STAGE 5 - Row for Life
Chronological Age: 18+
Target Audience: Masters and mentors (Coaches, Officials, etc.)
Stage 5 is for recreational masters rowers, not including junior level rowers, who want to stay involved and give back to rowing through activities such as mentoring, coaching, and officiating. Rowing is unique to other sports as it offers a robust array of individual and team, competitive and recreational, and on-water and indoor opportunities for rowers through adulthood. Adult rowers can participate in masters rowing from age 21 onward. Consequently, Stage 5 and Stage 4 rowers’ age can overlap but these two groups have vastly different rowing goals. The Stage 5 adult rower participates in rowing but does not consider training and performance the priority.
Stage 5 rowers also may wish to stay involved in rowing through coaching, officiating, and mentoring other athletes. These roles are important as they enable other rowers to succeed in the sport and enjoy the development process.
USRowing is developing an additional American Development Model specifically for masters rowers. This will follow a non-linear, stage-based model for adult rowers who begin rowing at one of the three main entry points (former rowing experience, former non-rowing athletic experience, and rowing as first athletic experience) and for major goals of competitive or recreational participation.
Concepts
TRANSITION FROM PARTICIPANT TO SPORT LEADER
Former junior rowers, who do not row in college, can stay engaged with rowing through coaching or other administrative roles. Former collegiate rowers may participate in masters rowing, coaching, mentoring, officiating, and/or program administration.
PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES TO REMAIN INVOLVED IN SPORT
Consider contacting a prior coach, rowing program, or a local program to inquire about opportunities to volunteer coach, assist with a learn-to-row program, or join an advisory board.
CREATE A PHYSICALLY ACTIVE, HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Staying physically active and leading a healthy lifestyle should remain a goal whether you participate in masters rowing, become a coach, mentor, or official. The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends that adults do at least 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity aerobic exercise or 75 minutes per week of vigorous intensity aerobic exercise, alongside muscle-strengthening exercises at least twice per week. This level of exercise supports physical and mental health.
Foundations
ROW FOR LIFE
Rowing offers many social, health, and fitness benefits, and rowers can truly row for life as masters athletes. These masters rowers may compete locally or regionally. Adult rowers can participate in masters rowing from age 21 onward.
Masters rowing offers recreational competition at local and regional regattas, as well as more rigorous competition at the national and international level. Athletic opportunities outside of rowing are equally worth exploring, including CrossFit, trail or road running, triathlons, and other endurance sports that are common pursuits among adult former rowers.
Strength training is also a key component of personal fitness in Stage 5, similarly to the advanced portion of Stage 2. Rowers may choose from a variety of fitness aspirations and methods to pursue those goals. This may include a focus on rowing performance for the masters rower, or it may be unrelated to rowing performance for the coach, official, or other rowing mentor who want to stay fit.
Foundations
BECOME A CERTIFIED COACH
USRowing offers three levels of coaching certification. Level 1 is designed for someone who has never coached rowing before, such as a parent, teacher, or recent college graduate. We recommend this program for coaches who are teaching “learn to row” programs or individuals who are beginning their first coaching position. Coaches who have extensive rowing experience as athletes (high school and four years of collegiate rowing or post-collegiate elite-level training) may choose to progress immediately to Level 2 without completing Level 1 certification.
Level 2 is intended for coaches who have either completed the Level 1 certification, been coaching for over one year, or have significant rowing experience as athletes and are now looking to coach.
Level 3 is for an experienced head coach, pre-elite coach, or program leader. This program is expansive in scope and will require a significant commitment from the participant.
SUPPORT SPORT CLUB MANAGEMENT
Many junior and masters rowing programs in the U.S. are run as sport club programs, not as scholastic programs run through an athletic department. Many of these programs rely on volunteer members for management, administration, fundraising, and more. Contact a local rowing program to inquire about management opportunities.
You also can financially support USRowing and opportunities for rowers via the USRowing Foundation (USRF). Details about the USRF can be found on the USRowing website: www.usrowing.org.
OFFICIATE
Every regatta requires referees to ensure that competition is safe and fair. If you are interested in becoming an official, apply via USRowing, complete the online referee training program, contact your regional coordinator to arrange observation and mentoring sessions, and lastly take a licensing exam. Please find more information here.
PURSUE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN CHOSEN SPORT(S)
USRowing offers continuing development and coach-education via online and in-person conferences, clinics, and additional programs. Check out the USRowing Webinars Page for a large collection of coach-education materials, included in your USRowing membership.
ROW FOR LIFE
Rowing offers many social, health, and fitness benefits, and rowers can truly row for life as masters athletes. These masters rowers may compete locally or regionally. Adult rowers can participate in masters rowing from age 21 onward.
Masters rowing offers recreational competition at local and regional regattas, as well as more rigorous competition at the national and international level. Athletic opportunities outside of rowing are equally worth exploring, including CrossFit, trail or road running, triathlons, and other endurance sports that are common pursuits among adult former rowers.
Strength training also is a key component of personal fitness in Stage 5, similarly to the advanced portion of Stage 2. Rowers may choose from a variety of fitness aspirations and methods to pursue those goals. This may include a focus on rowing performance for the masters rower, or it may be unrelated to rowing performance for the coach, official, or other rowing mentor who want to stay fit.
