Why I Miss Coaching High Performance Rowers

Normally I would start this article with a caveat about loving the athletes that I get to work with and how much I appreciate their hard work and dedication to getting better at rowing. But, for once, I’m not going to do that. I’m just going to say very simply that I really miss working with high performance rowers. The truth of the matter is that it is really fun and challenging to work with someone who is highly motivated, fit and strong, able to make changes immediately, and who can make the boat move . . . fast. I don’t get to do it very often anymore, so when I do, I’m drawn to those athletes.

High performance athletes are incredibly mature, aware, and adaptable. With these athletes coaching is more about fine tuning then learning the basics. Producing seconds, not minutes in speed gains, takes precision, awareness, and persistence on both the part of the athlete and the coach.

High performance athletes are incredibly sensitive to what they are doing and responsive to instructions. Seeing a great athlete make a change and gain speed is very gratifying because it’s typically a minor, less overt change that needs to be pinpointed and then coaxed out of the athlete in the moment. The coach has to have a good eye for subtleties and an innovative way of explaining what they want the athlete to do. This requires a level of understanding and communication between the athlete and coach that takes time and emotional awareness to develop. In essence you are developing trust, a unique dialogue, and a connection in order to produce a desired result.

High performance athletes are aesthetically appealing to observe and coach. There is grace and beauty in the movement of an athletic body. You can see the muscles working in a fluid manner, the dynamic impulse off of the catch, and the total acceleration through the release. There is something beautiful about watching the rower and boat work in harmony to create run. The coach is witness to raw power and endurance at work. I’m not going to lie, it’s not a bad gig watching fit and athletic people work hard. Watching anyone who is excellent at what they do is enjoyable, whether it’s a great dancer, basketball player, or rower. And because rowing is a full body sport you can see every contraction, breath, and impulse stroke to stroke.

High performance athletes are emotionally intense and determined hard workers with high standards. Motivating one of these athletes to work hard is typically not necessary. Although many of these athletes suffer from negative self-talk. Athletes with very high standards and lofty goals tend to beat themselves up if they aren’t perfect. So, good coaches will help them to fine tune how they talk to themselves as well as how they row. A good coach can help encourage them to stay positive in the midst of making difficult and often frustrating changes. A lot of these athletes find their way into the world of high performance rowing because of an inherent desire to work and succeed at a high level. And this is backed up by intense emotions such as competitiveness, drive, and an unrelenting desire to achieve and win.

Working with high performance athletes is something that I miss because it fulfills my desire to give back. I had countless people backing me and supporting me while I pursued my high performance goals. My coach used to say “it takes a village.” And I really believe that a great coach is part of that village. I had an incredible coach who I now consider a lifelong friend. He was someone I could not only talk to about my rowing, but who I could come to when I needed emotional support as well. I feel compelled to share my knowledge and experiences so that others can feel what it’s like to be supported while pursuing their dreams. And if I can help someone learn to row better, row faster and maybe win a race or two, or even make the national team, I’ll feel like I’ve done my job. But mostly I want to help someone realize their potential and to help them feel like there is meaning behind and support for their dreams. Sometimes all it takes is just knowing someone cares about you and your rowing.

If you are a high performance athlete or coach I’d love to hear your thoughts on high performance rowing in the comments.