Volleyball unites with Canfield’s conflict management
University sports teams have a unique opportunity to utilize varying talents on campus to improve the skills of student-athletes. USU Volleyball has taken advantage of this by bringing in nutritionists, sports scientists and communications experts.
Clair Canfield is a senior lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies & Philosophy. He specializes in conflict resolution, a niche he chose because he said he was “really bad at it.” He is now working with the USU women’s volleyball team on conflict management.
“They wanted someone to be able to support those student-athletes and develop those skills and capacities further, so I’m just there to kind of support their growth and development and their well-being in their relationships and how they handle conflict,” Canfield said.
This unique position was proposed by head coach Rob Neilson.
“We love being in a university environment. We love finding professors who are the best in the world at what they do,” Neilson said. “We learn all these different things from great people, and Clair is one of the best at conflict resolution.”
Canfield completed his undergrad at Weber State University with a bachelor’s in integrated studies. He went on to obtain a master’s degree in communication studies from the University of Montana and a conflict resolution graduate certificate from the University of Utah. He is in his ninth year at USU where he lectures and manages the Space Makers program within the Heravi Peace Institute.
“It’s kind of a unique situation because it’s not like I’m teaching a class. I don’t go in at set times with them. What I try to do is meet them where they’re at and see what they might need from me, and then I do my best to provide support in that area,” Canfield said. “I also try to, I like to feel like I’m a part of the team.”
Conflict resolution isn’t just important for athletes, Canfield expressed. But it does give a sports team an advantage. In the environment of college athletics, it is not uncommon to have a team of very competitive athletes. It’s the norm. That competitiveness can be used for good on the court, but it can also cause tension among teammates.
“Volleyball of all the sports is the most interconnected that I can even think of, I don’t even think it’s close. You get to touch the ball one time if it comes to you. You rely so much on your teammates to be able to do anything. It’s a very team-oriented, interconnected sport, and so the relationships they have with each other and how they work together are certainly going to impact their success on the court,” Canfield said.
There are different types of styles when it comes to conflict resolution. Some people avoid it, some are competitive, some accommodate and others compromise. Instead of conforming to one of those styles, Canfield approaches conflict as a potentially transformative experience.
“It can change the way we do our relationships. It can change ourselves, it can change our communities, the world around us. And to do that we have to go beyond those basic ways of handling conflict to do it differently,” he said. “I approach conflict as something that’s potentially beautiful and has gifts to offer us and that can strengthen our relationships and create change. But it takes a whole new way of approaching it.”
Instead of avoiding conflict, the players are embracing Canfield’s methods.
“Being a teammate is hard, especially in a group with tons of competitive girls. There’s bound to be conflict,” graduate student Kennedi Boyd said. “There’s bound to be issues, but we’re butting heads for the right reasons. Clair is helping us really all turn our heads together, and our team has grown immensely on the emotional and mental side because of his help.”
Competitiveness isn’t the only style that leads to problems, although we tend to see it that way, Canfield said. All approaches can lead to consequences we are not satisfied with.
“They’re all competitive because they care so much. And when you care that deeply and you’re trying to pursue something, you put a lot of energy toward it, so there’s a lot to work with that,” he said. “I get excited to be able to kind of meet them where they’re at and see what they care about and also help them recognize if something isn’t working, that there might be another way that that you can approach it and get closer to the things you’ve learned.”
Canfield isn’t a therapist or a coach. He’s a friend and a teacher who is helping the team push themselves in ways outside of physical training.
“Clair has been the best addition to our coaching staff and our team. He is someone who walked in and we all absolutely trust. We love him so much,” Boyd said.
Working with the team doesn’t always look the same. Sometimes he is teaching and helping them learn. Other times he is just listening.
“I just want to be able to get to know them and be there when I can because they’re just tremendous individuals,” Canfield said. “I just enjoy being able to get to know them and when I can, support them. I am a really good listener, and I can be there if they need to chat about things, or talk about their emotions or whatever they might be going through.”
Canfield started working with the team last spring and has joined them again for the 2023 season. He has found a deep appreciation for the team, both coaches and players. He hopes more people will get to know the players for who they are off the court and then support them on game day.
“They deserve all the credit in the world for what they do on the court, off the court. I’ve just been really grateful to see how much they put into it, how much they care about each other,” he said. “I think it’s super challenging what they have to face. Everybody has things that they’re going through, but I think it’s tough as an athlete to have that be your primary focus while also trying to get a degree and maybe also worrying about how to make rent and manage your relationships. There’s a lot that they have to face.”
The team’s success this season, including an undefeated at-home record, has proven their unity and dedication to working together. Canfield attributes their success to the players and a caring coaching staff.
“I find it really inspiring to be around a group of people who are trying so hard to be successful at everything that they’re doing. I just can’t say enough about how incredible I think they all are,” he said. “We also have a phenomenal coaching staff — not just in their win-loss record. They care about the athletes, more than just their athletic performance, but also just their development as human beings.”
Whether on the court, in personal relationships or in one of his classes, Canfield recommends learning about conflict styles and how to improve your interpersonal communication.
“Being able to have him come in and teach our team tools about how to have better conversations and you know, get a little bit deeper and unite in values has been amazing,” Neilson said. “Our team trusts him, and he’s been an unbelievable asset for our staff and for our players.”