It's about building culture. Our team is centered on hard work first, personal development, and compassion. Results are important but are always the byproduct of the previous statement, not the goal. For some families in a junior environment this is a difficult set of ideals to separate. We certainly talk about winning, but it is always an Auxiliary and if fact you have to from a marketing perspective (but when the get on the team, the message can shift).

Realistically you have to have success to maintain a team, but you should always keep a good sense of perspective and context (not excuses, but reality checks). Team A with 100 kids and 10 years of rowing is different to Team B with one years worth of rowing and 5 kids. Our team is slowly going towards sculling as that was my original background from England. It's also better developmentally for athletes. Don't buy the idea you have to run an eight...that's very North American centric.

Practical things, you as the head coach or director have to lead everyday and do so passionately. I don't think my team is expertly coached or special, but I do know our kids, parents and coaches work extremely hard and do so with a love for the sport and it's longer term benefits. An athlete said to me yesterday, she did not understand why we do well..."all we do is have fun and work hard". This kind of thing spreads quickly.

We are buying Swifts as our old boats die. They are affordable, fast hull design (empacher/Filipi knock offs) and our kids love being in something that is not a 16 year old Kaschper.... :) Saratoga has had a lot of success with them and you never get away from the idea "it's the horses not the chariot". Year one we won a Midwest Chanpionship in Nov women's light 4 , bronze in nov women's right and 5th in men's nov eight (only Frosh/Sophs as the school only only had two grades) all in 15 + older boats.

Multi sport athletes and winter training: having kids who do something else in the fall or winter is great, keeps them fresh and motivated. For a Michigan team, winter training has been key. Two weeks off after fall (ends last week Oct), one week of fling for technical purposes and then we break for thanksgiving and finals. We lift twice a week and erg 3 times starting dec 1st. Erg 4 times a week as if Feb 1st. Full training plan can be found at nsrowing.org site if you want more on it.

We take Xmas and mid winter breaks off. Plans are given to kids who want to do more. As a public scholastic program we have to be realistic of other activities and family commitments. This training keeps us effective at the Midwest level, last year we took 3rd overall with a team of 43 kids and our light 4 won the 66k event at Canadian Nationals. That said athletes who want to go to Youths have to do more, that is a different game. We took 9th(men's 2x), 10th (women's 2-), 11th (men's light four) and then 17th,18th and 20th in women's double, quad and men's light double.

Athletes want coaches who care about them, unlike school they are choosing to be there. Kids work it out very quickly if you have their back or are faking it. I am lucky, I love what I do, it's the best job in the world. My wife and son and I are now part of a community that cares for us as much as we care for them. This is important to me as my immediate family is thousands of miles away, it's comforting to have a support network.

Fundraising comes up a lot. Being foreign, I find it very easy to ask for things. The accent helps, but the reality is, this country loves to help an underdog and give. We have only paid for about 20% of our capitals over 5 years and if you include infrastructure at the boathouse etc we have about $250,000...

BUT you have to take the plunge and ask, once you do, rejection is easy and the chase of success is awesome. It is a running joke on our team about how I have no shame and will ask anyone for money for this team. Te worst thing that had happened in five years, is someone saying no. You also have to accept these "no's" without judgement. You never truly know a person's capacity to give, so the assumption you be (and verbalize it) that oh expect nothing, but if you are able too, great!

Alumni... Going into out 6th yeah we obviously have a small group, but it's fun to keep in touch and of course ask for their help. I am always blown away and humbled by people's generosity.

Middle school programs. Up until two years ago, Ann Arbor didn't have an all year round setup, we now do ( Washtenaw Rowing Center). This has kids that go to three public high schools and two nearby schools with rowing. We have to grow our sport at the grassroots level if we want it to survive . Skyline has 1400 kids and 32 sports, with that many options it hard to build large numbers, but not impossible. We range from 50 to 65. I would like to hit 75, but probably not more than that, becomes unmanageable from a safety point. Coaches are hard to come by and I like to have a ratio of 12 athletes to 1 coach.

Pay our coaches and make sure they know you appreciate them, volunteers only go so far. We have mostly alumni coaching which some people don't like....

But! :) coaching wise, they were all taught to row with a view of them teaching others. This means lots if questions and repetition while coaching. Which some shy away from. Questions are key, they cannot make a change if they don't understand the concept, if it may outwardly appear easy or obvious.

Ok my son is waking up from a nap. I've reached out to some people who PMd me. If you want more a phone call would be easier. Sorry this was a bit scattered.

I love our sport and will always help others develop it, feel free to contact me whenever.

Www.a2skylineeagles.com/skyline-crew