Posted December 16, 2014
What a Joy!: Our Coaches Attend the Joy of Sculling Conference
This past weekend, coaches Mike, Ian, Megan, and Jen attended the Joy of Sculling Conference in Saratoga, NY. They mixed and mingled with coaches from around the country, including master coaches from some of the most renowned rowing programs in the world. The conference included seminars on all aspects of the sport, including physical and mental training, stroke technique, coach development, exercise physiology, and team culture.
This was a special weekend for Coach Mike Eichler, who has attended the conference three times previously. This year, he received an award for completing the Joy of Sculling Coaching Apprenticeship. In this two-year long program, Mike learned from coaches from elite programs, such as Michiel Bartman, the Harvard lightweight men’s team coach, and Bryan Volpenheim, US men’s national team coach.
“I formed great relationships with people who have a tremendous amount of knowledge and are well respected in the field. I had the chance to ask any questions, to see a very high level of rowing and listen to how they coach. They’ve also been able to provide life lessons, as they have all enjoyed longevity in the sport.”
In addition to learning a wealth of new drills and studying how to format training, Mike believes the greatest thing he took away from the apprenticeship was that he could develop a philosophy and mindset about the sport.
Thank you to the conference organizers for an engaging and insightful weekend. We look forward to implementing everything we learned!
