Dr. Steven Victorson EdD.

Everyone is Welcome!

 Community Rowing is very happy to welcome Vespoli, a manufacturer of world class rowing equipment, as the Title Sponsor for the Monthly Rowing Education Series.  These events, held on the second Tuesday of every month at Community Rowing Inc, provide a forum for coaches and rowers to learn from experts in all fields that have an impact on performance in rowing. 

The Vespoli Coaching Education Series at Community Rowing is pleased to host Steven Victorson with his presentation on “How to Win” The talk will begin at 7:00pm on Tuesday, November 10th followed by time for questions and discussion along with snacks and refreshments afterwards.

Dr. Steven Victorson, EdD. has for the past 30 years helped individuals with sports conditioning, general fitness training and rehabilitative exercise. He has a doctorate in Human Movement from Boston University, a Masters of Science and Bachelors of Science degree in Physical Education from Cal State Hayward and is Master Certified in the Burdenko Method. From 1987-1991 he was the conditioning coach for the men’s U.S. Alpine Ski Team. Dr. Victorson’s knowledge comes from a lifetime of experience as a student, teacher, coach and health and fitness expert.

His vision is to introduce and educate individuals to the benefits of including Water Training as part of their personal fitness routine. He has experienced great success and satisfaction designing health and fitness programs that include Water Training. His programs have helped Olympic and World Champions, professional tennis players, figure skaters, ballet dancers, NBA players, along with state and national champion high school athletes, master’s athletes, and large numbers of individuals seeking various levels of general health and conditioning specific fitness goals.

In addition to benefiting those in search of athletic fitness and general health and fitness, Dr. Victorson’s programs have also proven very effective in helping individuals with orthopedic injuries, arthritis, hip and knee replacement as well as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and Parkinson’s. His clients come from all fitness levels and range in age from 8-84.

Presently, Dr. Victorson is working on two books, to be published in 2009: The Champion’s Way, segments of which will also be available in e-book format; and SwymFit: Water and Land Conditioning For Complete Fitness. The Champion’s Way is based on the dissertation Dr. Victorson wrote to complete his EdD. SwymFit covers the programs and benefits familiar to everyone who visits SwymFit, while also showcasing the way water fitness, training and conditioning works in a cross-training role with land-based practices.

The coaching education series at CRI’s Harry Parker Boathouse will present a different speaker and topic on the second Tuesday each month. The series is sponsored by Vespoli.
 
The cost for the evening is $5 and is open to all. Ticket admission includes pizza and beverages following the presentation.

By Karl Beck

In rowing the catch is often a portion of the stroke that can be improved. My favorite drill for working early connection at the catch in sweep rowing is the reverse pick drill or work the catch. Similar to the pick drill which breaks down the stoke progression of the recovery from the finish, it breaks down the stroke progression of the drive from the catch. The progression I use is top quarter or the first 4 inches of the drive; leg drive only; add the body (no arm rowing); add the arms for full strokes. I like to have my crews do this drill on the square and sometimes with a wide grip or outside arm only to emphasize the level shoulders and rotation through the torso into the catch or outside arm only to work the hang on the outside latissimus dorsi and the handle control from the outside hand.

Have the rowers sit at the catch to start the drill. In the top quarterphase of the progression the idea is to keep the body angle locked, staying firm trough the core (abs and lower back) as they begin the leg drive to engage the blade. The handle should only move with the wheels of the seat. The torso is rotated so the shoulders are parallel with the oar handle. The chest should be level across and the shoulders should be low and relaxed while keeping the spine elongated and chin up. I ask my rowers to see how quickly they can get the blade connected. This is done with light quick hands beginning to unweight the handle on the last 2 inches of the wheels coming forward, followed by an immediate reverse of the wheels on the slide. The arms are fully extended, but they shouldn’t be locked out and tense. Any tension through the arms shoulders and hands will lead to boat instability. With the top quarter the rowers are essentially looking to begin the leg drive until they feel the blade connect in the water. Keeping the body angle locked and arms extended they stop the leg drive once the connection is made and tap down and come up for another catch.

When the shift is made to full leg drive everything stays essentially the same except the rower is going to drop the knees all the way down. The goal is still to keep the body angle locked and arms extended. Now the rower has a chance to accelerate through the connection. The rower is still going to want to let up on the pressure and release the blade just before the knees are all the way down to eliminate have to rock the body or break the arms at all at the release. With the shift to full leg drive they also begin to work the rotation of the torso into the catch.

At the shift to add the body the rower is looking to keep the same idea of the quick connection, engaging the blade with the legs. The pry is added onto the leg drive, so I have my rowers work to hold the body angle, keeping the shoulders in front of the hips during the first half of the leg drive, then adding the back pry onto the leg drive and accelerating though. At this point the arms are still staying straight though the stroke cycle.

When the arms are added the finish should look and feel very connected if the rower is continuous in his/her application of power. Staying tall though the spine and relaxed through the shoulders to stay connected in the lats. Also this drill should help with keeping the rowers horizontal through the drive. Square blade rowing should also help keep the handle heights honest on the recovery as well.

I like to have an 8+ do this drill by 6’s and a 4+ by pairs. I will have the coxswain go through the full drill progression with the same set of rowers and then switch. Depending on the crew once they are fairly comfortable and proficient with the drill I will sometimes rotate it into the warm up for a workout. I won’t start with it, it is important to have the rowers take at least 30 full slide strokes before beginning the reverse pick drill so that their bodies are loose enough to stay up at the front end for 20 to 30 strokes of top quarter only. Many rowers are not flexible enough to come up to a full slide catch and sit there comfortably for an extended period of time. I like to keep it down to 30 strokes or below at each progression to minimize tightness and complacency. To get the full progression to apply the drill to actual rowing have your crew add the feather and then go up to all 8 or all 4.

3 GREAT REASONS TO SUPPORT THE GARAGE SALE:

1. All proceeds from the sale will go toward the purchase of new equipment ie: wakeless launches;
2. All donations are tax deductible;
3. All of your volunteer hours can be applied to meet your community service hours.

HOW CAN YOU HELP NOW?

• Check out below event schedule and sign up to volunteer.  Volunteer for as many shifts as you like. To volunteer email Meredith Sciarrio at msciarrio@gmail.com   Make sure to include your full name, program, cell phone number and the shift(s) you would like to volunteer.
• Start saving bags of all sizes to donate for “cash and carry’ of sale items;
• Begin to identify items that you would like to donate (See list below.)
• Invite your friends to donate sale items and/or attend the event.

VOLUNTEERS WILL BE NEEDED ON THE FOLLOWING DAYS AT THE RINK TO RECEIVE DONATED ITEMS:

• Saturday, May 16th from 12:00pm-4:00pm
• Sunday, May 17th from  12:00pm-4:00pm
• Monday, May 25th from 3:00pm-6:00pm
• Tuesday, May 26th from 7:30am-11:30am
• Wednesday, May 27th from 5:00pm-8:00pm
• Thursday, May 28th from 12:00pm-5:00pm
• Friday, May 29th from 12:00pm-8:00pm

VOLUNTEERS WILL BE NEEDED ON THE FOLLOWING DAYS AT THE RINK TO HELP SET UP AND PRICE ITEMS:

• Thursday, May 28th from 12:00pm-5:00pm–at the Daly Rink to set up and price items
• Friday, May 29th from 12:00pm-8:00pm–at the Daly Rink to set up and price items

VOLUNTEERS WILL BE NEEDED ON THE DAY OF THE GARAGE SALE TO ASSIST IN A VARIETY OF TASKS SUCH AS SELLING ITEMS, SELLING BAKED GOODS, SETTING UP, CLEAN-UP, AND TRANSPORTING LEFT OVER ITEMS TO MORGAN MEMORIAL:

• Saturday, May 30th from 6:00am-10:00am
• Saturday, May 30th from 10:00am-2:00pm
• Saturday, May 30th from 2:00pm-6:00pm
• Saturday, May 30th from 4:00pm-8:00pm–Clean-up.

More details of the various volunteer opportunities leading up to and including the day of the event will soon be posted but we hope you will look at your schedule and determine which days might be best for you to volunteer.  Please help out as we need everyone’ support to make this event a big success.

ITEMS YOU CAN DONATE:

Books
Tools
Furniture
Artwork (framed and unframed)
Lamps
Jewelry
Boats
Sporting Equipment
Clothes
Appliances (Remember to have electrical cord)
Fine China
Dishware
Mirrors

ITEMS WE WILL NOT SELL—-NO encyclopedias or magazines!!

This Safety Presentation is a starting point for rowing safety on the Charles River.  It does not constitute a complete or comprehensive review of Safety issues - coaches and rowers are urged to practice extreme caution and good judgment whenever they are on the water.

CLICK HERE to access CRI’s Safety Presentation for Coaches