Gents,
Many thanks for the good turnout for the meeting last night, if that was an indicator of commitment to training this winter then we should have a good season - all very encouraging. My spiel from last night is detailed below in case you missed it.
The Plan:
I should be telling you that the captaincy and coaches have had a meeting and come up with a detailed training programme for the winter and beyond. However we're not all 18 year old students with plenty of time on our hands so a detailed programme is arguably a little ambitious. We're a small and more 'mature' club who's members have jobs, families and other interests so things will tend to continue much as they did the previous year albeit with small improvements and changes along the way. Put simply; we provide the facilities but it's up to you how much use you make of them. I hope that most of you appreciate the need to be fit for rowing and that the guys that put the most into it will get the most out, including getting into 'better' crews and boats. So let's start at the top....
There has already been some (mostly drunken) chat about competing at Henley next year and, whilst a bit premature, it is encouraging that some of you want to aim that high, and why not? However, Cygnet isn't a big club with a big squad that can cherry pick the best for a Henley crew. It would be fantastic for us to try and get a bigger boat there this year but we have to see what form and commitment comes out of winter training and the Eights Head. So here's the deal, we will seriously aim to get a boat to Henley in 2007, preferably an eight (otherwise a four) but it all depends on you - if you want to get there then rowing really will have to become your life, around which everything else must be fitted rather than a hobby which you fit around your life. Commitment to weights, ergs and circuits, extra outings, runs, swims, improved diet and minimal booze will be necessary. The club will offer all the support it can and this season we are lucky to have a rich vein of coaching offers - it would be foolish not to make the most of them but it's your effort that will ultimately make the difference.
However, I do appreciate that not everyone wants to dedicate all their time to rowing and training and that one of the appeals of Cygnet is that we do cater for the more casual oarsman. I suspect that, as always, the squad will naturally split between the casual (Gentlemen) and the dedicated (Players). More of that later.
Show-Up-And-Row vs Set Crews:
We will continue with the show-up and row policy unless crews have been selected for a particular head race. I appreciate that this isn't everybody's favorite system but it's not an unusual policy and I believe has paid dividends with better results since Mike introduced it three seasons ago. Crews will be set for the fours head and I will elect a boat 'captain' for each crew who will be responsible for arranging outings and looking after the boat. Otherwise we will continue to send out mixed crews for weekend outings depending on who turns up.
Timekeeping:
Our outing times are, by Tideway standards, very generous/gentlemanly/soft. Many other clubs will have you on the water at 6.00 am, so no excuses for tardiness. Please be ready to row at least 10 minutes before the stated outing time and rather than sit around chatting; get the launch afloat, blades out, erg, jog or chuck the ball around to warm-up. All coaches are giving up their time for free so it's up to us to repay that by being on time and ready to row. Unless we know in advance that you're running behind you'll probably not get a row if you turn up late.
Training Timetable (this is subject to change depending on how the season progresses):
Ideally we'd prefer people to train at the club as much as possible rather than their own gyms. It's a team sport and it's much better to train and be seen to train with your team mates rather than do your own thing. However I appreciate that this isn't always possible so the priority nights are the squad sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays for ergs and circuits where we train together. Erg scores for instance are just a number, a means to and end, the point is that your crew mates see you get on a try even if the result isn't necessarily the best score in the club. Another big advantage of squad training is that are are more senior members or coaches available to provide tips and help you improve.
The BB Ladies are also arranging weekday evening yoga and climbing sessions. Obviously I'd rather you do circuits and ergs than yoga and climbing but if you fancy a bit of alternative cross training let me know or contact Elle for more details.
Gentlemen:
We'd expect you to be available for an absolute minimum of the erg or circuit session during the week and two outings at the weekend. Anything less than that and you'd have to question if this is the sport for you! Gentlemen will most likely be vying for spots in the second boat for the Eights head and some racing next season.
Players:
You're the ambitious guys that want a seat in the first eight and a crack at Henley. Therefore we'd expect you to regularly do both ergs and circuits during the week as well as weights. The truly dedicated will find time to do other cross training such as running or swimming outside of squad sessions. You'll generally be available for all outings at the weekend including double or extra long outings. We'll soon find out who really wants to go to Henley! If we get a committed crew and good result in the head then we'll try to keep this boat together and take it racing at regattas including the 2k events.
Personal Goals:
As I have said, we're lucky to have plenty of coaching available and I'd like people to discuss their training with the coaches and to set personal goals for the winter. It might be a specific erg score, weight loss, weight gain, technical improvements or even just being able to do ten close grip press-ups!
Novices and New Members:
We have quite a steady stream of new chaps and whilst Stu is doing a great job organising them he does need our support. We've all been the new boys and have in out time had more experienced members patiently show us the ropes so any time you can offer to do the same now is much appreciated. Predominantly we will arrange specific second outings for the less experienced guys so help with just sitting the boat, coxing and coaching is all useful. Once a certain level of ability has been achieved then the new guys can be included into normal squad outings.
British Indoor Rowing Champs:
Held in Birmingham on Sunday 12th November this is nothing if not an experience. Mike has already entered and I'd encourage all the Players to do he same. I think that it's a good thing to do and for those that don't fancy the trip I think that we may have to have a 2k test in the shed anyway. www.concept2.co.uk/birc
Fours Head:
Entries will probably open next week so I do need to know fairly quickly who is keen to row this race on the 18th November. As always availability for the race includes availability for training too! We have 5 boat available and it would be great to fill them all again this year. The most likely scenario is 4 sweep boats and a quad. On a mundane point, the launch does require fuel which has to be paid for. I propose that everyone racing in the Fours Head has a surcharge of £5 added to their race fee to cover coach boat fuel in much the same way we do it for trailering to regattas. Please email me if you're interested in doing the Fours Head and I will also put a list up in the changing room.
A Bit More Carrot:
It's just in the conceptual stage at the moment but there is the possibility of a foreign training camp next April. This would be instead of sculling camp and much more intensive. Watch this space.
As I said at the top we'll do our best to put the facilities there, it's up to you to make the most of them. There's no reason why a seat in the first eight can't be yours if that's what you want. Past glories don't count for much if you don't put in the work to maintain them. Hence crew selection will be based on a combination of that commitment and what the coaches see in the boat.
Naturally we'll have a few beers along the way otherwise what's the point? Let's make it another good year for Cygnet RC.
Neil.
http://www.cygnet-rc.org.uk