We’re through the first half of the rowing season. The hardest part of the year is over. Cancelled regattas, long erg sessions, dark mornings, and bad water are leaving us behind. We can look ahead to exciting times ahead.
Before you jump headfirst into the exciting racing ahead, it is important to review and assess what you have achieved in the first half of the season. For me, this should be done by both athletes and coaches. If you are happy with the progress you’ve made so far, recognise your success and aim for consistent improvement heading into regatta season and peaking at the right time to get maximum results from your rowing and training. For those disappointed with their progress, that’s ok too. Recognising this is the first step to making a change. I have seen athletes ignore or deny their stagnation and then wonder why they haven’t performed well at the end of the racing season. This is the perfect time to spice up training plans if things aren’t working.
I also think it’s really important for coaches at this point to have a one-on-one meeting with each member of the squad and see how they feel they are getting on and what improvements they may need. I have done this before with my squad and I think it works really well for people and creates more of a bond in the team. This is also really important going into the most stressful part of the rowing calendar and may relieve a bit of tension with some of the athletes who may be struggling.
The best way to plan for the second half of the season is to see what crews work best for regatta season. You’ve had the first half to experiment. Now it’s time for action. In my opinion, the gateway to success is to train people early, work on any little technical changes that need to be made, and start race training much earlier than you’d think. Of course, you don’t want to burn out the squad, nor do you want athletes to peak too early. Keep training schedules balanced on the water and in the gym.
By both looking back at the season so far and moving ahead into the racing season, you can set yourself up for success. Good luck to all!
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