Old fashion
Yesterday we introduced the novice boys and girls to winter practice. With two weeks off from mainstream practice due to prepping for both the Head of the Lake regatta - varsity - and getting ready to transition over to winter practice fitness levels have taken a hit. Yesterday was a relatively easy piece of 2x20 minutes of core but there were already some kids dragging.
During the break between pieces I walked around addressing the importance of winter training. Winter training for us is both a team and individual workout and I informed the kids that none of the coaches were going to make them train hard. We provide the workouts and expertise but we will not force you through the practice pieces nor punish you for skipping practice or not pushing yourself in practice. The punishment or consequences for not working hard will come once we get back on the water where there will be an instant divide between the haves and have nots. It's a divide that cannot be bridged in spring season and is something to be thinking about if they find themselves out of boats that they'd really like to be in.
Today the novice are max weight testing in preparation for winter weight lifting and other weight tests. This allows us to train the new rowers with the same practice pieces and winter training plan as the varsity but at levels that they can be successful at.
The varsity teams are really starting to show the payoff of hard work. Last year a lot of them didn't buy into it but after seeing how their teammates did in the spring and after a series of poor showings, nearly all the varsity have signed up for training. Again the payoff has been evident by the finishes at this falls regattas including excellent finishes in the varsity 4's at Head of the Lake. Once again winter will be a highly intense portion of our season but with the varsity singing it's praises, getting everyone on board this year will be a lot easier.
During the break between pieces I walked around addressing the importance of winter training. Winter training for us is both a team and individual workout and I informed the kids that none of the coaches were going to make them train hard. We provide the workouts and expertise but we will not force you through the practice pieces nor punish you for skipping practice or not pushing yourself in practice. The punishment or consequences for not working hard will come once we get back on the water where there will be an instant divide between the haves and have nots. It's a divide that cannot be bridged in spring season and is something to be thinking about if they find themselves out of boats that they'd really like to be in.
Today the novice are max weight testing in preparation for winter weight lifting and other weight tests. This allows us to train the new rowers with the same practice pieces and winter training plan as the varsity but at levels that they can be successful at.
The varsity teams are really starting to show the payoff of hard work. Last year a lot of them didn't buy into it but after seeing how their teammates did in the spring and after a series of poor showings, nearly all the varsity have signed up for training. Again the payoff has been evident by the finishes at this falls regattas including excellent finishes in the varsity 4's at Head of the Lake. Once again winter will be a highly intense portion of our season but with the varsity singing it's praises, getting everyone on board this year will be a lot easier.
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