Georgia Southern University’s College of Health and Human Sciences uses baseball as teaching tool
Georgia Southern University’s College of Health and Human Sciences is using the game of baseball as a teaching tool.
Twelve faculty members and students recently returned from Poland, where they served as instructors for an international coaching seminar sponsored by Major League Baseball and Little League Baseball. They conducted more than 30 sessions in four days for dozens of coaches from 15 countries.
The purpose was to bring sport science and application to coaches about kinesiology, the science of how the human body functions and moves. In the process, the students got an invaluable hands-on experience.
‘This was an incredible opportunity for our students and faculty,” said Dr. Fred Whitt, Dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences. ‘In the CHHS, we pride ourselves on providing an in-touch approach to the teaching and learning process, and this experience exemplifies our continuing commitment to developing academic excellence.”
Dr. Whitt was joined on the trip by four faculty members from the Department of Health and Kinesiology Department Chair Dr. Barry Joyner, Dr. Dan Czech, Dr. Drew Zwald and Dr. Trey Burdette and Georgia Southern’s Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Tom Melton.
The Georgia Southern envoy also included six graduate students in Sports Psychology Evan Balthazar, Jed Blanton, Steve Gonzalez, Chris McCalmont, Erin Mulvey and Andrea Way.
Major League Baseball sponsors coaching seminars around the world, with Poland’s being one of the largest. What made the experience so unique for the College of Health and Human Sciences and Department of Kinesiology was that this was the first time any university was brought in as a co-sponsor.
The Georgia Southern representatives were the sole presenters at the seminar. The four-day clinic focused on social and psychological aspects of teaching and learning baseball skills, strength and conditioning, coaching principles, and baseball specific skills and techniques.
‘This was a tremendous honor and recognition for the quality of our Sport Psychology and Coaching Education programs,” Dr. Whitt said.
The journey to Poland began when Dr. Czech, who is part of the Major League Baseball Envoy program, was contacted about involving Georgia Southern University in the coaches clinic.
Instructors
Dr. Fred Whitt Dean, College of Health and Human Sciences
Dr. Barry Joyner Chair, Health and Kinesiology
Dr. Dan Czech Faculty, Health and Kinesiology
Dr. Drew Zwald Faculty, Health and Kinesiology
Dr. Trey Burdette Faculty, Health and Kinesiology
Tom Melton Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
Graduate Students
Evan Balthazar
Jed Blanton
Steve Gonzalez
Chris McCalmont
Erin Mulvey
Andrea Way
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