Get Rowing helps new friends in Sweden

Enthusiasm, inspiration, and information were on the agenda as Rowing Ireland’s Get Going Get Rowing programme was a key feature of Sweden’s National Coaches Conference this past weekend.

Munster Coordinator Amy Johnson spoke to the 35 participants from 10 clubs, describing all aspects of our innovative and very popular schools programme. Discussion centered on both the TrY Leadership Coaching Programme, which trains up TYs as coaches for their clubs and schools, and Rowability offerings.

Sweden’s rowing clubs are made up mostly of Master’s rowers, but for the sport to thrive, many more juniors need to take it up. While Sweden doesn’t have a school year like Ireland’s Transition Year, some coaches felt they could adjust the programme nonetheless to enlist their older juniors in training younger rowers, and also instill in them the values of community and altruism.

The participants enthusiastically took part in large and small group discussions as part of a demonstration of the TrY Coaching Training Day that students undertake prior to coaching. Have a look at video of the day here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUip2gkjCVI/?hl=en

For clubs that are looking to provide a sense of community, inclusivity, and to increase their memberships, Rowability programmes with athletes who have additional needs were of interest. Amy encouraged clubs to start with whatever they have—even if it’s only ergs and good intentions—because the good that comes from helping everyBODY row cannot be quantified.

Swedish coaches also heard from Slovenia’s Marko Bohla and Italy’s Fabio Patrignani about beach sprints training, young athlete recruitment and retention, and their very successful Erasmus+ projects.

The conference began after Saturday morning’s national indoor rowing competition, which saw stellar performances from many competitive Swedish rowers, ranging from members of their high performance team to brand-new rowers as young as 10.

Given the sport’s interest in beach sprints ahead of the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, the competition also featured Run & Row contests, in which rowers mimic on the arena floor the running sprint, rowing sprint, and run back to base that will be the features of this new Olympic event in two years. Get Rowing participants will need to dust off their trainers because Amy has big plans for her coming sessions!