In speaking about yesterday's race I did not realize Essex would be in the G1 race! Essex is a good crew and I believe they train on ergs through the winter.
Next Saturday's race against Kent will be another good test under fairer conditions at home than we had last year on Kent's narrow, current filled course; there is a definite home field advantage at Kent, and at least one their coaches takes full advantage of it.
Last year Kent's G1 was especially fast; I don't know how many they might have graduated from that boat.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Pre-Season Predictions!
Prior to the start of last season (Spring 2013) I knew the crew was on a big upswing from the 2012 season. I thought to myself, what is my goal and where should we expect to finish at NEIRA's.
I felt that G3 which had won bronze in 2012 would win NEIRA's, I thought that G2 had a good chance to medal and would probably place third. I hoped G1 would make the finals, and therefore be in the top 6.
As it turned out my predictions were pretty close: At NEIRA's G3 had the fastest heat by far and probably should have won the final; I am not sure why they fell to 5th. In any case, I believe they WERE a 1st place crew.
G2 met my goal of earning a medal in 3rd place; they fought super hard in very rough conditions to achieve that and I was very proud of them.
G1 showed flashes of promise throughout the season, challenging Exeter at the St. John's invitational and in line to finish 2nd until they hit a buoy with a blade which stopped their momentum. In practice they would almost always walk away from G2 in longer, sub-max pieces, and in 500's at race pace they would often take a length or more. Yet, every weekend race they seemed to be only about 5 seconds faster than G2 over 1500 meters! (Their erg scores should have given them the usual 15 second advantage over G2 as is seen in the top programs).
I was conservative with any shifts in the G2 and G1 line-ups to preserve boat unity as much as possible, but one day of seat racing 1/3 of the way through the season proved that we had the right rowers in the right boats. Two very good rowers left with injuries/illnesses 1/2 way through the season and I was sorry to lose them. I have the utmost respect for their oarsman ship and for their heart.
I believe that the only thing that prevented G1 from racing up the talent they proved on the erg and often in practice on the water, was years of rowing experience. It is only after several years of higher level racing that one can relax enough in a fast moving boat to sustain one's power output all the way to the finish. They were able to do it on the stable erg platform, but not consistently on the water, over 1500 meters. Again I am proud of their efforts and all they learned; I believe they have a very bright future.
This brings me to predictions for the 2014 season.
First off they should gain confidence in their first race; they beat both these crews last year at NEIRA's by 3 boatlengths!
At the end of the season at NEIRA's I again predict G3 will win (few if any schools have the depth we now have)
I believe G2 can and will win NEIRA's we have an abundance of talented and strong girls; most rowers are returning and G2 will be loaded!
Depending what talent Exeter , Hingham, Kent and St. Pauls have returning, our G1 could be anywhere from 1st to 4th in the final at NEIRA's.
Many of the girls have improved their 2k erg score by 15 seconds (or more?) and with last year's racing experience under their belt they will be in an excellent position to challenge any crew in the league.
I wish them the best of luck and will miss coaching them more than they know: GOOD LUCK GIRLS I am really proud of your efforts and accomplishments.
Coach Joe
I felt that G3 which had won bronze in 2012 would win NEIRA's, I thought that G2 had a good chance to medal and would probably place third. I hoped G1 would make the finals, and therefore be in the top 6.
As it turned out my predictions were pretty close: At NEIRA's G3 had the fastest heat by far and probably should have won the final; I am not sure why they fell to 5th. In any case, I believe they WERE a 1st place crew.
G2 met my goal of earning a medal in 3rd place; they fought super hard in very rough conditions to achieve that and I was very proud of them.
G1 showed flashes of promise throughout the season, challenging Exeter at the St. John's invitational and in line to finish 2nd until they hit a buoy with a blade which stopped their momentum. In practice they would almost always walk away from G2 in longer, sub-max pieces, and in 500's at race pace they would often take a length or more. Yet, every weekend race they seemed to be only about 5 seconds faster than G2 over 1500 meters! (Their erg scores should have given them the usual 15 second advantage over G2 as is seen in the top programs).
I was conservative with any shifts in the G2 and G1 line-ups to preserve boat unity as much as possible, but one day of seat racing 1/3 of the way through the season proved that we had the right rowers in the right boats. Two very good rowers left with injuries/illnesses 1/2 way through the season and I was sorry to lose them. I have the utmost respect for their oarsman ship and for their heart.
I believe that the only thing that prevented G1 from racing up the talent they proved on the erg and often in practice on the water, was years of rowing experience. It is only after several years of higher level racing that one can relax enough in a fast moving boat to sustain one's power output all the way to the finish. They were able to do it on the stable erg platform, but not consistently on the water, over 1500 meters. Again I am proud of their efforts and all they learned; I believe they have a very bright future.
This brings me to predictions for the 2014 season.
First off they should gain confidence in their first race; they beat both these crews last year at NEIRA's by 3 boatlengths!
At the end of the season at NEIRA's I again predict G3 will win (few if any schools have the depth we now have)
I believe G2 can and will win NEIRA's we have an abundance of talented and strong girls; most rowers are returning and G2 will be loaded!
Depending what talent Exeter , Hingham, Kent and St. Pauls have returning, our G1 could be anywhere from 1st to 4th in the final at NEIRA's.
Many of the girls have improved their 2k erg score by 15 seconds (or more?) and with last year's racing experience under their belt they will be in an excellent position to challenge any crew in the league.
I wish them the best of luck and will miss coaching them more than they know: GOOD LUCK GIRLS I am really proud of your efforts and accomplishments.
Coach Joe
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Flag football and capture the flag
This Saturday the boys raced BC High and Salisbury, both all boys schools. As a result we opted for an on campus workout/activity right after Saturday classes.
We met at "the globe" on the great lawn at 10:30am where Colby and others had arranged a flag football game. It was a beautiful sunny morning with temperatures in the high 60's; it felt like a needed break from the bus to the boathouse routine.
Teams were made and we ran several demonstration plays to familiarize many to whom "American football" is a mystery... After a lecture by me about how we need to be careful not to have any injuries, the game began. One team was down 1 player so I happily agreed to be their quarterback. I explained how we'd have a center and a blocker, 4 wide receivers, and a halfback; rotating jobs often.
The first few plays went off well; Toni caught a touchdown pass and each team ran several sets of downs with mixed results. Susanna our referee did not hesitate to take control of the game by aggressively spotting the location of the downed ball with great certainty, despite having a very loose grasp (I think) of how the game is supposed to be officiated !
As the competition heated up, the opposing rushers figured out they didn't have to line up directly across from our blockers. This resulted in an aggressive and immediate rush from Victoria, forcing me to sprint in an effort to escape; for a short moment it seemed I might get away, then "pop" I felt something give in my hamstring and I was downed for a loss. As I limped off the field, one of the girls, showing her utmost compassion ?shouted?!: "you're not as young as you used to be"!! To which I mumbled "that's for @#$ %^$# sure".....
As enthusiasm for the football game waned, a spirited game of capture the flag commenced which kept everyone running hard for a good 30 minutes. After the game the girls lined up and gave the coxswains carry or toss down a line of rowers pictured below:
I think the team had fun by getting some exercise early, saving the rest of the day on campus for watching other team's games, general R+R and maybe some studying.
Coach Joe
We met at "the globe" on the great lawn at 10:30am where Colby and others had arranged a flag football game. It was a beautiful sunny morning with temperatures in the high 60's; it felt like a needed break from the bus to the boathouse routine.
Teams were made and we ran several demonstration plays to familiarize many to whom "American football" is a mystery... After a lecture by me about how we need to be careful not to have any injuries, the game began. One team was down 1 player so I happily agreed to be their quarterback. I explained how we'd have a center and a blocker, 4 wide receivers, and a halfback; rotating jobs often.
The first few plays went off well; Toni caught a touchdown pass and each team ran several sets of downs with mixed results. Susanna our referee did not hesitate to take control of the game by aggressively spotting the location of the downed ball with great certainty, despite having a very loose grasp (I think) of how the game is supposed to be officiated !
As the competition heated up, the opposing rushers figured out they didn't have to line up directly across from our blockers. This resulted in an aggressive and immediate rush from Victoria, forcing me to sprint in an effort to escape; for a short moment it seemed I might get away, then "pop" I felt something give in my hamstring and I was downed for a loss. As I limped off the field, one of the girls, showing her utmost compassion ?shouted?!: "you're not as young as you used to be"!! To which I mumbled "that's for @#$ %^$# sure".....
As enthusiasm for the football game waned, a spirited game of capture the flag commenced which kept everyone running hard for a good 30 minutes. After the game the girls lined up and gave the coxswains carry or toss down a line of rowers pictured below:
I think the team had fun by getting some exercise early, saving the rest of the day on campus for watching other team's games, general R+R and maybe some studying.
Coach Joe
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Lake Quisigamond Regatta Results
Andover girls crew had a good day on Lake Quinsigamond.
All races we entered had 7 boats and I'll report the win-loss record for the day as it SHOULD appear in the Phillipian:
G4 raced in the G3 race; finishing 4th they beat 3, G3 crews from other schools, so 3 and 3 on the day
G3 won, so 6 and 0 on the day
G2 finished 2nd, so 5 and 1 on the day
G1 was in a close race with Exeter for first (both boats well out on the field) when they hit a buoy and caught a boat stopping crab; they finished 4th, so 3 and 3 on the day.
It was a strong west wind at Lake Quinsig, where the crews race in a southerly direction; thus it was a cross wind from starboard.
The aligners and starting officials had a very difficult job getting the 7 crews aligned and pointed correctly for the start. (When there is a cross wind, the bows point hard into the wind, which is difficult for the coxswains to control)
The boats were aligned as best as they could manage, but it was not ideal.
We are encouraged by some very promising results and know what we need to do to compete successfully with the best crews in our conference.
Coach Joe
All races we entered had 7 boats and I'll report the win-loss record for the day as it SHOULD appear in the Phillipian:
G4 raced in the G3 race; finishing 4th they beat 3, G3 crews from other schools, so 3 and 3 on the day
G3 won, so 6 and 0 on the day
G2 finished 2nd, so 5 and 1 on the day
G1 was in a close race with Exeter for first (both boats well out on the field) when they hit a buoy and caught a boat stopping crab; they finished 4th, so 3 and 3 on the day.
It was a strong west wind at Lake Quinsig, where the crews race in a southerly direction; thus it was a cross wind from starboard.
The aligners and starting officials had a very difficult job getting the 7 crews aligned and pointed correctly for the start. (When there is a cross wind, the bows point hard into the wind, which is difficult for the coxswains to control)
The boats were aligned as best as they could manage, but it was not ideal.
Coach Joe
"Rainbow" Psych
Friday before every race our tradition is to have an appearance themed "psych". This past Friday it was before our races at Lake Quinsigamond and it was a rainbow psych, where members of each boat wore a different, bright color of the rainbow.
The effect was quite striking as can be seen here, both on and off the water:
Friday practice went well in very windy conditions which we have had a lot this week; Friday was good practice for windy Lake "Quinsig
Coach Joe
The effect was quite striking as can be seen here, both on and off the water:
Friday practice went well in very windy conditions which we have had a lot this week; Friday was good practice for windy Lake "Quinsig
Coach Joe
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Racing at Kent
After a long 4 hour bus ride (or 3 hour van ride for 6 girls taking the ACT all morning), we arrived in Kent, Ct to race one of the faster crews we will meet this season.
The Housatonic river where Kent rows is very narrow and the current runs briskly in the early spring (about 4+ miles per hour) on this particular day.
If one crew gets even 1 boat width too close to shore on any one, of the 2 major turns on the Kent course they can lose 1 boat length very quickly through no fault of the rowers. (I'm not saying......, I'm "just saying")
In any event our G4 won, G3 and G2 gave Kent a real good run all the way to the finish losing by very narrow 3 second margins, but our G1 was beaten soundly.
We will race 6 other crews on Saturday 4-20 on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, MA and get another read on each boats speed then.
Coach Joe
The Housatonic river where Kent rows is very narrow and the current runs briskly in the early spring (about 4+ miles per hour) on this particular day.
If one crew gets even 1 boat width too close to shore on any one, of the 2 major turns on the Kent course they can lose 1 boat length very quickly through no fault of the rowers. (I'm not saying......, I'm "just saying")
In any event our G4 won, G3 and G2 gave Kent a real good run all the way to the finish losing by very narrow 3 second margins, but our G1 was beaten soundly.
We will race 6 other crews on Saturday 4-20 on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, MA and get another read on each boats speed then.
Coach Joe
Pre-Season
Pre-Season camp lasted 4 days. The crew arrived Friday afternoon for our first spring row out of the new boathouse:
We all enjoyed the brand new space which is filled with light and has plenty of room to work on boats.
The weather cooperated beautifully and many days we were able to stretch and get to know each other while playing "psychiatrist", where one person initially leaves the group, then returns to question and guess the answer pattern of the remaining circle of participants.
Dinner was in the "great room" of our new boathouse and progressed from hamburgers and hot dogs cooked by our own coaching staff on the first night, to more elaborate catered dinners sponsored by neighboring restaurants, some of which are owned by parents of the current crew.
After dinner buses took the crew back to the "luxurious" hotel, where each night the girls retired to sleep earlier and earlier as the physical exercise of the training began to sink in.
The coaching strategy was to keep groups of 4 girls together as much as possible so when it came time to form boats for racing, they were very accustomed to rowing next to each other and were able to "swing" well together in the boat.
Coach Joe
We all enjoyed the brand new space which is filled with light and has plenty of room to work on boats.
The weather cooperated beautifully and many days we were able to stretch and get to know each other while playing "psychiatrist", where one person initially leaves the group, then returns to question and guess the answer pattern of the remaining circle of participants.
Dinner was in the "great room" of our new boathouse and progressed from hamburgers and hot dogs cooked by our own coaching staff on the first night, to more elaborate catered dinners sponsored by neighboring restaurants, some of which are owned by parents of the current crew.
After dinner buses took the crew back to the "luxurious" hotel, where each night the girls retired to sleep earlier and earlier as the physical exercise of the training began to sink in.
The coaching strategy was to keep groups of 4 girls together as much as possible so when it came time to form boats for racing, they were very accustomed to rowing next to each other and were able to "swing" well together in the boat.
Coach Joe
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