The regatta sub-committee have asked the Rowing ACT Management Committee to introduce Rower Scores into local regattas to replace the former status rules. While acknowledging that this will be a big experiment for all concerned, the experience in Victoria of this scheme is very positive. Why did the Victorians introduce the Rower Score?

Rowing Victoria found that 48% of new rowers are aged 23+ years, that 33% of rowers are 35 years +, BUT that 80% of newcomers leave every year. They felt the drop out rate from newcomers is due to inflexibility of competition rules, and that training commitments are too great to mix family, job and rowing. This high drop out rate is very wasteful of coaching resources and leads to the same numbers of people competing over the years. This is a problem for ACT Rowing. Our numbers have been the same for many years. The high drop out rate leads to stagnation of numbers despite large volunteer coaching efforts. The Sport is funded by the number of competitors and therefore has limits placed on funding support. The Victorians have reported increased participation following on from adopting Rower Scores.

h4. How will Rowing ACT run its Rowers Score Regattas?

Group A: 0.00 – 1.50 (1800m) Elite rower, National representative

Group B: 1.51 – 2.50 (1800m) Experienced rower, eg competed at Nationals, 1st 8+

Group C: 2.51 – 3.00 (1500m) Intermediate rower, experienced masters, good school rowers with competition experience

Group D: 3.01 – 3.50 (1000m) Amateur rower, eg less experienced masters

Group E: 3.51 – 4.00 (1000m) Novice rower, usually 1st season of racing, recreational rower with limited competition experience

h4. How the system will operate.

The Rower Score is a representation of your rowing ability so rowers compete at their appropriate level. It operates similar to a golf handicap – the more talented you are, the closer your score will go to 0. Inexperienced or novice rowers will have a high Rower Score (closer to 4).

All ACT rowers are currently registered within ROMS (Rowing On-line Management System). Their recommended Rower Score (RS) will be attached to their name by the beginning of October.

A delegated representative from each club will enter the entries into ROMS by 6pm on the Sunday prior to racing. Draft draw will be available on Monday morning for review before the Draw night on the Tuesday. No new entries are allowed after this time. Seat fees will still apply if scratchings are made after this time.

Should you wish to enter a crew that has members across different Groups, ROMS will automatically work out the average for the crew and assign the crew to the appropriate Group.

Results are imported into ROMS which makes the appropriate changes to the score based on the days racing.

Your RS will be calculated by 3 variables – your age, the distance you raced over, and the win multiplier.

The win multiplier is a set value (0.15) that if you are racing consistently, you should win 1 in every 7 races.

The age value is a number from 0 – 1, depending on your age. The number increases from 0.0 – 1.0 from 11years old to 23 years old, stays the same for 23 – 27 year olds, and decreases from 27 years old onwards. Eg a 13 yo would have a score of 0.25, a 19yo would have a score of 0.86, a 25yo would have a score of 1, a 43yo would have a score of 0.63, a 75yo would have a score of 0.002

The distance value is based on the value over 2000m. Eg 2000m = 1, 1800m = 0.9, 1500m = 0.75, 1000m = 0.5.

A win equals 1st place, a loss is 2nd – 6th. The formula works as follows:

IF YOU WIN:

New RS = old RS – (old RS x 0.15 x distance x age)

IF YOU LOSE:

New RS = old RS + ((old RS x 0.15 x distance x age) x 0.15)

h4. Examples:

IF YOU WIN:

If current RS = 3.3

Win value = 0.15

Distance (1000m) = 0.5

Age (35) = 0.86

New RS = 3.3 – (3.3 x 0.15 x 0.5 x 0.86)

= 3.3 – 0.2128

= 3.087

IF YOU LOSE (i.e. 2nd or any other place):

If current RS = 3.3

Win value = 0.15

Distance (1000m) = 0.5

Age (35) = 0.86

New RS = 3.3 + ((3.3 x 0.15 x 0.5 x 0.86) x 0.15)

= 3.3 + 0.0319

= 3.3319

h4. Benefits:

• Increased competition – all crews will be competing against rowers of a similar capability.

• Participants in different age groups, and other combinations (eg father/son) become part of the normal program.

• Increased opportunity to win races.

• Ability to move between Groups depending on how your skills progress/regress throughout the season.

• Experienced rowers can mix and match with novice members, and compete in crews at a less intense standard than they would under current rules.

• Option to race above your Group, but not below (eg if you wanted to have two 4x races in a day, you could enter in Group D and Group C).

• Ability to join crews with rowers above or below your standard and compete at the Group of your crew average.

• Entries will be made online – save time!

• Ability to view your Rower Score online as you wish.

• We would be in line with other major states (VIC, QLD, SA).

• Events would be run with full races (i.e., 6 lanes).

• Make it attractive for the many former School and club rowers to return to the sport without having to compete against the best of elite crews in their age group. Other sports can accept fun runs, mixed sex touch footy etc. If we are a sport for life those training twice a week should be encouraged to compete among appropriate competition, just as much as those training every day.

2013 Learn to Row Coaching Course

Number of places remaining: 20

Rowing ACT will be conducting a Learn to Row (Level 1) coaching course on the 20th October 2013. Registrations are now open.

The course is a one day course and will commence at 9am and conclude by approximately 4pm. We are currently confirming the venue for the course.

Please note you must be at least 16 years of age to attend this course.

To register simply follow all the steps below and your place in the course will be reserved. Places in this year’s course is restricted to 20 and will be reserved on a first come first serve basis. All Registration requirements must be completed for your place to be secured.

Course Outline
The Learn to Row Coach is aimed at the novice coach. It is anticipated the Learn to Row coach will have minimal background in rowing and will coach predominantly up to junior high school level or those in their first season of rowing. Examples of this type of coach are teachers and parents with non-rowing backgrounds and current rowing club members helping at the grassroots level. This program trains coaches who will coach beginners of all ages, teaching fundamentals and introducing non-rowers to the sport. These coaches will be provided with the compliance training, interpersonal skills and low level technical development skills to deal with the groups they train.

Registration Steps

Step 1:
Download and complete the Course Registration Form.

Step 2:
Download and complete the Rowing Australia Terminology Worksheet.

Step 3:
Complete the Beginning Coaching General Principles. This is an online course presented by the Australian Sports Commission. Upon completion you will receive a downloadable proof of completion this must be kept as it is required for course registration.

Step 4:
Pay course fee of $170. Additionally, if you have selected any of the additional resources (see Course Application Form and Needs Analysis) you will need to include the associated payment. Upon receipt of payment resources will be available on the day of the course. When processing your transaction please insure you download or copy the transaction summary provided as this is required.

Please pay by Electronic Funds Transfer to the following account:
Account Name: ACT Rowing Association
BSB: 032-719
Account Number: 103824
Transaction description: within the ‘to account description’ please include your name and the initials L1.
Once payment is received you will receive an email receipt.

Step 5:
Email your competed documents to actra@rowingact.org.au. Please insure you have included all required components as your place will not be reserved until all components have been completed and received. Before you submit you registration please insure you have included the follow:

• Completed Course Registration Form
• Completed Rowing Australia Terminology Worksheet
• Beginning Coaching General Principles proof of completion
• A copy of your payment transaction summary

You have now completed your registration and will receive a confirmation email.

Club/School Coaching Course

Number of places remaining: 0

Rowing ACT will NOT be conducting a Club/School (Level 2) coaching course this year. The next anticipated course will be conducted between October and December 2014.

Performance Coaching Course

Rowing Australia will conduct a Performance Coaching course located in Canberra later in 2013. Applications for this course have closed. Watch this space and check the RA coaching page regularly for information on future courses.

Acquiring a NSW Maritime General Boat Licence

Currently both the National Capital Authority and ACT Government as managers of Canberra’s lakes require all operators of powered water craft to attain a NSW General Boat Licence. This guide has been compiled to provide you with a summary of the steps to acquiring the necessary licence.