out of the ordinary."
To Walton, it was a mission accomplished.
About a month ago, he surprised his team by taking them over to Florida's three-time defending NCAA Champion gymnastics' studio so they could emulate their favorite routines in that setting.
This time, a little break in the schedule allowed the staff to put the Gators in the water. Literally.
Walton got what he hoped for in breaking up the routine of a long and grueling regular season that is crossing a mid-point as the calendar turns to April.
"In addition to all the camaraderie and friendships this type of experience can provide, my goal is to use the outing as a way to detour or alter a potential mid-season lull or rut. We want to do something that can help keep our players' minds off school and softball," Walton said. "The goal of this is to be around each other in a non-competitive situation, which will only help build the relationships needed to be a successful program."
With a school-record 33-1 start to this season, the players have already made a big splash in 2016 -- adding to the enjoyable one they made Tuesday.
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