Life is so busy that it is likely we are rushing out of the door to get to training. However, that should never be an excuse for turning up unprepared and having to scramble to get the session ready to go.

Here is the Dark Horse checklist of things you’ll need for every rowing session. As well as a few additional pointers to help make the little things a crucial part of your coaching routine.

1. Session plan:
   That clear concise plan that has everything you need for your session all written in a neat, legible manner.
   **Even better: Arrive early and write it on a board and refer to it at the beginning of each phase of the session.
2. A contingency plan:
   Because life doesn’t always go to plan. Have a backup session ready to go if needed. This is a good habit to get into that doesn’t take a lot of time and athletes will thank you for it when things get tough.
   **Even Better: Multiple contingency plans you can draw on any time you need to amend a session.
3. Medical Kit:
   Fingers crossed you’ll never need it but this should have everything you need should an accident occur.
   **Even Better: Fully stock this and check it on a regular basis.
4. Your own bottle of water:
   Cool, tasty and something to spray at those lazy athletes (joke).
   **Even Better: Put a 5-liter bottle in the boot of your car is an easy go to for anyone who needs a refill
5. Music playlist:
   45-60mins of the team’s favorite tunes to keep them going as the session ramps up.
   **Even Better: Get the crew to add to this each week BEFORE practice.
6. Cleaning kit:
   Nobody likes rowing on a dirty erg so a bottle of disinfectant spray and some clean clothes sort this out in 2 mins.
   **Even Better: Get the crew to clean their own ergs before and after each session.
7. Spare foot straps:
   The best $5 you will ever spend when you turn up and one of these have broken.
   **Even Better: Create a maintenance kit and keep it in the boot of your car with a few spares and essentials.
8. Spare training kit:
   For the inevitable athlete who forgets his/hers. Just make sure they’re washed between uses.
   **Even Better: A monetary fine that gets donated to charity at the end of the season. Shorts $1, tshirts $1, full kit $5.

What is essential for training and what is “nice to have”?
The best thing about coaching on an erg is it’s fairly low maintenance. However, some coaches have a tendency to try and prepare for everything. You could bring a whole lorry’s worth of equipment to training, but this is an essential list. What you need for an erg session is your starting point. But make sure you know where they are kept, how to access them, and if you need to “book” them for your training session if other teams are sharing the equipment.

As the military puts it so eloquently, Preparation, Prevents, P*ss, Poor, Performance. This goes across the board so don’t forget you as a coach are also part of preparing everything you can before, during and after your session in preparation for the next one.

Remember the sessions only run if everyone plays their part so it can be good practice to get the athletes to set the machines up and tidy them away at the end of the session. It creates accountability for the team and shows good practice in machine maintenance and storage.

Yours in Fitness, education and being prepared.
Coach John.

 

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash