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We have uploaded a photos page of details showing Coxmates, accessories and close-up shots of wiring looms, microphone jacks, batteries, mounting plates and happy coxswains (yes, they are smiling!). 

The photos page is linked from the Coxmate details page and can also be accessed directly here . 

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Dear Rowperfect community

We announce the winners of the “Look after your Cox ” competition. The entries were fabulous.  Have a read of some of the wilder suggestions – we are sure they are all true!

And although we were disappointed that Cambridge lost the Boat Race, they did it using a Coxmate SCT with four speakers for amplification in their boat.  Try one for yourself!  Just ask.

We have some new products we are now selling.  The easiest-to use Pitch Gauge and some snazzy calf protectors along with a new book “Rowing: Know the Game ” written by Jim Flood who presented our 2007 Seminar.

Thanks to everyone who replied to the survey about the coxing seminar in the last newsletter – but there were too few responses to warrant putting something on at short notice.  We will try and find an evening during the summer when we can run it.

Thank you and happy rowing!

Grant Craies and Rebecca Caroe 

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I was recently in Austin, Texas, and approached the local club to borrow a single. During my visit I was introduced to Charles Barksdale the energetic coach who has helped to build a very successful and inclusive local rowing community.  Charles does two jobs and each job is different – he works as a Boatman on the University of Texas Varsity Programme and takes care of the equipment, tune up rig, repair and drive the trailer and as the Head Club Coach, at the Texas Rowing Center, he says, “This job allows me to coach.  My philosophy is to try to get as many people out on the water as possible.”

What is your background in the sport?  I have been rowing since ‘95 and coaching since ‘98.  I wanted to be a better rower and so I started to coach.  Now I am a better coach than I ever was a rower since I am not an ‘ideal’ body shape (5’10” and 170 lbs) but most importantly, I still love it.  
When I started the first things I learnt that no one way is right.  Every athlete is different and the most interesting part is that no matter who you are dealing with you have to find a new way to help them fix the problem.  Look at their background and manipulate your coaching to get them to do things.  This keeps me on my toes and so I am never stagnate and I never do the same thing twice.

What are the differences between the groups you coach?  Coaching kids – you want a quick session, on and off the water fast.  Don’t give them a lot of information – they figure it out themselves.
By comparison, masters (veterans) want to know everything – they are constantly asking “why am I doing this?”.  Masters keep me on my toes the kids are the second hardest group to coach because they have parents!
Open athletes you don’t coach – you give suggestions.  They are wrapped into coaching themselves – you are not training them just moulding.  If they don’t get the right answers from you as a coach they will go and find another coach.  Open rowers sometimes have 6 – 8 coaches because they take what they want from each one.  I usually advise them, “Go find out what works for you and tell me”.  I need to know.  I am a two way street – If you don’t ask me question it is hard for me to tell what you need.  

  
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