Practice is Heating Up!

2010 World Championship Team warming up before their row

School has started up and so has practice.  For those on the West Coast this means getting back on the water and earning the seat you want for racing season.  Coaches are starting to look for rowers who are moving boats and putting together line-ups or part of line-ups that they want to see racing.

Now is the perfect opportunity to be boat movers yourself.  Wherever you ended up last year is the perfect place to start this year.  Each season is new and when boats are starting to form that is when the coxswain should start leading.  It is also time to start evaluating what you did last year and see if it will work for your team this year.  Most of the time teams keep their culture from year to year.  Other times, teams need a new voice or new culture.  If you are one of the more experience coxswains on your team then it is your job to set the tone of this new year.

If your team has not had a team meeting to set goals for this racing season then I would suggest talking to your coach or team captain and arrange a team meeting.  That way after the meeting you can help keep your teammates focused during each workout.  Focused workouts during winter training will pay off as spring approaches.  If you help maximize speed in your boat at each practice then you will become the top coxswain.  Coaches will recognize your leadership and commitment to focus and will want to boat you more often than the other coxswains who are clueless as to what makes boats go fast.

If you are the returning Varsity coxswain or the returning JV coxswain who is looking to move up to the Varsity boat then you need to start leading your team to the goals you all set up together. There are no free rides in the 8+ so make sure you are using your seat, The 9th Seat, to make your boat and team fast.  Spring is right around the corner so what are you waiting for?  Start leading your team to the line first.

Here are examples of how to lead your team:

• When practice is getting stale or sluggish remind your boat who you are racing first.
• Keep the team goals present during practice when the boat needs motivation and especially when the boat is moving well to keep the intensity going.
• Workout with your team during winter training.
  • Squeeze in a stationary bike workout in between recording splits.
  • While timing a core workout make sure to pound out a couple of crunches or hold a stability bridge while looking at your watch.
  • Lift weights with them, if it is a circuit day set up your baby weights at stations where the weight is too heavy before the circuit starts.
  • Go on runs outside of practice so you stay in running shape….you never know when mother nature will force you to do a land workout. Make sure you are ready to run with your team.
• Communicate with your coach to understand the big picture of practice.  Teams who believe in the process and each other will reach their speed potential.  Be the coxswain who communicates your coaches big picture.
• Remember that you are an athletes too so don’t be afraid to show your athletic side to your teammates.

Steer Straight!

mwhip+

Tags: experience coxswain, leadership, practice, racing, team culture

Posted at Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 in: Advanced Coxswain