This morning's practice with Pitt was a great outing. Smooth water, two 8s, let's go long. With only two boats, I got a better opportunity to actually coach technique. Usually, with multiple 4 rolling around everywhere, I can't get close enough without waking the hell out of another boat. Then there's the little matter of the lighting. There is none.
Understand, it's dark when we launch. Not "dawn breaking," dead middle of the night dark. The boats are lit with white bow lights and flashing red stern lights. The launch is lit according to Coast Guard rules; red on port bow, green on starboard bow and white all-around light on the stern. In addition, our launches have powerful hand-held spotlights. The only way I can see what's happening is to use the spot on the blades or the oarsmen.
I know that I haven't been saying much to the Pitt kids. It's been a complicated process, getting into the system. I haven't been able to learn names as fast, because I can't see anyone on the water. Bodies are just a shape. I don't see faces until we are landing. Secondly, I don't want to give contrary adjustments. Daniel has done a great job with this team and I don't want to screw up any progress. The kids are a little touchy about any differences in style, so I have to really edit myself. Finally, I'm still learning this style of rowing by watching the kids and talking to Daniel.
Anyway, I saw good improvement during today's practice, not only in the boats but in my own work. Only two boats make it easier to get really close and give more pointers. Also, I've just about got everyone figured out, who rushes, who needs catch work and who opens too early. Plus, I was really excited by the distance they are capable of when going long distance in 8s. Starting just a little before 6am, they powered up to the dam (about 3.2 miles), then turned and rowed to PNC park (about 4.5 miles) then returned to the dock (another 1.5 mile). Good, powerful strokes the whole time, finished at 7:10am.
I know the guys are a little frustrated, because the boats weren't perfect and had some rough moments. What does one expect when two seat can't see what stroke is doing? Sure, there might have been some rough moments, but I took some good positives from this practice and came off the water very encouraged. Any Pitt rowers reading this should be as well.
Categories: Rowing, Coaching, Pitt, Technique
41 comments:
Hey do the Pitt kids know about Launch Exhaust?
I've mentioned it to the several times, and a few have mentioned they liked that Yale-Harvard story. I hope they're reading, and I'll be writing more on my experiences with them as time goes along.
Don't forget about us.
dat would be bad!!!!
Alright, this has been bothering me for a bit now and I have not said anything but now its going to be said.
In Judaism, there are Holidays and there are Holy Days. The Holy Days start on Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and include Yom Kippur, 10 days later.
Yom Kippur is arguably the single most holy, sacred, and important holiday in the religion of Judaism. For those of you that don't know, it is a day of repentence or asking forgiveness for your sins. On Yom Kippur, Jews spend much of the day in Synagogue and do not eat or drink anything from sundown the night before until sundown the night of the Holy Day. You are supposed to not work, involve yourself in entertainment, or participate in really anything concerning agendas unrelated to thinking about the sins you may have committed the past year and asking for forgiveness for them. At sundown, the fast is broken generally with lots of family and thus ends the Holy Day of Yom Kippur.
Now, some of you may be wondering why I wrote this. A particular event has sparked an explanation of this most important of Jewish Holy Days.
You see, on the women's teams, if a rower misses one practice, they are required to make it up with a 10k. I personally don't agree with this practice however that is the coaches choice and is not unjustifiable. Now, there are a few exceptions. For example, women who took the SAT's on one Saturday morning were exempt from making up the practice with the 10k. The same went for women taking the PSAT's another Saturday morning. Unfortunately, Yom Kippur did not fall on a Friday or Sunday, the two days without practice for the women's team. This meant that the women surely would be exempt from practice due to religious reasons. Didn't it? Contrary to the belief of some area residents, Jews are indeed a vast minority in this area. This, however, does not mean that there are no Jews around. In fact, the Fox Chapel Crew Club in specific has a lot of Jewish team members, many of them women. Surely their religious beliefs would not be neglected in this situation.
Ultimately, the women that missed the practice due to their observation of the most Holy day on the Jewish calendar did indeed have to make up the practice with a ten thousand meter erg test.
Perhaps I am a bit biased, being a Jew myself, however I feel personally offended at well that these women's religious beliefs were not acknowledged. In comparison, if practice was held on Easter or Christmas, would the women who missed have to make up that practice? The answer, of course, is no. The coach would probably not even show up for that practice because he would most likely be observing some of his religions most holy days. This is something I find to be a bit disturbing, and with all the opinions of the women's side of the staff filtering in to us (No shirtless rows, no leaving clothes on the dock, etc. etc.) perhaps we could add some input into their side (uphold the religious rights of rowers).
I understand that what I'm saying is strongly accusational. I post this not anonymously because if there is an argument to what I say or if there is some justification, I would certainly like to hear it. Thank you.
Drew, I love you, and I do believe that not having to do a 10k for the SAT/PSAT while having to make one up for Yom Kippur is bull.
There are basketball games on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
There are football games on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
But, since the rowers are not paid, there is no excuse for charging a rower a 10k erg test because they skipped practice to take penance. Whatever supreme being you worship doesn't care what you get on your SATs or PSATs. They don't care where you go to college or what job you pursue. (unless you go to a seminary school, and become a priest/rabbi/reverand/etc.) They care what you do with your life. God comes first, not coaches.
Drew, I totally agree with you, and I think this issue in particular highlights some of the fundamental differences in coaching between the mens' team and the girls' team.
Niccolo Machiavelli once wrote that, as a leader, it is better to be feared than loved (For those of you who don't know or remember, Machiavelli wrote "The Prince", a very influential political treatise). Personally, I believe that this is not always the case. While I know there are times when we fear our coach, we definitely like him more. And I know that no matter what we may say, we still respect him (please correct me if you feel differently). I also know that while the men's team is far from democratically run, it as at least a benevolent dictatorship and a relationship built on mutual respect. Absolute dictatorships do not belong on high school teams. And yes, I know they're all over, thanks. High school rowers are not tools or just bodies to be used to win races or prestige for a coach or team name. We are real people with real lives and real emotions. We are volunteers. We pay to row for this team. I'm not saying that coaches should listen to rowers for what to do. Far from that. When I am ordered to go do something for this team, I'm going to do it. I may not like it- and nobody likes pain, me included- but I'm gonna do it. Why? Because I respect my leaders. If I dreaded missing a practice for fear of a harsh retribution, why would I even keep coming to practice, for fear of possibly missing one? There should not be a high wall or a thick line separating a coach from his team. He should not be aloof and putting himself on a level to far above the rowers he commands. Yes, the coach is the Coach, but strip away the title, and how far removed from his rowers is he? How much is too much? How far is too far?
'But it gets the results we're after!" people say. It GOT results. It remains to be seen whether or not those results are strong enough to be repeated (so far, it's not looking bad, though). I'm going to be honest now. I would rather row with Coach Jay and the Fox Chapel varsity men and get last place in every race than row for the Fox Chapel women's team and place as they do. I will only speak for myself here, but I would not put up with some of the policies that are enforced on that team. I don't believe that I'm alone in that view, either. In fact, I don't think much of what goes on over there could be gotten away with on the men's team. Why? Maybe it's just because we're a bit more vocal about standing up for ourselves. Yeah, right now, the women's record is better than ours. I congratulate each and every rower for that. They have worked hard for it. But we don't always lose. And they don't always win. Case in point: the men's varsity lwt 8+ would have gotten a first place in the HS men's lwt 8+ category, had they been able to race in that event. Instead, they raced in the HS open weight men's varsity 8+'s race because the lwt women were out winning. Nobody complained. They had a good race, and couldn't have asked for more. You mock our results? How many St. Ignatius' have the women's team faced? Oakland Catholic's budget is probably a little smaller.
"Undisciplined" and "unruly"? Apparently that's what teamwork looks like. Ok, we have had a few isolated incidents in the past. I will never condone those actions. But I don't like posturing, and I don't like hypocrites. You got a problem? Take it up with my real coach. In the meantime, I've got some rowing to do. We may comment on how another team is run, but we don't try to change it. We have a way we run things, it works, and we like it. Don't mess with us.
Oh, God. I hope I don't get kicked off the team for that one. Maybe I should have posted anonymously. Ahhh, my IP address would show up anyway so if somebody really wanted to know they could find out. I think that little commentary above has been building up for a while.
FYI, the second paragraph is just my opinions on coaching. The next two are the ones that are talking about FC. Also, my intention is not to assault anyone's character. Disagreeing with someone's personal preferences and practices does not mean that I hate them.
Kirk, you had the balls to say that and should not be ashamed or feel the need for apology. I definately back you on what you were saying there.
Ok, time for me to be the little bitch.
To all FC guys:
1. The girls did not have to do the 10k for being practicing their religion, they chose to do come down and erg. Now for what reasons, the chose to-new can of worms.
2. Some of your opinions and facts about all of FC Crew are true, but a lot are skewed or completly ungrounded. So please don't blow things up unless you have a well grounded reason to.
A lot of the things you think are a result of the womens team controling us or hateing, are not really a result of them at all. They come from many diffrent places, or from peoples imaginations.
3. We are not perfect, nor do we know everything. This includes ALL of the coaches, and ALL of the rowers, and ALL of the parents.
Please be cognisent of that and think about where everyone is coming from before you insult them.
once again, just my two cents. Free speech is good, and I like people communicating.
Foxbat:
I wouldn't punish anyone for popping off with an opinion, as long as it wasn't intentionally insulting. Yours wasn't.
Do be careful in venting your thoughts, however. Remember, there isn't and never has been a
conflict between the sexes on the FC team. While there are differences of opinion between the coaching staff, don't ever make it "us vs. them." It's all "we."
The "Yom Kippur 10k" needs to be investigated. Respect for holy days is in the highest traditions of the United States, and any real or perceived discrimination for practicing religion is a serious matter indeed.
"wdevz"
"2. Some of your opinions and facts about all of FC Crew are true, but A LOT ARE SKEWED OR COMPLETELY UNGROUNDED. So please don't blow things up unless you have a well grounded reason to."
Ok...
"1. The girls did not have to do the 10k for being practicing their religion, they chose to do come down and erg."
Because if they didn't, their "political status" would take a significant docking.
So basically, they had to.
I was and am not trying to insult anybody. I am not making things up. When we refer to the "women's team," we must remember that there are two parts- the authorities and the rowers. The "them" of my post was not supposed to be the whole women's team, but the coaches and other authority figures. Sorry about the ambiguity. My fault. I have no problem with the FC women rowers; I really don't. So if you are an FC woman rower reading this, please don't be offended yourself by what I said. Also, I don't think that the women hate us or are controlling us. I suggest to everyone that they read what I wrote at least twice before commenting on it.
I hold no illusions that I know everything.
I did read it twice. I guess my true gripe is I hate complaining.
And to anon: Use your true name, if you want to talk with me about what I wrote, I would love to talk with you in the context of who you are, so I can better understand where you are coming from.
first of all let me say that this blog belongs to Jay and the guys, i understand that you can wirte what ever you like but... dosn't it seem like discussing you opinions on the way the womens team is run is kinda a waste of space considering it dosn't really affect you at all. whoever said:
"1. The girls did not have to do the 10k for being practicing their religion, they chose to do come down and erg."
Because if they didn't, their "political status" would take a significant docking.
So basically, they had to."
i don't really know where you go that from.
to kirk i am sorry that you feel this way about the womens team (although i am not exactly sure how you believe to know so much about how our part of the team is run).
if i didn't love the sport and respect(and LIKE) my coach and fellow rowers then i would not have dedicated as much of my time to this team as i have( i think a lot of people would agree with this).No one is mocking your results, i am proud to be a member of the FOX CHAPEL CREW CLUB (we are all on the same team here).This may be a crazy idea but can't we all just let each section of the team be run in the way that works best for it.
"How many St. Ignatius' have the women's team faced? Oakland Catholic's budget is probably a little smaller." That is so unfair!
I think we all know how much money we shell out (no pun intended) to be on this team. Obviously I enjoy rowing if i pay that. I do feel partially responsible for the guy's opinion of us. All of the girls after a hard practice, more often than not will complain. As a complaining enthusiast, I would like you all to know that it is worth it. We do a 10k when we miss practice for an illegitimate reason, not as punishment, but as a way for us to get better. I find it to be fairly obvious that it has worked. And although we aren't racing against St. Ignatius, we happen to be rowing against hard teams as well. Apples and oranges... guys are built to pull better times, and you do. Just because we physically can not pull a better time, does not mean that we are worse at rowing against our competition. We are always trying to improve and outdo ourselves, which takes a lot of work from both the women and the coaches.
ps. thanks joe for being the voice of reason.
To the girls who have responded, I do agree that it was uncalled for to talk about how you don't have strong competition. We know that is just an opinion and doesn't really agree with the total truth.
Now, to address the comment made about us wasting space talking about how the women run their practices. I think it is really unfortunate that we have to refer to our practices as our practices and your practices. We are the Fox Chapel Crew Club (FCCC), not the Men's FCCC and Women's FCCC. So, really what concerns some of us should, in escence, concern all of us. Second of all, if you are going to say we shouldn't be complaining about what you do during the women's practice, then why should their be interference in the men's practice with how we row? Don't you think that if we are going to split this into our practice and your practice that we should be allowed to row with our shirts off? Shouldn't we be allowed to leave our clothes on the dock? These points don't bother the rowers or the coaches on the men's team who practice at that time, so why is it that others who aren't even present during our practices can tell us that our shirts must remain on?
I believe it was said that a female rower's parent claimed that they didn't want to be associated with the "(Naked) Band of Brothers." Well, if that's the case, I don't want to be associated with this Yom Kippur 10k situation. I personally feel offended by it. Not that offended. Not as offended as say a parent complaining about the "Rvers of urine pouring out of a boat on to young women's heads." But I still feel somewhat offended. I really would like to konw why it was that people taking the PSAT's were exempt from this and people bound by religion to refrain from going to crew were not? I don't want this to get blown out of proportion at all, I would just like a response of why this occurred.
And to Ellen, I don't mean to sound insulting here, but first of all, just because Joe agrees with you doesn't necessarily mean he is the voice of reason. Second of all, are you calling Yom Kippur an illigitmate reason to miss practice? Would you call Easter an illigitimate reason to miss practice? Would you call Christmas an illigitimate reason to miss practice? I don't think so. I think these are legitimate reasons to miss practice and I don't see how you could argue that.
Jesse, I don't know how it happened or what happened exactly either. That is why I am asking for an explanation from someone who does. Also, I'm sure many of the parents during the infamous "urine incident" didn't know the details of that event either. But that didn't stop them from jumping to conclusions ranging as far as sexual harrassment? I don't want anyone to be angered by what I'm saying. I'm not trying to cause trouble, I just want an explanation about these events from someone who has the actual, factual details.
jesse- thank you for saying what i was trying to say only better(college has done you well bro) and drew- i presonally have no problem whatsoever with you or any of the guys rowing without your shirts, thats a parents issue not one with the girls on the team( we all know we can't pick our parents) same can be said for the peeing thing. also i do believe that i said
"i am proud to be a member of the FOX CHAPEL CREW CLUB (we are all on the same team here)"
but it can't be denied that we do have seperate practices and different head coaches. i consider all the guys to be my teamates but that dosn't me we have the same practice. the girls that did 10ks after Yom Kippur (or at least those that i talked to) did so because they wanted to not because of any alleged "politics" (there really are no politics in rowing all coaches have the same goal: to make the boat go as fast as it can)
"Let it be, let it be."
didn't mean to beat a dead horse
The unfortunate, unavoidable fact is that there are (is? is it "is" or "are"?) politics on this team, as with any.
And just to head the inevitable comment off now, please don't try to blame the presence of such matters on people like me simply for commenting on them.
"saxrdyhn"- (sounds like the name of some obscure plant)
Extemely inportant point:the girls that did their 10k for Yom Kippur did not have to!!!!
fiikhi
I'm with Kirk here. There certainly are politics on this team, and in rowing in general.
I find it somewhat hard to believe that any one would want to do a 10k for no reason? Why did the girls who didn't have to do a 10k for missing due to the SAT's not do a 10k anyway then?
Because juniors and sophomores that take PSATs are lazier than jewish girls. It's science. (but seriously, we wouldn't lie)
Okay, I'm not weighing in on the politics issue, but I have to comment on Abby's last post. I certainly believe you, but logically something doesn't seem right.
The logic is that if one took the PSAT/SAT, one didn't "want" to complete a 10k, but if one missed practice for Yom Kippur, one did want to complete the 10k.
I am willing to accept that these individuals chose to complete the 10k of their own volition. For some reason, the Jewish girls who were absent on the 13th wanted to do a 10k. However, what I'm curious about is: what makes one want to complete a 10k for missing due to a religious holiday, but not want to complete a 10k for taking the SAT?
(As an aside, I think that Drew may have a calling as a clinician.)
If a client presented me with this logic, I would wonder what a person felt was different about the 2 circumstances. (Even when the coaches and the rest of the team didn't care about the absences.) What is the internal motivation for "making up" this 10k?
(Of course, perhaps Abby's orignal logic was true, and Jewish girls are so in to training that the idea of even missing 1 day for a legitimate reason requires "making up" the work with a 10k.)
Could it also be the number of people missing each practice. I am pretty sure, even though we do have alot of jewish rowers, that more missed on the testing saturdays than for the holiday in question.
Yeah, because if everyone else does it, it's completely justified.
First of all Nina, I'm not in any way questioning the girls integrity. And I am also not questioning whether or not 10ks are unreasonable because they are not. Its not the fact that they had to do a 10k for missing a practice, that is totally with in reason and falls into Joe's policy which I may not agree with but I respect. If the people who had to miss for the SAT's also had to make up their 10k, I would not be questioning this right now. I am concerned with that fact that one group was exempt and another was not. Why is this?
Second, to Joe, I really don't think it matters if it was half the team or just one person who missed for this holy day, they should not have had to make it up. I know the girls say they didn't "have" to make it up, but obviously if you were given the choice of doing a 10k or participating in a normal day on the water, which one would you choose?
i really think that the issue has been coverd many times over
If it has been covered many times over, then why hasn't there been an answer from someone who has the facts about why this event occurred?
Let me first say that if any men or women have a concern, they should immediately proceed to a coach and speak with them about it. If you feel you cannot share it with one of the assistant coaches, then you should speak with Dr. Bellinger, as he is our Head Coach, and he leads this team. Finding out about a concern a rower(s) might have via a public website is not the best solution. Drew, I see you have posted the most here, and I wish you would have approached me about your concerns, as they appear directed towards me. In fact, I am hopeful that you will talk with me about what you have written, as I feel its important for us to talk in person, not write. Just because I primarily coach the women does not mean you cannot speak with me, for whatever reason, even if its to ask me the most random of questions on your mind. I am here for you and anyone on this team, man or woman. Above all, I am a coach for Fox Chapel, the team, as I have been for the past 4 years, coaching both the men and women (yes, ask Jesse who one of his coaches was his junior year).
I must say, what a great team we have this year. We can accomplish anything, but its the team that wins, and this team is made up of men and women. No man or woman, men's squad or women's squad, is bigger than this team. I am looking forward to a great year everyone. With the talent we have on this team, we can accomplish anything.
Coach Joe, I may not agree with all the ways you do coach (you probably gathered that from above), but you are obviously a good coach and what you do works, since your rowers like and respect you and they do extraordinarily well. Here's to Fox Chapel Crew, and winning.
Drew- I really don't want to take a stance on the religon issue b/c I've talked to the men and women and I see both sides. When you brought up the topic of parents, however, that lit a fire under my ass. A small minority of parents row and I have yet to see a parent observe one of our practices. So I feel that if some kid is complaining to their parents over the menial activity taking our shirts off is rediculous! We have strenuous pratices causing us to take our shirts off...BIG F-ING DEAL!. I have the utmost respect for ever coach, rower, and parent associated with the Fox Chapel Crew Club, but I must say to the parents complaining about the urinating and shirtless rowing, YOU HAVE FAR TOO MUCH TIME ON YOUR HANDS! If you or your child is so concerned about our activities, your child or you needs to find something to fill your extra time.
Joe-
This is a public debate forum. It's been done many times, I feel that it is completely appropriate for this debate.
Anon.
Coach Joe was not telling drew not to debate, he saying: if you have a problem with, or a question concerning a curtain person, go to that person. Deal with a problem don't talk about a problem.
thbhocay
I completely agree with Coach Joe and with Joe b. there. First of all, this is not a public debate forum although that is slightly what it has become on this topic. Second of all I agree with what Coach Joe said and would like to talk to him about this issue personally. I do feel that this was bringing the subject up to a coach however though being this is a coach's blog. Also, I don't really ever get a chance to see the women's coaches but I would really love to talk to Joe about this issue in person so that there isn't any more controversy.
Drew, I hear that what you are looking for is an explanation. And thus far, it seems like you haven't heard any explanation that seems to satisfy you. (To anonymous, I believe that this has been covered, but clearly not to everyone's satisfaction.) I also am assuming that the reason that you mentioned this on a public forum, is that you wanted it to be discussed in a public and open way. I think that is reasonable, but I am a person who likes everything out in the open.
In this case, whether it would have been better discussed face-to-face between individuals, is somewhat moot, since Drew has let all of his feelings air. The other thing that I have come to learn, is that for every one person who is openly concerned about an issue, there are 10 people who are silently concerned.
I also wanted to say that all people, including adults, parents, teachers, are human and accidents/mistakes sometimes happen. I say this for 2 reasons: 1) Perhaps this was an unintentional slight that was offensive to some people. or 2) Perhaps, people are jumping to conclusions because the whole story isn't out there. Both of these points speak to the need of a open discussion of the situaion. For example, when I first heard about the "urine" situation, I was livid (Boys, thank goodness Jay ignored my workout suggestions!) Jay was angry too, but I think that he realized that after speaking to all the involved parties: girls, boys, coaches, and parents, that he made a mistake and jumped to conclusions. Only knowing a part of the truth allows the imagination to run wild.
As an aside, I'm thinking about eliminating anonymous posters. I mentioned to Jay, and it appears that those people who aren't willing to openly reveal their identity usually say more inflamtory things.
All right, I'm shutting this thread down. There hasn't been any new point put forward in the last few posts. This situation is going to be addressed in another forum, and I hope to have some sort of answer to give the team (privately) when I return from Boston.
On another note, I think that Emily might have a point. Allowing anon posts was supposed to allow people to comment without risking any backlash, real or perceived, from me. However, it seems that anon posts are simply more inflammatory and haven't added much to any debate or discussion. I won't disallow anon posting yet, but understand that I'd like to see people willing to stand behind what they write.
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