Well, I don't know everyone who is reading this, but it is a blog about my coaching experiences and thoughts, so I won't censor myself.
I've got a problem brewing in the camp. Not too big, but a touchy issue that could be "politically" very damaging.
If I put a top 4 together, it would be 4 FC guys. By any obvious measure or observation, that would be my top 4. This situation speaks well for my own coaching during the year at FC. It speaks poorly about participation in my camp. Some teams are holding their own summer programs rather than have their kids row at TRRA.
This situation also puts me in an difficult spot. If I put out that "top" 4 with 4 FC guys, any other rower could easily accuse me of favoritism. "There's the FC coach, using the TRRA camp for his own purposes." If I don't put that boat together, I'm a fool and untrue to my own principles. I suppose that last line shows what I'm going to do.
"Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" -Union Adm. David Farragut, battle of Mobile Bay, US Civil War.
Categories: Rowing, Coaching, FC
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Suggestion Box
Well, this is the opportunity for the guys to sound off on any ideas for next year. I won't put in any real "rules" here, but here are some things I'm sure we're going to do:
60min ergs instead of 45min.
Work on better catches across the entire team.
More length at the catch.
Other than those few points, I don't plan on changing much in the way of training methods or scheduling.
A few other points that I would like to bring up now:
I'm not all that crazy about going to the Speakmon, unless some sort of overnight can be set up for the team. No matter how much sleep anyone gets on the bus, leaving FC at 2 in the morning doesn't make for good racing that day. I've never been one to be all that crazy about head races anyway. Even though this means I won't get another trip to visit my aunt, I'm not going to support a return unless the guys really shout me down.
For next spring's racing schedule, we're going to add more "dual" meets with local teams, hopefully on the river. That way, we can determine how long the race is. I want the only 1500m race to be Midwest. Everyone else races 2k, so let's race 2k. Perhaps a trip to the Ohio Governor's cup? That's on the same course as the Speakmon, and I promise it's bouyed with start docks. We won't return to the Hoover unless they bring the entry fee down to something reasonable. I won't mention their inability to get the finish order correct.
Yes, it's time to start thinking about this stuff. I know the guys are out for summer vacation, but the season really never ends. Just ask the fellows doing my TRRA camp.....
Categories: Coaching, Training, Technique, Regattas, Rowing
60min ergs instead of 45min.
Work on better catches across the entire team.
More length at the catch.
Other than those few points, I don't plan on changing much in the way of training methods or scheduling.
A few other points that I would like to bring up now:
I'm not all that crazy about going to the Speakmon, unless some sort of overnight can be set up for the team. No matter how much sleep anyone gets on the bus, leaving FC at 2 in the morning doesn't make for good racing that day. I've never been one to be all that crazy about head races anyway. Even though this means I won't get another trip to visit my aunt, I'm not going to support a return unless the guys really shout me down.
For next spring's racing schedule, we're going to add more "dual" meets with local teams, hopefully on the river. That way, we can determine how long the race is. I want the only 1500m race to be Midwest. Everyone else races 2k, so let's race 2k. Perhaps a trip to the Ohio Governor's cup? That's on the same course as the Speakmon, and I promise it's bouyed with start docks. We won't return to the Hoover unless they bring the entry fee down to something reasonable. I won't mention their inability to get the finish order correct.
Yes, it's time to start thinking about this stuff. I know the guys are out for summer vacation, but the season really never ends. Just ask the fellows doing my TRRA camp.....
Categories: Coaching, Training, Technique, Regattas, Rowing
Thursday, June 16, 2005
The coast with the most
Long overdue, here are some of my thoughts in some random order on the Nationals.
Both FC boats did better than I expected. Both should be very proud. I am. FC was in the minority of the clubs there, being one of very few public schools.
Wow, there are some fast crews out there. West coast, anyone? Winners in three of the four eights, the West is fast. Oakland strokes' accomplishment of winning both the women's' 8+ and light women's' 8+ impressed me greatly. What a strong program. The ladies' 8 final was boring. They won, big, without being challenged. An evenly started sprint race finished looking like a head race, the boats were spread out so.
The guys' race was a scramble. Four different crews led that race for significant periods of time, with Ignatious taking the race in the final 500. What a finish. This Nationals will go as one of the best ever.
Anyone notice something? Those west coast crews are assassins in the final 500. Here's why: they get much more water time than anyone in the Midwest or east. When we're still snowed in, Oakland is rowing. This allows those crews to gel earlier and row together as a boat for a long period of time. Add in decent coaching, and the result was self-evident. With that kind of advantage, I expect Western crews to be very good over the next few years until somebody figures out how to counter.
Yes, I'm already thinking.
Categories: Regattas, Rowing, FC
Both FC boats did better than I expected. Both should be very proud. I am. FC was in the minority of the clubs there, being one of very few public schools.
Wow, there are some fast crews out there. West coast, anyone? Winners in three of the four eights, the West is fast. Oakland strokes' accomplishment of winning both the women's' 8+ and light women's' 8+ impressed me greatly. What a strong program. The ladies' 8 final was boring. They won, big, without being challenged. An evenly started sprint race finished looking like a head race, the boats were spread out so.
The guys' race was a scramble. Four different crews led that race for significant periods of time, with Ignatious taking the race in the final 500. What a finish. This Nationals will go as one of the best ever.
Anyone notice something? Those west coast crews are assassins in the final 500. Here's why: they get much more water time than anyone in the Midwest or east. When we're still snowed in, Oakland is rowing. This allows those crews to gel earlier and row together as a boat for a long period of time. Add in decent coaching, and the result was self-evident. With that kind of advantage, I expect Western crews to be very good over the next few years until somebody figures out how to counter.
Yes, I'm already thinking.
Categories: Regattas, Rowing, FC
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Exhaustion
That's about the best word to describe me the last few days. It's hard to post anything when one is falling asleep at whenever one sits down.
I'll talk more about the Nationals results later. Here's a quick post to pass along an interesting story.
We didn't leave Cincinnati until 6:30pm on Sunday. Nobody had gotten any decent sleep for a few days, and we had a long drive ahead. Didn't get to Mt. Lebo until 11:30. From there, I left for FC to bring Jesse, Pat and Evan home.
After dropping off Pat and Evan, I was driving Jesse to his house. In the gloom, my high beams revealed three small creatures scamper across the road. At first, I thought they were possum or large, multi-colored rats. However, the last one was undoubtedly a kitten, perhaps a little larger than my hand.
I pulled the car over. Kittens have no place being outside so late, without a parent cat around. Jesse and I got out a flashlight and went kitten hunting through a constructions site. They were feral, running and hiding whenever we got close. After half an hour, we gave up.
That's how tired I was. I was chasing kittens through FC at 12:30am.
Got up again at 6 for the beginning of my TRRA summer camp. Up all day. Crashed last night at 7 and didn't get up again until 4am, when I set an alarm for 6:30 and went back to sleep.
That should give some idea of what kind of state I've been in the last few days. I'll post more later tonight, with my comments on the Nationals results and some other thoughts I had as well.
Categories: Coaching, Personal, Rowing
I'll talk more about the Nationals results later. Here's a quick post to pass along an interesting story.
We didn't leave Cincinnati until 6:30pm on Sunday. Nobody had gotten any decent sleep for a few days, and we had a long drive ahead. Didn't get to Mt. Lebo until 11:30. From there, I left for FC to bring Jesse, Pat and Evan home.
After dropping off Pat and Evan, I was driving Jesse to his house. In the gloom, my high beams revealed three small creatures scamper across the road. At first, I thought they were possum or large, multi-colored rats. However, the last one was undoubtedly a kitten, perhaps a little larger than my hand.
I pulled the car over. Kittens have no place being outside so late, without a parent cat around. Jesse and I got out a flashlight and went kitten hunting through a constructions site. They were feral, running and hiding whenever we got close. After half an hour, we gave up.
That's how tired I was. I was chasing kittens through FC at 12:30am.
Got up again at 6 for the beginning of my TRRA summer camp. Up all day. Crashed last night at 7 and didn't get up again until 4am, when I set an alarm for 6:30 and went back to sleep.
That should give some idea of what kind of state I've been in the last few days. I'll post more later tonight, with my comments on the Nationals results and some other thoughts I had as well.
Categories: Coaching, Personal, Rowing
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
The best seat in the house
Since 1997, I've gone to Cincinnati to see the National Junior Invitational. Nationals, as it is better known, began in 1995 and my team earned a silver medal. My association with the race since has always been close, as my former club hosts the regatta.
USRowing wanted a race that crews around the country would have to qualify for. The bar was set high, with a top two finish required in a regional regatta. The best teams from around the country would gather in a centrally located site and decide the fastest in the country.
Is that great or what? Name another sport on the high school level that offers a true national championship. Doesn't happen that often.
Anyway, in 1997, the race followed the Harvard-Yale regatta, so I came home. This was the third nationals, and the organizing committee was still perfecting the process. On a lark, the regatta director asked if I could take a boat and announce the races from the water. I was given two walkie-talkies, a schedule and a launch. Off I went.
I was a little rough, as I was trying to drive the launch and announce at the same time. I got a driver halfway through the race after I waked the last place crew in a petite final. However, the reaction from the parents of the crews was very positive, and the crowds on shore seemed a little more animated as the boats got closer.
Since then, I've always tried to make it back to Cincinnati the second weekend in June. Not because I wanted to watch my old team in the race, but because I got a front-row seat to great racing, and I loved sharing it with the parents on shore. It was easy to get charged up when you're watching three boats dead even with 500m to go in a grand final for the National title. You see the entire story of a race unfold, from the frenetic starts to daring flutters in the middle to heart-stopping, come from behind sprints.
As I've become a coach, I've wanted to take my own crews to this race. Both years, the FC guys have qualified a double scull. I've been a little torn about what I wanted to do on those Sundays.
Last year, I didn't go on the water until my boys had landed from their race. I didn't know what, if any, effect I had on them by being there to launch them. This year, I'm taking a different course.
By taking Jesse along, who was in last year's double, I've got an assistant who can get the guys off the dock on time and be their advocate if they need one. I can announce the entire finals slate and get a chance to see my guys race. I'm greedy. I want to see their entire race, start to finish, something I don't get an opportunity to do many other places.
No, I don't care more about announcing than my own team. If I had to choose between the two, there wouldn't be any hesitation. This weekend offers an opportunity, because I'll be launching to announce the same time as they will for their race. If I had a heavy 8, I wouldn't be announcing. That race goes off the last part of the day, and I would want to be with the team all day.
It's the best seat in the house, and there are great stories to watch unfold.
Categories: Regattas, Rowing, Coaching, Memories, Yale, FC, Personal
USRowing wanted a race that crews around the country would have to qualify for. The bar was set high, with a top two finish required in a regional regatta. The best teams from around the country would gather in a centrally located site and decide the fastest in the country.
Is that great or what? Name another sport on the high school level that offers a true national championship. Doesn't happen that often.
Anyway, in 1997, the race followed the Harvard-Yale regatta, so I came home. This was the third nationals, and the organizing committee was still perfecting the process. On a lark, the regatta director asked if I could take a boat and announce the races from the water. I was given two walkie-talkies, a schedule and a launch. Off I went.
I was a little rough, as I was trying to drive the launch and announce at the same time. I got a driver halfway through the race after I waked the last place crew in a petite final. However, the reaction from the parents of the crews was very positive, and the crowds on shore seemed a little more animated as the boats got closer.
Since then, I've always tried to make it back to Cincinnati the second weekend in June. Not because I wanted to watch my old team in the race, but because I got a front-row seat to great racing, and I loved sharing it with the parents on shore. It was easy to get charged up when you're watching three boats dead even with 500m to go in a grand final for the National title. You see the entire story of a race unfold, from the frenetic starts to daring flutters in the middle to heart-stopping, come from behind sprints.
As I've become a coach, I've wanted to take my own crews to this race. Both years, the FC guys have qualified a double scull. I've been a little torn about what I wanted to do on those Sundays.
Last year, I didn't go on the water until my boys had landed from their race. I didn't know what, if any, effect I had on them by being there to launch them. This year, I'm taking a different course.
By taking Jesse along, who was in last year's double, I've got an assistant who can get the guys off the dock on time and be their advocate if they need one. I can announce the entire finals slate and get a chance to see my guys race. I'm greedy. I want to see their entire race, start to finish, something I don't get an opportunity to do many other places.
No, I don't care more about announcing than my own team. If I had to choose between the two, there wouldn't be any hesitation. This weekend offers an opportunity, because I'll be launching to announce the same time as they will for their race. If I had a heavy 8, I wouldn't be announcing. That race goes off the last part of the day, and I would want to be with the team all day.
It's the best seat in the house, and there are great stories to watch unfold.
Categories: Regattas, Rowing, Coaching, Memories, Yale, FC, Personal
Monday, June 06, 2005
Fantasy File
Every coach wants one. Their snide comments when these objects of desire pass by are merely camouflage. Free, free at last from this heavy, clunky, leaking, smelly dinghy. Forget any pretense at keeping your wake down, because nobody else really does anyway. Forget any pretense at concentrating on your crew through a cold rain. I'd rather be under cover.
I want a new coaching craft. Perhaps a big pontoon, or even a small cabin cruiser. Cold drinks, radio and comfortable driving position. Something big enough that I can banish my launch slave out of my hearing if needs be. A boat large enough to mount remote-controlled lights to shine on my crew in the dark.
I want something I can chase down those idiots in the cigarette boats with to deliver correction of river etiquette. A boat fast enough that I don't have to worry about keeping up with a coxed pair when I've got three other people aboard. A boat agile enough that I can still hand over tools to nitwit coxswains who forget their own.
It needs to be quiet so I can hear the finishes. It needs a stereo/CD/MP3/SAT with a kick'n system to drown out inane questions. Don't forget Bluetooth for my phone.
I need a weather radio, depth finder, marine radio to speak with barges and a priest to speak with the Almighty. After all, Lord, I'm only asking for a few more seconds per 500.
I want a boat that doesn't have to be carried down at the beginning of every practice. Just jump aboard, unlock the door and turn the key, like a car. After all, don't the kids deserve a break?
Perhaps a small galley aboard for snacks during those long rows. I'm sure the guys would appreciate a few orange slices up near the dam. Perhaps some truffles or freshly squeezed juice. That might call for a master chef as well.
As long as we're adding to the staff, a manicurist would be helpful. My nails are a wreck from working on boats, and maid service would also be appreciated. As the guys know, I don't wash my clothes that often. Don't forget a nanny for Will, he loves to watch the guys practice but also tries to get into trouble.
Categories: Coaching, Rowing
Doesn't need to be too large, huh? Perhaps an Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer? If that's a little too expensive, I know the Navy is selling off surplus Oliver Hazard Perry class missile frigates. Make mine red, please. And do keep the 3.5 inch automatic naval rifle. It might come in handy for when the water patrol comes to take me away.....
I want a new coaching craft. Perhaps a big pontoon, or even a small cabin cruiser. Cold drinks, radio and comfortable driving position. Something big enough that I can banish my launch slave out of my hearing if needs be. A boat large enough to mount remote-controlled lights to shine on my crew in the dark.
I want something I can chase down those idiots in the cigarette boats with to deliver correction of river etiquette. A boat fast enough that I don't have to worry about keeping up with a coxed pair when I've got three other people aboard. A boat agile enough that I can still hand over tools to nitwit coxswains who forget their own.
It needs to be quiet so I can hear the finishes. It needs a stereo/CD/MP3/SAT with a kick'n system to drown out inane questions. Don't forget Bluetooth for my phone.
I need a weather radio, depth finder, marine radio to speak with barges and a priest to speak with the Almighty. After all, Lord, I'm only asking for a few more seconds per 500.
I want a boat that doesn't have to be carried down at the beginning of every practice. Just jump aboard, unlock the door and turn the key, like a car. After all, don't the kids deserve a break?
Perhaps a small galley aboard for snacks during those long rows. I'm sure the guys would appreciate a few orange slices up near the dam. Perhaps some truffles or freshly squeezed juice. That might call for a master chef as well.
As long as we're adding to the staff, a manicurist would be helpful. My nails are a wreck from working on boats, and maid service would also be appreciated. As the guys know, I don't wash my clothes that often. Don't forget a nanny for Will, he loves to watch the guys practice but also tries to get into trouble.
Categories: Coaching, Rowing
Doesn't need to be too large, huh? Perhaps an Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer? If that's a little too expensive, I know the Navy is selling off surplus Oliver Hazard Perry class missile frigates. Make mine red, please. And do keep the 3.5 inch automatic naval rifle. It might come in handy for when the water patrol comes to take me away.....
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Vard
I hate 'Vard. For the same reasons many in this country dislike the Yankees, others hated the Cowboys in the 1990s and people around the world don't like the US, I hate Vard.
I'm referring to Harvard.
Couldn't stand the place when I walked on the campus as a junior in high school. My family and I met Harry Parker and the jerk didn't give me the time of day.
Developed a strong dislike into a healthy, normal collegiate rivalry rowing against them. Wanted to beat Vard more than anything. Not because I knew anybody on their team. The class I was a part of decided we were going to bring an end to the domination of Vard over Yale. That was our mission, above all others.
Vard has all the advantages, the history and the talent. They train hard and row well. Their coach is a legend, and he finally has a decent freshman coach. They win. Constantly. After the class of 99 left Yale, Vard reasserted dominance over the yearly 4 mile race, turning it into a shade of its former glory. Yale's inability to even be competitive has turned the Boat Race into a Vard practice.
Watching Vard tear through the rowing world over the last three years has grated on my nerves and ego. I feel like a Red Sox fan of 7 years ago. You felt that rivalry against the Yankees, but your manager was an idiot and your team headcases. No chance against those late 90s Yankees.
I'm not one for Schadenfreude. I don't want to see Vard slow down or fall into ruin. I want to see other programs, particularly Yale, speed up and beat them. Princeton came close this past weekend, but was caught in the final 500m by Vard. People in this country root for the underdog to rise up, and thus I want to see Vard lose. This weekend, I was a Princeton fan. Hard to fathom, given the healthy dislike between Princeton and Yale during my tenure there.
I'm tired of pictures of Vard on the cover of Rowing News, particularly this month, with their six standing up after winning Eastern Sprints. Sit down, kid. Be a sportsman. There are only certain situations standing and posing like that are acceptable in rowing, and your race wasn't it. Go get your glamour shots somewhere else. I'll bet he's got that cover framed in his room. Worse, I'll bet he planned that little stunt out. Poser.
After a rant like that, I'll still send any of my guys to row at Vard, if I think they can hack it. I have to, that's the business of a coach. It still smarts to think that way, though. Especially when I don't believe in the direction Yale is going nor in the current coach there.
Even though it would be a proud moment to send any of my guys there, I'll always hate Vard.
Categories: Rowing, Personal, Memories, Yale, Tribute
I'm referring to Harvard.
Couldn't stand the place when I walked on the campus as a junior in high school. My family and I met Harry Parker and the jerk didn't give me the time of day.
Developed a strong dislike into a healthy, normal collegiate rivalry rowing against them. Wanted to beat Vard more than anything. Not because I knew anybody on their team. The class I was a part of decided we were going to bring an end to the domination of Vard over Yale. That was our mission, above all others.
Vard has all the advantages, the history and the talent. They train hard and row well. Their coach is a legend, and he finally has a decent freshman coach. They win. Constantly. After the class of 99 left Yale, Vard reasserted dominance over the yearly 4 mile race, turning it into a shade of its former glory. Yale's inability to even be competitive has turned the Boat Race into a Vard practice.
Watching Vard tear through the rowing world over the last three years has grated on my nerves and ego. I feel like a Red Sox fan of 7 years ago. You felt that rivalry against the Yankees, but your manager was an idiot and your team headcases. No chance against those late 90s Yankees.
I'm not one for Schadenfreude. I don't want to see Vard slow down or fall into ruin. I want to see other programs, particularly Yale, speed up and beat them. Princeton came close this past weekend, but was caught in the final 500m by Vard. People in this country root for the underdog to rise up, and thus I want to see Vard lose. This weekend, I was a Princeton fan. Hard to fathom, given the healthy dislike between Princeton and Yale during my tenure there.
I'm tired of pictures of Vard on the cover of Rowing News, particularly this month, with their six standing up after winning Eastern Sprints. Sit down, kid. Be a sportsman. There are only certain situations standing and posing like that are acceptable in rowing, and your race wasn't it. Go get your glamour shots somewhere else. I'll bet he's got that cover framed in his room. Worse, I'll bet he planned that little stunt out. Poser.
After a rant like that, I'll still send any of my guys to row at Vard, if I think they can hack it. I have to, that's the business of a coach. It still smarts to think that way, though. Especially when I don't believe in the direction Yale is going nor in the current coach there.
Even though it would be a proud moment to send any of my guys there, I'll always hate Vard.
Categories: Rowing, Personal, Memories, Yale, Tribute
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
The Next Step
The season is just about over. Medals have been won, friendships have been formed, and excitement for next season is beginning to emerge. And rightly so, this year Fox Chapel had a break through year of unprecedented success. We established ourselves at a formidable power in the
If Jay and I had our dream next season we would have a freshmen and 2 novice 8’s as well a new DL, and DM V1. In reality 16 novices and a new 8 are what we would like to see. The responsibility of these expectatios becoming reality lie in your hands. Jay and I can only do so much to get new rowers; neither of us is affiliated with the school district, or has access to any underclassmen. It is up to you to generate interest in our under supported team. My suggestion is have a get together of some kind possibly a cook-out at the boat house or a park and have every one bring a frind. Freshman, sophomores, juniors, seniors, I don’t care. Any one that has ever heard you talk about rowing, or expressed and interest have them come. If each of you only brings one person that is 30+ potential rowers. Can we accept that number, no but I would rather have the problem of to many than not enough. This would be an excellent way to get guys interested. I know myself half the reason I enjoyed rowing so much was all the fun that we had together. Having a informal gathering would allow potential rowers how much fun we have with out pressuring them into a meeting.
The second issue new boats. I think that it is fairly obvious that we need a new heavy 8. With the potential of having a V8 with an average of 190+ next year there is no shell in our current fleet that would conferrable hold guys this large. At this point in the season the club is running low on money, as it should. With the purchase of three new hulls, there is no way that we would not have a cash shortage. One way that we can ensure that we get a new boat next season is start collecting money now. Over the summer I know that there are aother things going on, jobs, vacations, and numerous other commitments, but a small fundraising effort over the summer is necessary. My suggestion is two or three car washes. These are easy ways to make a large sum of money in a short amount of time. This past weekend’s car wash that lasted only a few hours made $1000, with a better location and a few more hours $2000 is not unthinkable. Doing three of these spaced through out the summer could potentially bring in half the money needed to purchase a new shell.
The final step to future success is mental. We are not unbeatable, yes we won The Midwest Scholastic Rowing Championships but that was last year, after June 11 the season starts all over again. To repeat will require many things, strong novices, a new shell, and finally more commitment. This will be a team effort and will require effort by every one. But if we can win The Midwest then anything is possible. I encourage feedback, maybe I am being too demanding of you, but I feel that what I have proposed is well within reason. Let me know your thoughts and I will work with you as we take the next step.
Politics
This isn't a "national" political rant. I learned my lesson on that subject. This, like everything else, is about rowing. Settle in and enjoy, as this will be a long one.
Henry Kissinger once said "The lower the stakes, the worse the infighting." He was referring to the battles he had within the Harvard history department after his ascendancy into the faculty. Comparing the bull**** he dealt with as Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, Harvard was small time. However, Harvard gave him more backbiting, stress and headaches than dealing with the North Vietnamese peace talks. While I do not agree with many of Kissinger's policies nor his worldview, I have to agree with the above point. The lower the stakes, the worse the political lunacy.
Rowing is a prime example.
Today I'm going to tackle the great "club vs school" debate, lay out the various points of view as I understand them, and ask the guys for their opinions. My own should be rather clear by the end of this post, or I really need to edit a little better.
Rowing clubs are nothing new; every team starts out as a club. Walk down boathouse row in Philadelphia and anyone can see the beginning of the sport is based on club rowing. Put simply, club rowing on the school level makes a lot of sense when the sport is in its infancy. As we all know, this sport is not cheap. Equipment is a large capital investment, along with a suitable building to store it. Adding in costs for transportation, launches, insurance (a new addition) and finally (it seems) coaching and the result is a massive financial undertaking if anyone wants to get a team off the ground from scratch. A pre-existing club mitigates much of this cost, as the equipment can be rented and coaching costs pooled. Secondly, there are other members of a club that can row with one's infant team, bringing numbers up. It is not very easy to be competitive when one's school team is made up of six members.
School teams are more desirable, instantly fostering a sense of unity, representing the school and building on the school's natural athletic rivalries. Think Harvard-Yale. On the high school level, in the Philadelphia Flick series, where schools duel over the season for supremacy, the competition gets heated and the kids get rather vocal about their school team. In theory, school teams compete on an even playing field, with the schools' best rowers racing the best from other schools.
The scholastic argument against racing clubs goes something like this: our scholastic teams shouldn't be racing these "all-star" composite crews. It isn't fair, because the clubs have a greater number of rowers to choose from. The clubs win everything because of that advantage, so we will not race them nor allow them into our regattas.
I see several flaws in this argument. The school teams themselves foster such "all-star" mentality, with larger, private schools dominating the rowing leagues. These schools scream about the clubs, when their own rosters include a third varsity rowing in a three year old top of the line boat. If they cannot compete against clubs, how are small public schools supposed to compete against them? Are we heading for the day when there are "levels" of racing, much like A, AA, AAA in football, based on school size?
One of the great things about rowing is the progression of the championships. If a team does well at its regional level, it can progress to a higher level (nationals) and compete against crews from around the country. I simply do not understand why anybody would think this is a bad thing, racing against clubs or not. Really, do we want to be like football, where the Western Pennsylvania championship might be the highest to aspire to? What coach really feels proud when he lists "Wyoming state champion, lightweight novice boy's 4+" on his resume? What have you accomplished as a crew when you limit your competition opportunities?
The school crews need to recognize a few facts. First, most clubs aren't faster than they are. Those clubs are starting out, struggling harder than these rich private school crews. Some clubs (like mine in high school) only have eight rowers of each sex in total. What can be so scary about that? Where is the advantage?
Secondly, there will never be enough quality coaches in the United States for every school that wants a team to have one. In case anyone has noticed, the main advantage our FC crew has over everyone in the Pittsburgh area is the quality and quantity of our coaching staff. The crews that do not have that situation struggle and ultimately fail. The established school crews with coaches in place don't care about this fact, because they really don't want anybody else in the sport.
I believe there should be reforms on the club side as well. When a club gets so big that its membership numbers dwarf everyone it races, other clubs included, there should be enough kids from one school to split off and form a school crew. Starting a school crew with a base of experienced rowers brings success much faster than starting from nothing. Are we not all, as coaches, dedicated to growing the sport of rowing? If there is interest, more rowing no matter the form is a good thing.
There are too many people on either side of this debate trying to protect "what's theirs" and deny or hobble others through rules and subterfuge. What are we becoming as a sport, the Indy Racing League and Championship Auto Racing Teams? Two circuits devoted to the same type of racing? Doesn't work and isn't very logical, is it? Politics and petty crap such as this has no place in a sport a pure as rowing. Shut up, line up and race.
I haven't said my entire opinion on this subject. There will be other posts, but it's time to wrap this one up. I especially encourage comments on this one. There must be healing of this rift for the good of the sport, or everyone's desire to raise the stature of rowing will be unfulfilled. There is too much of a struggle against other sports for the attention of athletes. Why, as a sport, are we fighting ourselves?
Categories: Rowing, Juniors, Politics
Henry Kissinger once said "The lower the stakes, the worse the infighting." He was referring to the battles he had within the Harvard history department after his ascendancy into the faculty. Comparing the bull**** he dealt with as Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, Harvard was small time. However, Harvard gave him more backbiting, stress and headaches than dealing with the North Vietnamese peace talks. While I do not agree with many of Kissinger's policies nor his worldview, I have to agree with the above point. The lower the stakes, the worse the political lunacy.
Rowing is a prime example.
Today I'm going to tackle the great "club vs school" debate, lay out the various points of view as I understand them, and ask the guys for their opinions. My own should be rather clear by the end of this post, or I really need to edit a little better.
Rowing clubs are nothing new; every team starts out as a club. Walk down boathouse row in Philadelphia and anyone can see the beginning of the sport is based on club rowing. Put simply, club rowing on the school level makes a lot of sense when the sport is in its infancy. As we all know, this sport is not cheap. Equipment is a large capital investment, along with a suitable building to store it. Adding in costs for transportation, launches, insurance (a new addition) and finally (it seems) coaching and the result is a massive financial undertaking if anyone wants to get a team off the ground from scratch. A pre-existing club mitigates much of this cost, as the equipment can be rented and coaching costs pooled. Secondly, there are other members of a club that can row with one's infant team, bringing numbers up. It is not very easy to be competitive when one's school team is made up of six members.
School teams are more desirable, instantly fostering a sense of unity, representing the school and building on the school's natural athletic rivalries. Think Harvard-Yale. On the high school level, in the Philadelphia Flick series, where schools duel over the season for supremacy, the competition gets heated and the kids get rather vocal about their school team. In theory, school teams compete on an even playing field, with the schools' best rowers racing the best from other schools.
The scholastic argument against racing clubs goes something like this: our scholastic teams shouldn't be racing these "all-star" composite crews. It isn't fair, because the clubs have a greater number of rowers to choose from. The clubs win everything because of that advantage, so we will not race them nor allow them into our regattas.
I see several flaws in this argument. The school teams themselves foster such "all-star" mentality, with larger, private schools dominating the rowing leagues. These schools scream about the clubs, when their own rosters include a third varsity rowing in a three year old top of the line boat. If they cannot compete against clubs, how are small public schools supposed to compete against them? Are we heading for the day when there are "levels" of racing, much like A, AA, AAA in football, based on school size?
One of the great things about rowing is the progression of the championships. If a team does well at its regional level, it can progress to a higher level (nationals) and compete against crews from around the country. I simply do not understand why anybody would think this is a bad thing, racing against clubs or not. Really, do we want to be like football, where the Western Pennsylvania championship might be the highest to aspire to? What coach really feels proud when he lists "Wyoming state champion, lightweight novice boy's 4+" on his resume? What have you accomplished as a crew when you limit your competition opportunities?
The school crews need to recognize a few facts. First, most clubs aren't faster than they are. Those clubs are starting out, struggling harder than these rich private school crews. Some clubs (like mine in high school) only have eight rowers of each sex in total. What can be so scary about that? Where is the advantage?
Secondly, there will never be enough quality coaches in the United States for every school that wants a team to have one. In case anyone has noticed, the main advantage our FC crew has over everyone in the Pittsburgh area is the quality and quantity of our coaching staff. The crews that do not have that situation struggle and ultimately fail. The established school crews with coaches in place don't care about this fact, because they really don't want anybody else in the sport.
I believe there should be reforms on the club side as well. When a club gets so big that its membership numbers dwarf everyone it races, other clubs included, there should be enough kids from one school to split off and form a school crew. Starting a school crew with a base of experienced rowers brings success much faster than starting from nothing. Are we not all, as coaches, dedicated to growing the sport of rowing? If there is interest, more rowing no matter the form is a good thing.
There are too many people on either side of this debate trying to protect "what's theirs" and deny or hobble others through rules and subterfuge. What are we becoming as a sport, the Indy Racing League and Championship Auto Racing Teams? Two circuits devoted to the same type of racing? Doesn't work and isn't very logical, is it? Politics and petty crap such as this has no place in a sport a pure as rowing. Shut up, line up and race.
I haven't said my entire opinion on this subject. There will be other posts, but it's time to wrap this one up. I especially encourage comments on this one. There must be healing of this rift for the good of the sport, or everyone's desire to raise the stature of rowing will be unfulfilled. There is too much of a struggle against other sports for the attention of athletes. Why, as a sport, are we fighting ourselves?
Categories: Rowing, Juniors, Politics
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