How do you develop sculling ability in those who show potential but aren’t skilled enough to go in tippy singles yet - and how do you do this without over-using your team's skilled scullers who would like to have good solid training rows rather than always teaching others in the double.
Timestamps
01:00 A classic masters rowing problem! There is a 'pay it forward' mentality for many masters rowing clubs. What beginners cannot yet do - consistent hand heights - handles nested at crossover - poor timing - squaring is variable - following skill - little sense of weight in the hand affecting boat balance
03:00 What you can do Firstly put them into single sculls with pontoon floats - Revolution Rowing sell them. They give stability and balance to the single so they can learn quickly because all the boat movements are due to you. Very quickly they realise what's needed to get the boat balanced. - Teach the stationary stability drill - Squaring early - Pause drills - Legs only rowing - Square blade rowing - Backing the boat
05:00 Get the athletes fit A single is heavy to row plus the weight of the pontoon floats so the athletes work out how to push their legs and they have to sustain 40 minutes of rowing. So they get fitter faster. Single sculling helps them understand manoeuvring, turning, backing and going in a straight line - boat control skills.
07:00 Helper fatigue solutions Sharing the load is important. Member survey asked who would be prepared to help with learn to row. Find new people to help out. Mostly they want to know what to say / do and so write a lesson plan for them to follow.
09:00 Outing plans The best workouts which benefit the helpers as well as the learners. - Power strokes with half the boat sitting the boat; half rowing. - Learn a new skill yourself (steering, bow seat, doing the calls, stroking, sweep on the other side). Use the outing for yourself and improving your rowing. Get the new rowers fit is a great goal for these outings.
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Learn to row programmes for masters. Masters rowing has two types of member - returning rowers who learned in their youth and adult beginners. Should club boards consider adding more learn to row programs? We discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
01:30 Learn to row - who wants to do it?
02:30 Clubs need a strategy and goals first. Does LTR fit into this? Marlene coached in 1982 Boston, MA and it was the only learn to row in town.
04:30 What is the funnel pathway to membership of the club? This is important to figure out. A community club needs presence with townsfolk.
06:00 when someone tries rowing it is either a yes or a no. Do they like it?
08:30 Pathways - some run LTR over 6-8 weeks and that isn't effective. it's better to do a weekend to get them hooked. A 48 hour camp where you - row Sat/Sun and learn a lot.
12:30 For a small club after LTR integrating a whole group is challenging.
Large clubs with coaches can have 3 groups - beginner /intermediate / advanced
13:30 Give the Learn to Row course members the best coach you can - It's their first impression.
So they feel understood. Many clubs host introductions to rowing throughout the year. We recommend you add an entry level class - with a skills checklist to confirm skills before you can join the intermediate group.
17:15 LTR courses are a great fundraiser. The goal of the program is an adventure camp. Learn something new and fun.
20:00 Are masters receptive to coaching? Or is it a lack of coach communication skills?
Masters attend camps because of coaching. When you ask what's important to them you find a focus for your coaching.
You can't coach masters like juniors. Give people time to explore rowing.
Masters Rowing - the book by Volker Nolte and Wolfgang Fritsch has a chapter on running a masters learn to row course. It's exactly the way Rebecca teaches her novices. Buy the book.
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I am 51 and have never rowed. I would love to take lessons. How can I get started?
Mary
Two ways to get started with rowing and sculling.
Most rowing federations organise the sport for their country so do an online search for [country name or city name] learn to row.
Hopefully you will find someone near where you live.
It is much better to learn with an experienced coach than try to do online courses for learning to row
But do stay in touch and tell us how you get on.
We are an online rowing education business. We can help you AFTER you have done a learn to row course. For practical reasons, this is best done face to face with a rowing coach who is experienced coaching masters. It is never good to try to teach yourself rowing.
3 ways we can help you
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