In the Wake of a Storm: Safety Procedures for Rowing Clubs
Whether you're in the U.S. or another pocket of the globe, you've surely heard of the wreckage Hurricane Sandy left in its wake on the U.S. Eastern Seaboard. The event reminds rowing communities of the havoc a storm can leave around a boathouse, after it's long gone. Our article today gives us precautionary steps to ensure the safety of club members as they venture back into the water. This excellent article is by RowingTalks - a group dedicated to helping
Parents and Coaching
If you coach for students, you may resonate with this post from The CoachAD on the difficulties that parents can present for you. The post has some positive points on dealing with difficult parents, particularly on how to keep them informed and in-the-loop. It also has some more radical suggestions, and you should read the comments from other parents/coaches below the post. Join in the discussion, and let them know what you think. Coach and writer, Mike Davenport says about the
Preparing for the HOCR
If you're in the U.S. your crews are rowing up a storm in anticipation of the Head of the Charles regatta later this month. As a boat club manager, you want to help your coaches prepare your crews for such anticipated events. Below we have a link to an excellent resource from Coxmate, on how to Steer the HOCR, so your crews, and your coxswains can be as prepared as possible for the famous regatta. Help your coaches help your crews The
4 Ideas: Fundraising for your Rowing Club
Fundraising is a never-ending task for rowing clubs. We've taken a tip from Rowperfect and added to their list of Quarterly Fundraising ideas. Creativity is key when you're fundraising, so let your imagination run amok! Want more ideas? Check out our e-book: Fundraising Hints and Tips for your Rowing Club. Night at the Movies Host a movie screening, like Philadelphia City Rowing. Choose a film that's relevant to your location or rowing. Make sure to give the event lots of charm - rent
Keep it Secret, Keep it Safe
(Well, keep it safe at least) We talk a lot about keeping club members safe, but what about keeping yourclub safe? Your club is filled with all kinds of valuables, from the rowing shells to the coxing equipment; you don't want anything to go missing. Here are some suggestions of how to keep those valuables safe. Lock it up - Use combination locks with complicated numerical systems. A (literal) Safe - Each team (or boat) can have a collective safe for keys and phones of the
Organizing a Crew of Athletes for your Rowing Club
Organising athletes can be a major job, and a major pain, but we're going to help make it a little bit easier for you. Structure is everything, and it all starts with a few simple lists. Setup a list using these keys concepts. The Specifics Under 'Contact Me' you should outline specific times of the week and day that members can get in touch with you because you deserve to have your own time too. For example I do not want to
Free Electronic Logbook for Rowing
If you still use the 'classic' pen and paper to sign out boats at your rowing club, you're a bit behind the times. Why not make life a little easier for you and your members, a little more organised, and save a few trees while you're at it. We've discovered a free electronic logbook for rowing (take a peek). EFA - The free logbook program It's pretty easy. The device is called EFA, and can be used on a boathouse computer -
Shell Condition Checklist
Regularly checking your rowing and sculling shells are, well, a hassle, but a necessity of rowing club management. But don't fret, we've found you something that will make it a little bit easier. George D. Kirschbaum, Jr. - a coxswain and writer of many years has done one more favor for his fellow rowers across the internet. He's provided a thorough shell condition checklist that covers: Hull/skin Riggers Internals Equipment When to check: Now the key to avoiding long term damage is to regularly
Keep it Clean – The Art of Caring for Oar & Scull Handle Grips
Get a handle on it - A clean one, that is Keeping your handles clean and smooth are essential to keeping your hands in good shape. Because without your hands, you're really not much of a rower, are you? It's time to make cleaning and checking your handles a habit. This is best practice at any rowing club. First let's talk clean. After each outing, wash your handles with detergent to remove grease or a sticky film. Use a textured cloth to
In Case of Emergency: Points for your Boat Club
Emergencies - the dreaded creeping potential of having numerous humans doing, well, just about anything together in a "perfect storm". Couple it with water, weather, and large objects, and you have yourself a situation that can end up in any of a number of unpleasant ways (uh-oh!). As a boat club manager, there are heaps of things you can do to mitigate injury, but what can you do to prepare for it? Here's a little checklist (and breathe easier). Know the