Old school coaching tells us to leave emotion out of sport.
We’ve heard it all before – Toughen up! We need you! Get it together! Stop crying!

But emotion in sport is an incredibly valuable tool for performance and success. Whether it’s the excitement of a last-minute goal or the devastation of a season-ending loss, emotions are deeply intertwined with the athletic experience. The way athletes manage, express, and harness their emotions can make a big difference in how they perform and how they relate to their teammates and coaches.

Jeff Matthews, head coach of the Amherst College women’s ice hockey team, points to emotion in sport as one of the overarching reasons why the team has experienced incredible success in recent years. Emotion is a superpower, a method to motivate and foster team cohesion. And for Coach Matthews, one particular emotion stands above the rest when describing his herd of Mammoths:

Love.

Matthews says he really saw it this year – the love the players had for the team and for each other. Their mission is to respect, care and connect with one another; to use emotions such as love and joy to foster strong relationships that transcend their time on the ice. And the Mammoths did just that, fresh off their second NCAA Division III National Championship game appearance in the last three years.

Coach Matthews’ secret to success begins during the recruiting process. He emphasizes the importance of bringing in players who possess strong emotional intelligence, high character, and a team-first mentality. Matthews keeps a relatively small roster compared to his opponents, which he labels an advantage. Everybody plays. Everybody has an equal stake in what’s important. Players are empowered and encouraged to be themselves, fostering team cohesion and psychological safety.

There are three large C’s taped to the wall in the women’s hockey locker room at Orr Rink.

Commit. Compete. Conquer.

The team fully embraces this mantra by individually defining the meaning of each word and writing it on its corresponding “C.” These posters serve as a consistent visual reminder of what they stand for and who they play for every time they put on the purple jersey.

Matthews credits the team’s leadership for the unique culture they have been able to establish and maintain. It is a collective effort, from the seniors to the first-year players. There is no hierarchy on this team – the first years are embraced, immediately brought into the environment as impactful players necessary for team success. This strong leadership has been key in helping the team handle expectations and pressure that accompany their success.

Over time, the Mammoths have become a player-led team, which can lead to something truly special. The focus shifts from a singular vision to a shared experience — a collective commitment to each other. To the TEAM. Watching his players lead with courage and confidence makes Matthews so proud — isn’t this what sports are all about? Using the weight of performance to propel us forward in life.

Coach Matthews inspires with his values-based philosophy. He leads with humility, gratitude and accountability — values that guide his everyday thinking and purpose. The Amherst women’s hockey team isn’t about him — t’s about the family. It’s about the women who trust him to steer the ship in the right direction. It’s about the gratitude they feel for the opportunity to lace up their skates and spend countless hours together in a cold rink. It’s about the accountability and the responsibility they have to each other to commit, compete, and conquer.

Culture must be cultivated. It must be embraced, passed on, and protected.

And for Matthews and the Mammoths, it must be done with love.

Carry on.

Jess Lapachinski is an athletic administrator and sport performance professional who lives in the Pioneer Valley. Jess can be reached at jl.victoryLap@gmail.com