SHOULD I GO TO CAMP?
By Mayrene Earle Want to feel like a kid again? Go to camp! But wait. Your conscious is saying, “Sign me up – yesterday!” While your subconscious argues, “What will my coach think? Will he feel threatened in some way? Maybe I’d better not sign up.” For the many master rowers whose clubs do not have coaches or who do not belong to a club, the decision to go to rowing camp is a no-brainer. But those who do have a coach might worry that their coaches will be offended if they sign up for rowing camp. One master’s rower told me that the issue of club members attending rowing camp can be tricky. “It probably should be addressed individually,” she said. “Some coaches are confident of their coaching, since it is in line with the US Rowing Coach accreditation program. But some are unsure of their coaching ability, though they would never admit it.” When I coached at MIT, I encouraged my athletes to learn from as many sources as possible. This not only improved the individual athlete, but the ideas, skills and drills she brought back and shared with the boathouse were priceless. As one master rower said, “It’s the responsibility of the [rowing camp] participant to take lots of information back to their club. They can be an enormous catalyst for developing rowing in their own area.” As a coach at masters camps, I concentrated on sharing my entire toolbox of ideas to help camp participants improve and perfect their technique. That way I didn’t teach a particular style of rowing that might conflict with what they had learned from other coaches. There is so much more that rowers gain from the camp experience than technical expertise! Where else can you eat, sleep and dream rowing? Where else can you row without distractions and responsibilities? Where else can you can immerse yourself completely in an activity you have a passion for. There are also the intangibles of networking, improved self-esteem, new friendships and more. “Camp did everything for me,” one rower told me. “I felt that on top of technique, I gained confidence. I loved networking and I had instant friends at regattas. I learned how other clubs solved their problems – from fundraising to keeping ducks off the dock. It was great fun to be with women who were challenging themselves.” Following are the views of three coaches on rowing camps. Charlotte Hollings, camp co-director; www.calmwatersrowing.com: “Obviously, if you don't have a coach at your club, then a camp is the place for you. You can learn so much in a short time when you totally immerse yourself in learning. A camp will give you the opportunity to discover your weaknesses and ways to improve them. You can't expect to fix all your problems, but you should leave camp with solid ideas on how to improve. At a camp, you’ll spend very little time away from rowing, so the information will stay fresh. You’ll have lots of opportunities to try out new things.” Buzz Congram, former men’s coach, Northeastern University; www.Rowskills.com: “The mechanics of good rowing don’t change, but the athletes’ ability to translate a coach’s language into a desired physical movement is definitely enhanced when it’s expressed in a variety of ways. Coaching is largely about developing an arsenal of different ways to teach the same thing. “If there is a resistance on the part of coaches to encouraging their athletes to gain exposure to new ideas, they are shortchanging their athletes as well as themselves. When athletes I have coached at Northeastern University went to national team camps, they always returned with experiences and information that enriched our program.” Ken Dreyfuss, coach, Potomac Boat Club: “If they go to learn a few pointers from a different point of view, that is fine -- as long as the camp leaders recognize the amazing amount of work that goes into keeping a collegiate or even club program afloat and consistently bring that point across. Anyone can make a few style suggestions, but running an entire program is a different matter.”
INNOVATIVE CAMP & COACHING OPTIONS This is an exciting time for master rowers. Following the lead of Holly Metcalf’s Row As One camps, introduced in the early 1990s, master camps are sprouting up all over the country. Keep your eyes open, because the offers are increasing exponentially. Plus, new coaching models are being introduced. For example, Buzz Congram now mentors club coaches. He’ll travel to your program and coach your practices while the host coach observes. Charlotte Hollings and John Dunn have a B&B/rowing “camp” in Virginia. They offer a first class sculling vacation on a private mill pond with a wide selection of boats available. I now offer life coaching to athletes around the world via telephone. As I help individuals maximize their rowing experiences, they find they can use the same goal-setting, motivational and values-clarification tools to create a more healthy, rewarding and vital life off the water. I encourage you to talk to your coach and other rowers to decide what works best for you. Keep your mind open to the array of possibilities available within and outside your clubs. Contact Mayrene Earle at
mayrene@masterscoaching.com or
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