Victoria Laub’s interview with Christopher Robertson – WPI Football
“Your Value Has Not Changed, Only Your Role”
Christopher Robertson is the head football coach at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts. He has been coaching college football for close to 25 years, being at WPI for about 17 years. He has worked as the head baseball coach, assistant football coach, and head football coach at WPI. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted his work with his athletes, especially with WPI shutting down in March and regarding the unknowns on the upcoming future for college sports. As a result, Chris is continuing to work to find solutions to problems and reflection on how to make the best out of the tough future ahead.
Being an athlete himself Chris can present a side of empathy and reflection during these difficult times. He was the captain of his football team at the University of Albany. He constantly presents a passionate side for athletics and says that this experience as an athlete himself really “fueled his passion for coaching”. Chris elaborates on how the relationships in athletics are a vital Aspect that makes sports a unique experience. The experience of forming relationships between student assistant coaches and other sport coaches Allows for Chris to build meaningful relationships that go to last a lifetime. However, even though he is competitive, he is a man of principle and will never compromise his athletes’ moral being just to win a game. He holds himself to a high standard and expects his team to do the same.
With this COVID challenge, he elaborates on how it has impacted WPI and himself. The pandemic caused a disturbance during WPI‘s spring break. Chris had to go from prepping for spring football to the unknown future of college athletics. He is currently overcoming this challenge by switching to virtual zoom calls In an attempt to get face-to-face contact without being in the same room. Chris says even though it’s “not the same as being in person it’s still a way to reconnect with my team and check in with them”. Chris says that he may sound cheesy, but he always wants to have his team understand he is supporting them and continuously tells them that he loves them. Chris says that he has the responsibility to prepare his athletes, which is especially hard right now with the unknowns. Chris comments that “ it is tough as their coach because I constantly have to ask myself have I prepared them enough?” He Is constantly trying to instill positive morals and direction for his athletes, on and off the field. He says that he constantly strives to push them and prepare them to make the right decisions in their lives.
Chris brings a unique perspective to this organization by being the head coach of football, which is a team sport. He comments on how usually it is easier, as an athlete with the team sports mindset, to work hard when you’re around coaches and teammates. The people around you, especially teammates, lift you, and support you because the team’s success is the success of every individual combined. COVID tested the self-accountability of his athletes in all aspects of their lifestyles.
The slogan for the year for WPI‘s football team was “the only easy day was yesterday”. The slogan emphasized the difference between process-driven versus outcome-driven mindsets. Chris Reflection on the return to play from COVID has led him to realize the true importance of process-driven training. He is constantly questioning “ what about the right now?” All parts in sports need to revert to process training, especially with the return to play from COVID, and Ashley cannot lose sight or quit because they may be frustrated whether or not they are where they needed to be when they left.
Paralleling COVID, an injury is very similar to this situation many are in right now. Chris understands that the future is unknown. What is known though is that Chris will instill in his athlete that whenever the point that they come together, “it doesn’t matter when that is, what matters is that we wake up, work hard, go to sleep, and then repeat it.” As a person, we can only control the controllable. An athlete can not worry about the white noise, they just keep focused on the right now. With an injury, it is not always an easy fix. Chris shares how his format, if WPI allows for him to continue in the fall with his athletes, will be similar to how he handles an injured athlete.
His routine consists of a major element for removing an athlete from any form of isolation in refocusing their mindset Toward a positive outlook on the situation. After a week, he gets his athletes back to the field. He “gives them a whistle” and brings them back into the brotherhood. he emphasizes the fact that “their value to the team hasn’t changed, just their role”. Chris shares how they can still support their team, motivate their teammates and enjoy the success of everyone.
Even with anxiety and worries from the unknown, Chris has developed a deeper sense of reconnection. this consisting of the relationships with his athletes, assistant coaches, or family. Furthermore stating that with the situation, “you have an opportunity to spend quality time with family, whether you like it or not”. reestablishing the roots of connection with his family has allowed for a calming presence involving the simplicity of family. This is a very important reminder to reach out to loved ones and rely on them to be there in troubled times, and loved ones don’t always just have to be family, it’s your coaches, teammates, friends, etc.
For more information or questions, Chris can be reached at [email protected] or follow WPI’s football team on Instagram at @wpifootball.