Charles Sweeney wrote this lyrical essay about his July rowing on the Masters Rowing International Facebook Group The humidity wraps itself around you like an itchy blanket the moment you walk outside. It’s — once again — still dark when you put the boats in. To the not-quite-healed injury that kept you off the water […]
Was your Henley disappointing? Did your crew fail to row as well in the competition as you did during practices? You aren’t alone – there are many reasons why your particular crew may have failed to live up to your expectations. Let’s run through some that you can use to improve for next year. Make […]
THE CONTEXT: As some parents and coaches continue to rely on what I call “conditional praise” as a form of motivation, I hope they’re aware of some of the unintended consequences. When I was a young boy competing in sports I spent a good lot of my time in the pursuit of approval—praise—from those […]
A guest post by Bob Greatorex: I can add little to the extensive literature available on training techniques so will address areas less often discussed. I find analogies useful and advise crews to break challenges down into component parts. I call it the ‘Brick Wall Analogy’. Lay one brick at a time. If each brick […]
Help, I am watching a competent rower with a top erg score and good seat racer from our squad get dropped. The coach says it is because she’s “not developed as an athlete” or applied her ability. Well I am guessing you don’t think she should have been dropped. Sadly it happens. Crew selection should be objective […]
One of the glories of rowing is that a boat is only as fast as the slowest crew member. Unless all the members are contributing the boat will not be fast. I say this is one of the glories of the sport because it means that, unlike a football team, a basketball team ora hockey team, […]
Rowperfect was privileged to be given this email exchange between Jim Joy (Rowperfect author) and one of his athletes. Read and enjoy a contemplative rowing read. Good Morning Coach.. Think we got enough snow eh? So this piece is spot on..the touch of the hand to the handle, the way we present ourselves to the […]
THE CONTEXT: “Wait, what? Set a goal beyond winning? What other goal is there beyond winning? And, why would I set a goal other than the one I want to achieve? Besides, I was hired to win!” Believe me, I get it. And, I’ve heard it plenty of times from coaches that I’ve met at […]
Jimmy Joy is a coach, author and host of the Joy of Sculling Conferences. He is the “philosopher coach” of the rowing world – studying the mind and how it interacts with sporting performance. Rowperfect sells his books: The Quantum Sculler – for the sculling coach and the athlete and contains new insights into how to coach […]
We got this question from a reader How can I motivate young rowers? Here are some article links for motivation Psychology and Motivation for Rowing Goals Rowing Motivation Tricks for When You Train Alone 8 Quotes from Brad Alan Lewis (gotta love these from this master Olympian) Mike Spraklen Talks Motivation Rowing Chat with Kirsten Barnes […]
