Coaching adults makes it hard to give feedback. Three things to consider.
00:45 Masters may not have a coach. We help each other with in-boat coaching. There isn't an obvious person who is a leader.
Feedback is a delicate topic. Some people may not want to hear what you have to say and you may not have sufficient authority in the eyes of your crew mates.
Is there a focus for this workout practice? By setting a framework of expectations before you start rowing, there's a structure which everyone can use during the workout and at the debrief afterwards. Ask each athlete "how did it go?" and "What were you working on?" So you can align your feedback to their needs.
The group dynamic risks whatever is said in the first person who talks tends to lead everyone else to follow their theme. Say one positive thing about the workout. Avoid a spiral of self-criticism. Give each person one thing to work on and one positive message about the workout. Strike an appropriate balance that the athletes are ready to receive and understand.
The tone can be different for this as the whole group watches together. Set the framework at the start - after watching the video you can say anything you like about yourself and your rowing. But observations about other people can only be positive remarks. This helps show that care is needed when choosing words.
06:30 What to look for in a video
First ascertain what the athlete can see from their own technique. Playing the short video on a loop means people can watch fast and several times before getting bored. Up-skilling your "eye" watching rowing and sculling so you know what pattern of technique you are trying to achieve and how that compares to your rowing video. Can you help the athlete to see what you can see? Do they realise they are squaring late? Small refinements require skill at looking and seeing subtle movements.
Ask if they want feedback or coaching first. The other party has to agree to receive feedback first before you give it. When someone says yes they want feedback you have prepared them mentally to receive what you are going to say. They will be more minded to do something about your advice afterwards.
11:00 When coaching masters only focus on one thing per workout, It's hard to think of more than one thing at a time, So wrap up the discussion with the one thing you want then to work on next time. Set up the best ways of enabling each other to hear the advice and act on feedback offered.
Want easy live streams like this? Instant broadcasts to Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn. Faster Masters uses StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5694205242376192
How do you work with your coach and how do they work with you?
What boundaries are there to the relationship?
How to give and receive negative feedback
01:00 This Past Week - what we do to advocate for masters rowing.
US Rowing Masters Conference
https://2022usrowingmastersconference.sched.com/
05:00 Ageing Well Webinar
https://fastermastersrowing.com/courses/ageing-well-for-rowing/
08:00 Athlete Coach Relationships
How do they work with you and you with them?
Goals of your program - fitness, technique, camp ....
Develop trust and respect
Understand communication - what would they like to get from the session or what to learn
10:15 Life stage and coach relationships
At high school they tell and you do.
Competitive teams - team culture, standards of behaviour and quality training matter
Masters are different our choices are more varies.
12:30 Igor Grinko coach to USSA, USA and China noticed the differences in athlete coach relationships.
15:00 What boundaries are there to the relationships?
private time
Communication - how, when, text / email / call / Face to face
Days off from the team
Scheduling crews - deadlines
Timelines for practice. Time to arrive and time on the water OTW
18:00 Preparing for the session - brief the coach ahead of time.
What is the approach - do you coach the whole boat or individually?
22:00 Use video to give individual feedback privately
23:00 How to give and receive feedback
Ask at the beginning what are you currently working on?
At the end one good point and one point to work on. Plus video of good sculling.
26:45 Separate their identity from the rowing skills - feedback is not criticism
28:00 Receiving feedback - coach-ability is a great skill to have. Try to do what the coach says.
Some coaches relay on athlete intuition to solve problems. Others explain the "how" relative to a reference point.
31:00 Give coach feedback afterwards for the crew.
35:00 If you want coaching, come close to the coach boat.
Join our community and get our exclusive Faster Masters Rowing Magazine, packed with tips, techniques, and inspiring stories. Includes four new articles monthly.
