Meet the parents, part II

Here's another reason crew parents rock. They don't pester the coach.

If you've read any sort of news over the last few years, you know what I mean. Some of you may have seen these sort of parents at other events. You know what I'm talking about: the parent overinvolved with their kid's sporting experience, shouting pointers from the stands and in the coach's ear about more playing time, different position or why junior's future scholarship and million-dollar contract is being put in jepardy by that idiot on the sideline. No, not his kid, the coach.

You just don't hear about this in rowing. It's great. Parents trust the coach completly. Heck, I have to beg the parents of my guys to contact me. At this point, I sometimes think I don't hear from them enough. I want to know how the boys are dealing with the physical pressures at home, if they're eating enough or getting homework done. I want to know if the parents are concerned about anything.

I suppose parents aren't as "enthusiastic" because few have ever rowed. We've been talking about a parent's rowing camp over the summer for awhile now, but few parents have ever pulled on an oar, much less raced a boat.

Selection for various boats is really an art form. Erg scores do matter, but other less measureable skills are also in consideration. Attendance, attitute, technique and ability to improve all go into my pot to be stirred and considered for selection. Add in the multiple events that we can enter, and you've got some thinking and experimenting to do. Where parents might see the process as subjective, there usually is some science to my methods.

That's why we seat race. I have to know who's moving boat and who can battle for the long term.

Wow, this post is wandering. What the devil am I trying to say?

--I would love to hear from the parents more. I know you all have questions that aren't being answered by your boys. Contact me, I'd love to enlighten you.

--If there is enough interest, I'd be willing to coach a "parent's tank session" for those who would like a better idea of what thier kids are doing.

--Selection is an inexact art that a coach tries to inject science into. However, I'm constantly thinking about it (ask Emily) and I'm always looking for the fastest boat.

Finally, I welcome a limited amount of input from the rowers, once I decide what boats we will concentrate on. That should be in the next week. Shameless lobbying on your own behalf won't be appreciated. However, if there's something you think I've missed, please bring it up. Remember, we're looking for speed for the whole team.