News for Learn to Row Co-ordinators
Tips for running your Learn to Row courses
With clubs taking advantage of the balmy summer weather for their Learn to Row courses, British Rowing have some recommendations and tips to help you get the most out of your courses:
- Try to involve as many members of your club as possible in your Learn to Row courses. As well as building your club’s community and providing more helpers for the course itself, it’ll also give your participants a better impression of the friendliness of your club, encouraging them to sign up as members. And even if they don’t take to rowing like a duck to water, you might just find some keen new volunteers!
- Wherever possible, try and use stable boats. These make it much easier for beginners to get out on the water and acquire basic skills. They also help counteract the worry many people have about falling in. If your club doesn’t have stable boats, how about investing in some pontoons that can quickly be added and removed to any club boat? (eg. http://www.oarsport.co.uk/product/pontoon)
- Have a plan in place for your new rowers after they have completed the course. Try to offer flexible ways for them to continue rowing and involve them in as many aspects of club life as possible – such as barbecues, fund-raisers and other social events. Don’t forget there are activities and events like the Great Tyne Row (www.explorerowing.org/great-tyne-row) and the British Rowing tour for those people who don’t just want to race.
- As well as new rowers, there will probably be many willing and capable volunteers in your Learn to Row group so let them know how they can help out around the club (www.britishrowing.org/clubs/handbook/club-development/volunteers).
British Rowing has its own Learn to Row schemes – Explore Rowing and Go Row – which can be used by accredited clubs and centres. For more information about these, please contact [email protected].
