JUNIOR MEMBER AND PARENT/CARER HANDBOOK

Transcription

1 Gloucester Rowing Club JUNIOR MEMBER AND PARENT/CARER HANDBOOK The Boat House, Bristol Road, Gloucester GL2 5DH Telephone Number: Website: and

2 1.Welcome to Gloucester Rowing Club...2 History of the club...2 Membership...2 Health and safety Getting Started...6 Dry start...6 Wet start...6 Rowing Technique...8 Clothing...10 Equipment Training and Competitions...14 Training...14 Preparing for racing...15 Volunteer help...18 Additional Information:

3 1.Welcome to Gloucester Rowing Club This short handbook is intended as a quick reference guide to life at the club, and what to expect as you progress from learning to row, through to competing. You won t find everything you need to know in the following pages, but there are links to useful websites for further information and pieces of practical advice based on experience. History of the club Gloucester Rowing Club is located near the Hempsted Bridge in Gloucester on the Sharpness to Gloucester Canal. It is one of the oldest established rowing clubs in the country, with a history dating back to The sole purpose of the club is to promote the sport of rowing. Many members compete at a national and regional level, whilst others have joined purely for recreation and fitness there is something for everyone here. The club hosts three main competitions each year: one a summer regatta of sprint heats, and the other two are winter time-trials, together with a number of fundraising events. In recent years the club has outgrown the old clubhouse facilities and has purchased land off David Hook Way, and has planning permission to progress plans to build a new rowing club. The club is affiliated to British Rowing the National Governing Body, and all boats carry a unique identification code of GLR. In 2006 the club achieved accreditation with Clubmark, a national cross-sport governing body providing guidelines for clubs encouraging junior participants in the sport, for more information see In 2010 the club joined forces with Hartpury College and the GB team to become part of the START programme, looking for the next generation of international and Olympic rowers. The latest initiative of the club has been to receive funding for new boats through the Explore Rowing programme in return for encouraging participation from a wider community through the use of the club by schools and colleges. Membership Gloucester Rowing Club offers five classes of membership. Associate members pay a small annual fee, and are allowed to use the boats and boating facilities with the Captain s permission at a rate of 5/day. Patrons are life members and, like Associate members they are allowed to use the boats and boating facilities with the Captain s permission at a rate of 5/day. Coxing and coaching members can use the boats with the Captain s permission and don t have to pay a fee, but their coxing/coaching duties come first. Senior and Junior members are entitled to full use of the facilities and have priority over the use of equipment, although juniors must be supervised by a coach at all times. Juniors are eligible to compete in junior events under the rules of British Rowing, and must be under the age of 18, or engaged in full-time education. Members under the age of 16 cannot vote at the club AGM, but one of their parents can become an Associate member free of charge and vote. 2

4 Once you have registered to become a member and paid your subscription fee, the Club Secretary will create an account for you to logon to the club website and access club information. It is important that parents and junior members familiarise themselves with the club website, which keeps members up-to-date on the success of the club, events, important announcements and outlines the Rules and Constitution of the club. Under club stuff on the main menu there is a section on Club Policies, which includes a Code of Conduct for juniors and parents, and a separate Code for Club Officials, Coaches and Volunteers. These have been attached at the back of this handbook. At the Annual General Meeting a main committee is elected comprising a Chairperson, Captain, Treasurer, Secretary and 6 committee members. The main committee is supported by a number of working groups and sub-committees, made up of elected and co-opted members. The day-to-day running of the junior squad is the responsibility of the Junior Coordinator who has gained one of the British Rowing s Coaching Awards. The other squads have vice-captains for their day-to-day running, and they along with the Junior Coordinator are involved in the Rowing Committee, who ascertain the clubs requirements for equipment and arrange rotas for sharing boats if necessary. The other committees vary from time to time, but for example may include Fund-Raising, Events, Safety etc. It may take time to become familiar with life at the club, knowing what is expected of you as a new member and what you can expect in return. Some new members come with a little knowledge and experience, and others come with none at all. Joining in and taking part is by far the best way to learn, and the club has many experienced rowers who can offer advice. There are other ways to keep informed about events and training, such as signing up to the BT Yahoo group grcjs (gloucester rowing club junior squad) or facebook. Try and be pro-active in your learning and involvement with the people around you. Every member is expected to help with at least one club event, which adds greatly to the learning experience. *If you want to compete in events you will also need to become a junior member of British Rowing, and you can join online Once you have joined, British Rowing will write to you every year to remind you to renew your membership and you will also get a monthly magazine and insurance. *If you want to compete in events the club will also ask you to put money into a club race fee account to cover the cost of your race entries and a share in costs of transporting the boats. There is a box next to the bar in the clubhouse where race money can be handed in or payments can be made directly on line into the Race Fees account. (note this is not the same account as used for membership fees) The Treasurer will issue statements of who is owing and who is in credit throughout the year (a copy of this is usually pinned to the club noticeboard in the clubhouse). You will not normally be allowed to enter into a future event if you still owe money for previous events. 3

5 Health and safety Rowing clubs have a responsibility for the safety of their members in all activities associated with rowing. The primary responsibility for ensuring safe practice within a club lies with the appointed Club Officers and the Club Committee, who are advised by a Club Water Safety Adviser (their name can be found under safety on the club website menu). Other useful information can be obtained from British Rowing, by downloading Row Safe: a guide to good practice in rowing (2003) available from their website. In line with the national guidance, the level of supervision should take account of the age and ability of the children and the type of environment that the session is taking place in. Also if there is an accident or incident that there is always someone available to supervise the remaining children, and the coaches working with children ensure that they do not work in isolation. *Every member of the club has a duty of care when rowing, and all accidents must be logged and the action taken recorded in the Accident Logbook pinned in the clubhouse. The coaches reserve the right to send home any junior who arrives for a training session that they consider is in an unfit condition, or is not dressed properly to row. It is the responsibility of the coach leading a training session to assess whether conditions are suitable for rowing on the water, or whether training will be land based. Typical hazards encountered on the canal might include: rowers capsizing, other canal users, lack of awareness of rules of navigation on the canal, overhanging vegetation, floating debris, strong winds, fog, ice, and water borne Weil s disease. Weil s disease (leptospiriosis) is an acute bacterial infection caught from infected animal urine carried in the water. More information about Weil s disease is available from According to British Rowing the chance of contracting the disease is very small, and there have been no cases recorded at the club. However, the death in 2010 of an Olympic rower from the disease has highlighted the need for a few simple precautions to be taken when rowing. It is important that open wounds and abrasions should be covered before going onto the water. If a wound occurs while on the water it should be cleaned and dressed at the clubhouse, where anti-bacterial wipes and a first-aid kit are kept. Whilst on the water avoid splashing and swallowing, but if you capsize you are advised to shower as soon as possible. The club does not have an appointed First Aid Officer, however coaches do undergo basic First Aid training as part of their coaching course and juniors must listen to the advice of the coaches or helpers and act responsibly in this matter. 4

6 Safeguarding and Child Protection All rowing clubs, competitions and associated individuals are required to follow the Child Protection Policies outlined by British Rowing Safeguarding and Protecting Children Policy (July 2010) document sets out the procedures that are to be followed to protect children in rowing, and details what should be done if any concerns arise. The Club Committee appoint and are advised by a Club Welfare Officer (CWO), who is a senior member of the club and to whom concerns or allegations regarding inappropriate treatment of juniors should be made. It will be his/her duty to understand the requirements of the British Rowing s Child Protection Procedures and to act on them as necessary. He/she must also ensure that there is a well established complaints procedure and that parents and children have the relevant information and easy access to it. The contact details of the club s CWO are pinned on the noticeboard in the clubhouse. As a club with a junior section, some members are required to apply for a CRB check, which is organised via British Rowing. This includes anyone who has frequent regular contact with the juniors, such as coaches and parent helpers. When completing a membership form any relevant medical problems should be highlighted and this information will be passed on to the CWO and the Junior Coordinator for junior members. Should any medical problems arise after you have become a member, and which might affect your training, rowing or put others at risk, then please inform the CWO or Junior Coordinator as soon as possible. 5

7 2.Getting Started Rowing is an enjoyable and sociable sport, it can enhance your confidence and fitness, but there are also aspects that require you to be disciplined and act responsibly. Dry start The process of teaching a beginner how to row begins on rowing machines (ergos). Achieving the correct sitting position and rhythm of the stroke on the ergo is an effective way of simulating what will happen in the boat on the water. For some beginners there is also a fear of the boats tipping over and becoming trapped under the boat. Therefore, before you are allowed onto the water it is preferable that you pass a capsize drill in a swimming pool, and demonstrate that you can swim 100 meters in light clothing, which prepares you in case this happens. This exercise will be repeated annually. The cox and anyone who fails to pass the capsize drill must wear a buoyancy aid in the boat, but this can be a hindrance when rowing. Wet start Progressing from the dry start on land, to the wet start in boats on the water can be a difficult transition. Having mastered the movement of the body on the ergo, you as a beginner now have to deal with the introduction of oars, what may feel like a thin wobbly boat and other people to row with. Beginners learn to scull with a pair of oars first, before learn to sweep with a single oar. British Rowing guidelines are that no junior younger than J16 learns to row with a sweep oar & this guideline is followed at GRC. It is usual to put beginners into boats with four people sculling plus a cox to steer (a coxed quad), which allows some to stabilise the boat whilst others practice the stroke. In a quad the positions in the boat number off from the bow (front end) as follows; the person in the bow seat is No.1 but is often called bow ; sitting in front of them would be No.2; in front of them would be No.3, and finally No.4 who sits facing the cox and is normally referred to as stroke. The cox may divide the crew into pairs to carry out exercises and will refer to the bow pair and the stern pair. You should try to be at the clubhouse at least 15 minutes before your session starts, so that coaches can complete the register, organise people into crews for that day and allocate boats. The ratio of coaches to juniors will depend on the type of boats being used and the ability of the rowers. In order to maintain as high a ratio as possible, it may be necessary for the coaches to ask for assistance from parent/carer volunteers during the session (this topic will be dealt with later). The coach will instruct each crew as to what equipment they will be using. Each boat has a name and a set place in the boatshed, and certain boats are only suitable for certain weights of crew. The oars also vary considerably in shape and length depending on their use. If in doubt it is better to ask either the coach or a senior member of the club for advice. You are expected to help get your boat out of the boatshed, find your oars and put your boat onto trestles on the landing stage, or if instructed to do so, straight onto the water. A coach or helper should be on hand to help with this process, check that everything is good working order, and make sure that a member of the crew (the cox if there is one) has logged the boat out in the logbook (located just inside the boatshed). 6

8 The role of the cox is more than just steering; the cox should direct the crew both on and off the water, and the cox will also need to relay instructions from the coach to the crew in the form of commands. The person at stroke sets the pace or rating of the strokes and rhythm. People sat at No.3 and No.2 positions are thought of as the powerhouse in the boat and are ideally the strongest. They should also help stroke by reinforcing the set pace. The bow person is responsible for steering in a coxless boat, but in a coxed boat they need to be alert to obstacles in front of the boat, and as their technique improves they can influence the balance in the boat. Some coaches will follow the crews by cycling along the towpath, whilst others prefer to use the club launch boats. You should be prepared to help get the launches out of the boatshed and put them away again after training sessions. Similarly, you are also expected to help wash your boat down, and put the oars and boat away in the boatshed ready for other club members to use, and to sign the boat out in the logbook. Your training sessions may coincide with the use of the club by other members, and the landing stage and boatshed can become very busy at peak periods. The discipline of getting equipment safely out of the boatshed and putting it away after use is to be followed by every member of the club; it is considerate to other boat users and helps to reduce damage to equipment. It is important that all members act responsibly and work effectively together when handling equipment, as a boat can cost several 1000s and some of the equipment is privately owned. The coach will encourage you to try out different positions in the boat, and to row with different combinations of people. You will be given the opportunity to try coxing other beginners. The main priority for wet start will be to teach you to row in time with others, to grasp the basic mechanics of the stroke, to listen to instructions and learn how to manoeuvre the boat safely. It may take time and patience before you can complete the stroke smoothly and feel at ease in a boat. Over the course of a few weeks, and as you become more confident, the coach may introduce smaller 2-man boats (double sculls) and 1-man boats (single sculls) to help you to improve your rowing skills. The following pictures are taken from to demonstrate some basic principles. Correct movement of the blade in the water: The blade is feathered above the water The blade is squared in the water Correct handgrip on the oar: 7

9 In sculling, whenever the hands cross over each other, the left hand should always be above the right hand, and as the hands separate the left should lead the right it doesn t matter whether you are naturally right or left handed. Rowing Technique The stroke is best described by breaking it down into basic parts, as follows: The Finish the legs are flat and the hands are pulled in towards the body, just below chest height, with the blades buried in the water. The upper body is held strong, leaning slightly backward towards the bow and the shoulders should be relaxed. From this position the handle of the oars are tapped downwards and the blades are lifted out of the water. The Recovery - the legs remain flat as the hands continue to be pushed smoothly down and away from the body, allowing the arms to be straightened. The upper body follows the arms by rocking forward and pivoting from the pelvis. At this point the body weight shifts from the back of the seat to the front. Whilst maintaining the rocked over position with the arms straight, the knees begin to bend allowing the body to move smoothly up the slide. As the shines become vertical, pressure can be felt on the balls of the feet. The upper body should now be in a strong upright position, leaning slightly forward so that the shoulders are just in front of the pelvis. The Drive - at the catch the blade is placed in the water by lifting the hands. With the body, oar and water now connected the drive through the water begins using the leg muscles. Keeping the back tilted slightly forward in the strong upright position, and with the arms straight and the shoulders loose, the legs are pressed down by pushing off the footplate, sending the body back along the slide towards the bow. The Finish - as the legs flatten the body rocks backwards from the pelvis, allowing the arms and back to engage in the final part of the stroke. The arms are drawn into towards the body ready to complete the stroke. The power for rowing is generated by the muscles in the legs, with the arms and back adding to that effort towards the finish of the stroke. Staying relaxed in the upper body, and imaging that you are hanging off the oar handles during the drive part of the stroke, reduces unwanted tension in the back and body fatigue. In the recovery phase, if you have difficulty rocking forward from the pelvis when your knees are flat, then you may have to carry out exercises to stretch your hamstrings. The overall aim is to achieve smooth movement throughout the whole stroke. 8

10 This sequence of pictures is taken from a British Rowing poster demonstrating the perfect stroke. Catch Drive Extraction or Finish Recovery 9

11 Clothing It may seem a minor point, but being correctly dressed can make the rowing experience more enjoyable, safer and prevent illness. Here are some practical suggestions for clothing, which can apply to both training on land or on the water: Headwear: wearing a hat or cap can prevent loss of body heat through the head when it is cold, or protect the head and shield the eyes from the sun. People with long hair should tie it back or wear it under a hat, Upper body: clothes should be practical to wear, preferably fitted so that they do not obstruct your hands, and allow you to maintain a comfortable temperature. Many rowers wear a combination of thin layers, which they can adjust during the session according to workload, or vary according to weather conditions. A range of clothing that offers protection from the wind, rain, sun and cold is advisable. It is important that clothing covers the lower back, but long tops or ties can get caught in the seat fittings in boats or on the ergos. Be aware that clothes can get marked with boat oil or may be damaged through hard wear, Hands: avoid jewellery as this can cause blisters, and although many beginners suffer from blisters initially, wearing gloves will lessen your control on the blade handle. In cold weather some people wear fleecy mitten pogies which are adapted for rowing, Legs: as with the upper body, a combination of layers on the legs suit most people. These can comprise shorts, leggings or tracksuit bottoms, Footwear: shoes designed for sport are desirable, especially if training includes running to warm up, or time on the ergo. Shoes are taken off before getting in the boat and are often left on the landing stage, where they may get wet and muddy, Coxes: all coxes must wear a buoyancy aid or life jacket. This also applies to anyone traveling in the launch. Coxes should wrap up in many layers, particularly in winter when temperatures can vary greatly between sun and shade. * You must bring a change of clothing and a towel with you to every session held on the water, and failure to do so may result in the coach not allowing you to train. *As well as appropriate clothing, you are advised to bring a still drink with you, in a sealed bottle which can be taken in the boat. Energy or fizzy drinks are not encouraged. Once you have decided whether rowing is the sport for you, there is the option to buy club kit. This is a collection of sports clothing designed for rowers in the club colours of red, black and white, and with the Gloucester club logo. Once or twice a year the club places an order with their supplier Godfrey who offers discounts for bulk purchases. You are advised to look out for the order sheets, which are normally placed prominently in the clubhouse windows, although you can order direct at any time. * Club colours must be worn if you are planning to enter a junior rowing event, and you will be asked to purchase or borrow a racing vest. 10

12 Equipment At this stage, the only piece of equipment that you may find useful to own is a rigger jigger, or in layman s terms a spanner(s) with a 10mm and 13mm head which fits the bolts and nuts on most standard boats. Getting to know your way around a boat is an important aspect of rowing, knowing how the boat fits together and when things are wrong can save you and others time on the water. From time to time the club will aim to purchase new equipment, but in general the club relies on its members to act sensibly to try and maintain what level of equipment there is. Some of this equipment may be old and will be used extensively throughout the year, and as well as normal wear and tear, damages can occur. * All damages must be reported in a logbook (located in the boatshed). This is partly for practical reasons so that repairs can be carried out as soon as possible, and other users can be made aware of any problems. Here are a few simple diagrams and glossaries of terms to help you. Oars or blades Macon Beginners learn to row with older style Macons, but as you progress you will move onto Hatchets (or Cleavers). The club hatchets for sculling are in pairs or sets. Hatchets are designed to be rowed on one side of the boat or the other, and each oar will be marked by either green tape for the starboard side (right side of the boat when facing the bowball), or red tape for the port side (left side). The club has a variety of oars, which are set up to suit different users or are privately owned, and which are normally stored in certain racks in the boatshed. Rowing with the wrong oars can affect your stroke, so if in doubt about which oars to use, it is better to ask for help. The oar is divided into parts; the spoon or blade is the painted face submerged in the water. Connecting to the spoon is the shaft, then a sleeve and collar, which hold the oar in place in the rigger. The rest of the oar is called the handle, on the end of which is a rubber grip. On all blades, the position of the collar can be altered to reduce or lengthen the handle (which in turn affects the length of the shaft, the point of pivot and the leverage). This should not be done without the permission of the coach. Blade or Spoon: face of the oar that is painted in club colours and submerged in the water Cleaver or Hatchet: modern style oar with a greater blade surface area and made of carbon fibre. Collar or Button: adjustable plastic ring that stops the oar slipping through the rigger gate. Handle: part of the oar gripped by the rower. Macon: older style oar now used for beginners. Shaft: connects onto the blade and extends to the sleeve. Sleeve: plastic sheath fitting around the oar forming a grip for the collar and protecting the surface of the oar in the oarlock. 11

13 Parts of the boat Some parts of the boat might be inter-changeable with others, but normally each boat will have its own set of seats, riggers and foot stretchers. Backstay: part of rigger which extends from the top of the oarlock towards the bow of the boat (used primarily for sweeping with single oars rather than sculling with pairs of oars). Backstop: stops at the end of the seat tracks that prevent the seat from leaving the rails. Also a command from the cox to sit at backstops means to sit in the position for the finish of the stroke. Bow: the front section of the boat behind the crew ending in a bowball. Bowball: a rubber ball fixed to the bow that reduces damage to other boats. Canvas or Deck: deck of the stern and the bow of the boat. Footplate or Foot stretcher: a metal plate to which the shoes are attached, and which fits into the boat and can be adjusted. Frontstop: stops at the front of the seat tracks which prevent the seat from coming off the track. Also a command from the cox to sit at frontstops means to sit in a postion ready to take a stroke in the water. Gate: bar across the top of the oarlock which holds the oar in place in the rigger. Frontstay: front part of the rigger on all boats which points towards the stern. Gunwales or Saxboards: the inner top part of the shell or hull of the boat. Hull: body of the shell. Oarlock: a square metal latch to hold the oar. Rigger: metal brace to provide a pivot point for the oar. Seat: wooden detachable seat set on wheels. Seat tracks: more commonly called Slides or Runners, which allow the seat to move backwards and forwards during the stroke. Stern: the rear section of the boat (in larger boats this is where the rudder is housed). 12

14 Type of boat At Gloucester, members row in fine boats, which are distinct from other types of craft used in sea rowing or other related water sports. To begin with you will be focusing on your sculling skills. Not only does this improve your all-round rowing technique, but for juniors below the age of years it ensures that strain is applied evenly to both sides of the body while you are still growing. As you progress in age and ability you can expect to move onto sweep style rowing as well. Here is a summary of the different boat combinations (taken from 13

15 3.Training and Competitions Training The club operates a timetable system to allow different junior and senior quads to share the equipment, although there are periods of overlap. Training times for juniors are sub-divided into older (16-18), younger juniors and beginner squads. Each squad has its own assigned coaches and training plan drawn up to progress each individuals rowing. As you progress you will be moved to join the more experienced juniors of your age group at allotted times. The coach will keep you informed of any changes to your session times and how often you can opt to row during the week. British Rowing have written How much and how often guidelines on what is appropriate, and how much training juniors should be expected to do. Training sessions normally last for 2 hours, which includes time to get the equipment out and put it away again afterwards. Once on the water training may consist of a series of warm up exercises followed by technical drills, which encourage focus and unity in the crew, and work on the improvement of rowing skills. Although these may seem repetitive when undertaken each week, they are the most effective way of teaching good rowing practice. A few of these have been included at the back of this handbook for reference. Juniors may be put into regular crews if they have are aiming for a forthcoming event, but typically juniors will be asked to row in a variety of positions in different types of boat and with different people. A lot depends on who turns up for a particular training session and who the coaches consider to be compatible in the boat. Ergo and fitness tests will normally form part of the training programme, as a means of measuring individual improvement. Regular attendance helps to build up fitness levels and enhances the ability to improve. The coaches recognize that some members are also engaged in other sports and may need to divide their time between pursuits, and this can be worked into your individual training plan. When you have developed your fitness and skills to a required level you will be encouraged to enter into junior events. For those juniors that do not wish to progress to competition or develop their skills, the coach will try and accommodate you in recreational rowing sessions. Competitions are run throughout the year and throughout the country. Some are local and regional events hosted by other clubs and others are national competitions. A calendar of events is published by British Rowing every year and comes free with membership. In the summer months the competitions take the form of regattas, which are sprinted heats, or knock-out rounds ending in a final. In the winter, competition events are called head races, which are timed trials over a longer distance, with the best time in any category winning. You can find the British Rowing rules for racing and the point system for winning events on their website, but it is probably better to rely on what you are taught in the training sessions, and then build on your knowledge through race experience. Competitions are run based on your age, so for instance if you are in year 8 at school you would compete in the J13 junior race category, in year 9 in the J14 category and so on. Juniors are permitted to enter an event in the age category above, but not below. Crews tend to be single sex, although mixed crews can be entered if there is a category open to them, and juniors are allowed to enter as a composite crew, rowing with members of 14

16 other clubs and this is normally achieved through agreement of both clubs. Ultimately the coaches will ask for expressions of interest to enter an event, and from the feedback will organise juniors into crews and enter them according to their eligible age range. Crews for the national events will be selected as part of the training process and this will be explained by the coaches as the juniors progress. Boats and equipment will be allocated according to the club usage; as the junior and senior crews share boats, they may both want to compete at the same event, or different events on the same weekend. Preparing for racing 1. plan ahead: summer regattas and winter heads are normally held over the weekend, but if the venue is far away it may be necessary to travel there on a Friday or Monday, requiring time off school. Eating and resting well the week before will help you cope with the day, and prepare a range of clothing to suit different weather conditions. Clubs hosting race events will post the race draws, course, race rules and health and safety plans on their website ahead of the event. If the coach has entered you into an event it is important that you make yourself aware of this race information. If you are new to regattas or head races it might be worth trying to attend one before you compete, so that you have some idea of what is involved. * Check that you have a valid British Rowing race licence, and whether you are responsible for taking your own licence to the event, as this will be needed on the day if you get through to the final round. * You will need to race in club colours, especially in races when the weather is good. A race vest can be purchased online, and the club regularly submits group orders, whereby members order items individually, but the whole lot are sent to one individual, thus allowing savings due to ordering several of the same items. *Check that you have sufficient funds in the race fee account to cover your entry fee and share of towing costs. 2. derigging the boat at the club: before the event, boats will be nominated for each crew and it is the responsibility of each crew to ensure that the riggers and seats are removed from their boat (derigged) and loaded with a set of oars onto the trailer going to the event. It is normal practice for the removed riggers on one side of the boat to be taped together, so that they are easily identifiable when it comes to putting the boat back together again. There are normally experienced people on hand to help with this, and having gone through the process once you will understand the reasons for doing things in a certain way. The coaches will inform you when derigging will take place, depending on when other club members need to use the equipment. A coach will not always be able to attend a race with a crew, and if no other senior members are entering the same event, then a parent /carer may be asked to tow the trailer for their child to compete. Spanners, extra nuts and bolts, strong cord and tape are always useful to take with you in case things go missing in transit. *You and your crew are responsible for making sure that everything needed for your boat is loaded onto the trailer going to the event, and is returned back to the club after the event. 15

17 3. rerigging the boat at the event before the race: you are responsible for making your own travel arrangements to the races, and if your race is early in the morning you may need to camp or stay over. You will need to be at the venue at least 90 minutes before the race, this is to allow for familiarisation of the race environment, locating the Gloucester trailer, taking the boat off the trailer and putting it back together (rerigging). The seats will need to be put back in the boat and check that they run smoothly, and the boat must be checked over to make sure everything is fixed in place. This may sound obvious, but in the excitement leading up to a race, things get forgotten and you will want to reduce the chance of problems arising on the water. If you have a cox, he/she will need to be weighed and the crew/boat registered with the start tent, where you will be given your race number. This will either need to be fixed with safety pins to the back of the bow-person s racing kit, or placed in the number slot on the bow end of the boat. Sometimes the crew s racing licences can be a requirement for registration, so that the organisers can check the correct people are entered into the event. There are strict rules about substituting members of the crew once you have entered and registered. A substitution may be necessary in the case of illness or the failure of a member of your crew to turn up, and you will need to clear this with registration before you race. Check the time of your race, who is your opposition and which lane you will be racing in. Your crew will be entered into divisions, possibly according to age or boat type. The club hosting the event should display and update the draw throughout the day. You will need to be familiar with how junior crews are written down, as there are many different classes: if you have (WJ) that stands for Women s Junior; if you have (J) on its own that stands for Men s Junior; an (x) stands for a scull or without an x means sweep oar; with a (+) on the end means the crew is coxed, or with a (-) on the end means the crew is coxless, for example: WJ14.4x+ means a Women s Junior 14 coxed quad (sculling) WJ14.4x- means a Women s Junior 14 coxless quad (sculling) J14.4x+ means a Men s Junior 14 coxed quad (sculling) J16.4+ means a Men s Junior 16 coxed four (sweep oar) J16.4- means a Men s Junior 16 coxless four (sweep oar) 4. the race: leading up to a race can be stressful and it is important to allow plenty of time to take on board food and drink, and to get the crew together before the race. Events vary considerably, but typically race instructions might state that crews must be on the landing stage and ready to get on the water, by a certain time ahead of their race. Before this you will need to take your oars down to the landing stage. Some races request that crews find their opposition, and together present themselves with their boats at a specific place to have their boats checked by an umpire. A coach may not be able to be present leading up to your race. Therefore, it is important that as many parents/carers as possible are on hand to support your crew, helping you to carry the boat and oars down to the water, and offer encouragement. Take a drink with you in the boat and layers of clothing in case you have to wait around on the water. 16

18 If you get through to the next round then you will be required to take the boat back to the trailer in the interim, but sometimes the oars can be left near the landing stage. Summer events can last along time if there are several heats to get through. Make sure you protect yourself from the weather, rest between races and keep checking the time for your next heat, as this may vary from the programme if there have been delays. 5. end of racing: at the end of racing you will need to help de-rig the boat and load it, and the rest of the equipment, back onto the trailer ready to be returned to the club. Leave the area around the trailer in a tidy condition. 6. rerigging the boat at the club: after the event a time will be nominated when you will be required to rerig the boat, so that other club members are able to use it in normal training sessions. *At rowing events you are representing Gloucester Rowing Club, and the club expects its members to act in an appropriate manner that reflects positively on the club. 17

19 Volunteer help Sessions for the juniors undoubtedly run smoother if parents or guardians/carers can afford the time to help. To some extent the club has to rely on your support in order to maintain the current level of training sessions and intake of juniors within the squad. The rowing environment, terminology and use of equipment all take time to get used to, and extra pairs of hands can help enormously, either on the landing stage to assist juniors to get boats in and out of the water, or by accompanying the coaches along the tow path, or in the launch, as back-up. Some previous knowledge of rowing is helpful, but by no means essential. You don t need to know the technicalities of rowing, you can help look out for hazards on the water, assist with incidents, or just offer encouragement. Non-rowers can feel intimidated, but the club would like to encourage parents or guardians/carers to become involved as part of their child s learning process. An increased adult presence helps deter undesirable behaviour and assists the coaches in maintaining a safe and healthy environment in which juniors can progress in their rowing. There are courses available for parents or guardians/ carers to train to be coaches, although the club is unable to finance these directly, but can offer some financial reward for sessions subsequently coached at the club. Some mention has already been made about the role of parent or guardian/carers at junior events, and it s not just about getting your child to and from the venue. Your support can help in all sorts of ways, whether it s helping to check boats in, finding results, looking after kit, or making sure that juniors are eating and drinking regularly. At our own events held 3 times a year in Gloucester, the help of all club members, parents & guardian / carers is expected where at all possible. These events take a lot of organizing & can only be run with the help of everyone. As well as being fun, these events are important sources of funds for the club to invest in new equipment. The Amateur Rowing Association (predecessor to British Rowing) published The Volunteer Helper Guide (2008), which contains a lot of useful information, and has been written for those who have no knowledge of rowing, but wish to support the sport. Some of this has already been incorporated into this handbook, but the whole document is available to download from the British Rowing website. 18

20 Towing Occasionally volunteers may be asked to tow a trailer carrying boats to or from a racing event. The cost of towing is split between all the competitors using the trailer. The websites and provide useful information on safety and regulations for towing a trailer, together with practical tips for driving. DVLA also provide a Fact Sheet, INF 30 Requirements for Towing Trailers in Great Britain. Importantly there are legal restrictions that apply when towing, such as: you are not allowed to tow more then your driving licence permits; most vehicles have a maximum towing weigh; the width limit for any towing vehicle is 2.55 metres; the length limit is 7 metres for a trailer towed by a vehicle weighing up to 3.5 tonnes (3,500 kilograms); if your trailer is wider than the rear of the towing vehicle, you must by law fit suitable towing mirrors; and any trailer weighing over 750 kilograms must have a working brake system. It is also important to know the speed limits and braking distances that apply, and what action to take in the event of a breakdown. As a rough guide the trailer weight should not be more than 85% of the weight of the towing vehicle. The heaviest boats should be carried on the lower tiers of the trailer and the trailer should be loaded so as to be nose heavy. Before setting out, the driver should check that their insurance covers them while towing a trailer (the club insures the boats and trailer), that tyres are the correct pressure, the lights and brakes work, and the boats are secure. Either a white or fluorescent flag should also be attached to that part of the trailer that has the longest overhang. Whilst all this may seem very onerous, the loading of boats will be supervised by either a coach or experienced member of the club. 19

21 Additional Information: Junior Code of Conduct Parents and Guardians/Carers Code of Conduct Common Terms Coxing Commands Basic Sculling Exercises 20

22 Junior Code of Conduct The Club encourages all Juniors to act as ambassadors for the club by displaying appropriate behaviour. 1.All Juniors should support and encourage other club members. Always bring a water bottle, towel and change of clothes to training sessions. 2.Wear clothing that is suitable for the weather conditions 3.Juniors should respect all club equipment and clean the boats after every outing. Blades must be put tidily away on the correct racks 4.No Junior should go onto a launch unless told to do so by a coach. 5.If equipment is damaged then tell a coach so it can be fixed. 6.There must be no messing around near boats or the water. Do not run in the boathouse or on the landing stage. 7.Coxes and people on the launch must always wear lifejackets. 8.Juniors must not return to the clubhouse between putting the boat on the water at the start of the outing and placing it back on the rack at the end. 9.Check the boat before each outing - heel restraints, tightness of stretcher and rigger bolts. 10.Do not annoy the fishermen or swans. 11.Juniors must follow and obey the instructions from the coaches and cox at all times. 12.Do not splash each other - being wet and cold is no fun. 13.Always be within sight of a coach on the water or during land training. 14.Be mindful of other club members. Be quick to take boats out of the water, wash and put them away at the end of the outing when others are waiting for the landing stage and trestles. 15.The hose is for washing boats. Not other Juniors (or coaches). 16.Juniors must not leave the boat house until all equipment has been put away and the coaches say it is OK to go. 17.Bad language is not acceptable at any time. 18.No Juniors of J16 or below can use the ergs without coach supervision. 19.Juniors shall only use weights when supervised by a coach. 20.Do not play with the lockers. If you need to play, bring your own toys. 21.Juniors are not allowed behind the bar at any time 22.Enjoy rowing. 21

23 Parents and Guardians/Carers Code of Conduct Parents and Guardians/Carers are important role models and should support the club and Juniors 1.Encourage good sportsmanship and publicly accepting official judgements 2.Support your child's involvement by recognising good performance, not just results. 3.Never force a child to take part in a sport. 4.Inform the coaches promptly of any change in contact details or any other relevant information which the coach needs to know to facilitate participation, safety and welfare. 5.Tell the club or coach promptly of any concerns you have regarding the behaviour or welfare of others. 6.Arrive no more that 15 minutes before the start of each session and collect promptly at the end. 22

24 Common Terms Blade. The oar which you use to propel the boat. Bow. The front of the boat, in relation to it s travel, rather than relative to the direction you sit facing. Bow Ball. Soft rubber ball on the bow of a boat, designed to prevent serious injury in the event of a collision with a person. Button. A plastic disc on the blade handle which prevents the blade sliding away from you through the gate. Coxswain. Usually known as the cox and is the person who steers the boat by means of strings or wires attached to the rudder. Can sit in either the stern or bow of the boat. Crab. When the oar becomes caught in the water at the moment of extraction and the blade handle strikes the athlete. Often causes unintentional release of the blade and significant slowing of boat speed. Ergo. Indoor rowing machine used for training. Foot Plate. Metal plate which has shoes fixed to it. Fixed Seat. Either a description used to differentiate a boat without a sliding seat mechanism, or rowing with arms and or body only and therefore not moving their seat. Gate. The plastic swiveling component on top of the rigger, which allows the blade to turn. Handle. The part of the blade which you hold in your hand. Head Race. Race in which crews are timed over a set distance. Usually run as a processional race rather than side by side. Length of stroke. The arc through which the blade turns when it is in the water from catch to finish. Port. The left hand side of the boat in the direction of travel. Occasionally used by umpires to advise crews to move to one side during a race. Pressure. The amount of effort applied by the legs during the drive phase of the stroke. (usually light, ½, ¾, firm or full) Rate. Or rating. Number of strokes per minute. Regatta. A competition with events for different boat types and status athletes usually involving heats, semi finals and finals for each event. Boats compete side by side from a standing start. Rigger. The metal framework which holds the gate through which the blade swivels. Rigger jigger. A small spanner used for attaching and adjusting riggers. Rigging. The way in which the riggers, slides, swivel, pins, foot plate, oars and sculls can be adjusted to optimise athlete comfort and efficiency. Rolling start. A rolling start means that the boat is allowed to gather momentum before it crosses the start line generally used during winter head races. 23

25 Rudder. The means by which the boat is steered. All larger boats (quads and eights) have one, as do pairs, however in general doubles do not, unless they are usable as both a pair and a double, and singles never have one. Saxboard. The sides of the boat Seat. What the rowers sit on in the boat. Shaft. The long part of the blade between the handle and the spoon. Slide. The metal runners which the seat rolls along. Spoon. The part of the blade which dips into the water. Starboard. The right hand side of the boat in the direction of travel. Occasionally used by umpires to advise crews to move to one side during a race. Standing start. A racing start done from a stationary position at summer regattas. Stakeboat. An anchored boat or pontoon from which rowing boats are held prior to a race starting. Stern. The rear of the boat. Steers-person. Generic term for the person who steers the boat, i.e the cox in coxed boats, but usually in a coxless boat it is the person in the bow position. Often used at events where the steers-person is expected to come to safety briefings. Stretcher. Metal bar which goes from one side of the boat to the other, and has the foot plate attached to it. Stroke. The rower who sits closest to the stern of the boat in front of all the others and is responsible for the rating and rhythm of the boat. (other crew members can influence rating and rhythm from behind) Time trial. Race in which times are used to determine who gets through to the next round. Often used at large National events, to get numbers of competitors down to reasonable levels. Trestles. Portable stands used to support a boat for rigging, washing etc. 24