1. RGS Worcester Boat Club 2017-18 Season 9 September 2017

2. “Early signs of athletic talent and skill are poor predictors of future success as an athlete.”
Wade Gilbert,
Coaching Better Every Season (Human Kinetics, 2016)
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

3. A teenager’s developmental age can vary by six years
A teenager’s developmental age can vary by six years. A 14-year-old could have a developmental age of 11 or 17 or any age in between.
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

4. ‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

5. ‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

6. ‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

7. ‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

8. The 4 Stages of RGS Rowing
Stage 1 – J14
Discover. Learn. Play.
Stage 2 – J15
Develop. Challenge.
Stage 3 – J16
Train. Compete.
Stage 4 – J17-18
Participate. Succeed. OR
Train for Excellence
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

9. Stage 1: Discover-Learn-Play
Safe and fun rowing experiences.
Learning the FUNdamentals
Learning to be ACTIVE.
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

10. Stage 2: Develop and Challenge
Building on the core skills learnt in Stage 1. Learning to train and compete. New experiences.
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

11. Stage 3: Train and compete
Rowing development Learning new skills – free weights / sweep oar Training to compete
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

12. Stage 4: Participation to Excellence
Club Squad Fit for Life / participation Build on skills and fitness Development Squad Training to Compete Performance squad Training for excellence
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

13. New for 2017-18 Seniors – changes to squad system
New look Fitness Suite
Competition analysis
Sports psychology
Better communication
Rowing rewards – P R I D E
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

14. Changes to Senior Squads
J16-18s now have THREE groups
Club
Development
Performance
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

15. Performance Squad J17-18, some J16
The main goal is sporting excellence
Mainly Sixth Form + some J16s who have learnt to train (ie can cope with 6-8 sessions a week).
Compete at local / regional / national events (Schools’ Head, National Junior Sculling Head, National Schools’ Regatta).
Training 6-8 times a week + attendance at Easter Rowing Camp highly recommended
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

16. Development Squad J16 + some J17
The main goal is learning to train and compete (a truly development squad)
Mainly J16 rowers who need a transition year to full Performance Rowing in sixth form
Compete at (mainly) local / regional level (eg Wycliffe Heads, West Midlands Championships, Evesham Regatta) + some national events
Train up to 6 times a week + attendance at Easter Rowing Camp highly recommended
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

17. Club Squad J16-18 The main goal is fun and fitness
Compete at local level (eg Worcester, Evesham)
Train 1 to 3 times a week (or more if you want to) and Easter Rowing Camp if you are keen
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

18. EVERYONE - FIT FOR LIFE! CLUB SQUAD DEVELOPMENT SQUAD PERFORMANCE
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

19. WHY all this TRAINING?
Rowing is a ‘late-maturation, strength-endurance sport’
The minimum amount of training to be competitive at a national level is 6-8 sessions a week – and most schools require more sessions!
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

20. Training inspires CONFIDENCE …
WHY all this TRAINING?
Training inspires CONFIDENCE …
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

21. What about EXAMS?
“Physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness are beneficial to brain structure, brain function and cognition in children and youth.” 1 The Copenhagen Consensus Conference 2016: children, youth, and physical activity in schools and during leisure time. Br J Sports Med doi: /bjsports
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

22. What about EXAMS? FIT IN ROWING TRAINING SCHEDULES ARE PLANNED TO
AROUND THE EXAM AND REVISION TIMETABLE! 
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

23. What about EXAMS? Harry Gemmill (U6) A*, A, A
Chemistry, Imperial College
Ashley Nock (U6, Captain of Boats)
Biological Sciences, Exeter University
Harry Smith (L6) (A at AS Maths)
Arkwright Scholar & Greenpower
Ben Thomson (U6, Head Boy)
A*, A*, A*
Chemistry, Pembroke College, Oxford
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

24. Changes in the Fitness Suite
Focus is now on core, functional movements.
PE syllabus has been revamped to focus on the core skills for fitness and active life
New S&C lead coach
MyWOD app – all students up to Year 11 will be supplied with the App. Selected sixth formers will also be able to get the App.
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

25. Competitions and goal setting
All rowers will set goals for the term / year.
There will be discussions on how these goals can be achieved – are they realistic?
Competition analysis – after every competition all rowers will complete a competition feedback form.
Monday 4pm after every competition we will review what went right, what went wrong, how we can improve.
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

26. What goals should I set? Crazy goals – winning an Olympic medal
Concrete goals – getting to a National Schools’ Final in the sixth form
Goals within your control – getting my 2k score down, improving my core strength
Everyday goals – eating three meals and two healthy snacks r
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

27. “People who have clear goals outperform those who don’t.”
Ben Hunt-Davis, Will It Make The Boat Go Faster
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

28. Communication ROWING CLINIC THURSDAY MORNING BREAK
ALL J15-18 ROWERS INVITED TO
ROWING CLINIC
Weekly training updates
Your chance to tell the coaches if you have loads of homework, family events, clashes of commitments etc.
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

29. Rowing Rewards
P – Positive R – Respect I – Initiative D – Determination E – Enthusiasm PRIDE in your ROWING
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

30. Sports psychology
Psychology will be incorporated into the training plan.
Monthly psychology themes to help you cope with competition stress, race prep, team work
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

31. Sports psychology
Psychology will be incorporated into the training plan.
Monthly psychology themes to help you cope with competition stress, race prep, team work
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

32. Michaelmas psychology themes
SEPTEMBER Controlling the Controllables OCTOBER Confidence and self-belief NOVEMBER The TEAM
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

33. Controlling the Controllables
You CAN’T control the weather You CAN control: Wearing the right kit for the conditions Your attitude
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

34. Controlling the Controllables
You CAN’T control your coursework deadlines You CAN control: Spending time getting on with the work instead of worrying about the deadline.
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

35. Controlling the Controllables
You CAN’T control catching a cold You Can Control Keeping your hands clean, eating healthily, getting enough sleep – which are all proven to reduce your chances of infection!
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

36. Will it help us WIN?
“If you want to WIN you need to forget about WINNING…Focus on the Process”
Ben Hunt-Davis, Will It Make The Boat Go Faster
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

37. How do we measure success?
Everyone in the squad enjoys rowing.
Retention rates are high.
Rowers can see they are making progress even if they are not ‘winners’ (all the time).
Rowers feel part of the team and are valued for their contribution.
Rowers feel they have the support / tools to make progress.
Rowers understand that they are on a journey – leaving school is not the destination.
Rowers keep rowing after leaving RGS Worcester.
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

38. It all starts here…
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

39. Rowing Reminders

40. Rowing code of conduct
Most of the guidance in our Code of Conduct is about Controlling the Controllables!
Keep a copy in your kit bag.
Read it on the SchoolWeb Rowing pages (under Rowing Handbook)
Follow it!
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

41. Games days We can’t control when Worcester Races is on but…
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

42. Parking
Avoid parking at the RGS Worcester end of the car park – IT’S DANGEROUS
Sixth formers:
Follow the school rules on carrying passengers
REVERSE INTO THE PARKING SPACES
Try to avoid driving to the boathouse at all
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

43. Collecting your child after sessions / events
PLEASE BE ON TIME… Rowing Coaches have families too!
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

44. Plastic bottles…and other litter
TAKE IT HOME… 47% of litter found on river banks and estuaries in the UK is STILL WATER PLASTIC BOTTLES
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

45. KIT: You MUST dress for the conditions
A hat, leggings, long sleeves, waterproof top layer, plenty of skins, plenty of spare kit in your bag…
Rowing is a high-risk sport for hypothermia
RESPECT THE WEATHER AND THE RIVER
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

46. What rowing kit do you need? RACING: ALL ROWERS
British Rowing rules: ALL members of a crew must be dressed identically in the Club Strip or you may be disqualified from racing.
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015

47. Racing Kit for Rowing Rowing suit Rowing leggings Rowing tech top
Riverlayer (replaces the splash top)
+ Fleecy midlayer – order online
+ Gilet (optional)
+ woollen hat
+ CrewRoom sun hat / visor
‘Excellent in all areas’
ISI Inspection, May 2015