FUNdamentals: irow

Learn to Train: irow

Rowers tend to be passionate about their sport. The sensation of being able to propel a boat at speed through the water under one’s own power is exhilarating. It requires teamwork and concentration so that one is almost oblivious to the physical exertion employed. Rowing is a sport that can be enjoyed by all. Canadian rowers have excelled on the world stage and Canada is considered a strong rowing nation.

Along with teamwork, rowing teaches participants fundamental movement skills, fundamental sport skills and the ABCs – agility, balance, coordination and speed – of physical literacy.

Rowing’s Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model consists of eight stages.

  • Active Start (M, F 0-6) – Teaches fundamental movements and links them together into play.
  • FUNdamentals (M 6-9, F 6-8) – Introduces fundamental movement skills and builds overall motor skills.
  • Learn to Train (M 9-12, F 8-11) – Establishes overall sport skills as well as water-sense and basic boat handling skills.
  • Train to Train (M 12-16, F 11-15) – Builds general endurance, speed and strength while learning to scull.
  • Learn to Compete (M, F 15-19+/-) – Refines and consolidates sculling skills, teaches sweeping and develops sport-specific capacities.
  • Train to Compete (M, F 19-23+/-) – Continues to develop and refine sport-specific capacities and racing skills, including mental preparation and race strategies.
  • Train to Win (M, F 23+) – Fine tunes training, technique and racing skills so athletes are as fast as they can be at the highest levels of competition.
  • Active for Life (M, F all ages) – Encourages players to remain active through rowing, either competitively or recreationally, for life.

LTAD Plan for Rowing
This document provides a consistent framework from which coaches, club administrators, provincial rowing associations and Rowing Canada Aviron can work.

LTAD Competition Review
Recommendations for the “competition system” that address race types, boat classes, progression and the annual competition schedule, all aimed at effectively developing athletes at each stage of development.

The irow Program features the Learn to Train and Train to Train stages. This Youth Rowing program, offered by Rowing Canada Aviron and Sport Canada, focuses on communicating the values of our sport, involving all youth, and engaging students in a fun and rewarding rowing experience.

The new Skills Event initiative is a result of RCA’s Competition Review, emphasizing the importance of rowing skills that need to be taught and practiced during the Learn to Train stage and perfected in the Train to Train stage.

Rowing Canada Aviron – rowingcanada.org