Insights into German junior success from coaches conference

This is especially exciting when smaller nations are given an insight into the elements that contribute to the success of larger rowing nations.

When Mathias Woitok spoke to coaches at the 2013 World Rowing Youth Coaches Conference in Hamburg, Germany he gave insight into Germany’s success. Woitok talked about the regional state and club development structures in place within Germany using the Rhineland Palatine to illustrate.

The German Rowing Federation (DRV) is not only one of the oldest federations in the world but it is also one of the most successful at junior, under-23 and senior level. The Federation sets the stage for what the clubs and regional performance centres should be trying to do: produce top level athletes. When it comes to junior development, Woitok explained that Germany’s well-developed and centralised trialing and selection system means that athletes are confident in the process of selection. At the junior level Germany has enjoyed continuous success for over 20 years, although the growth of other junior programmes means that medals are much harder to come by now.

Woitok illustrated how at the senior level, Germany’s peaks in performance come in post-Olympic years, with funding being determined at the lower points of the performance curve. In comparison New Zealand’s performance trends tend to be more experimental in post-Olympic years. New Zealand’s results then strengthen as an Olympiad progresses. When the junior and senior performances of these two strong rowing nations are compared German results show a negative correlation whereas New Zealand’s performance at junior and senior level correspond.

Woitok then posed the question: ‘can clubs breed Olympic Champions?’ The Rhineland Palatine has its own regional rowing federation that comprises of 36 rowing clubs. He explained that although this regional federation has a growing membership within its clubs there is limited cohesion, a small number of elite level athletes and limited resources due to mostly small club structures. The development of performance centres that incorporate the regional centres not only bring together the best athletes from the biggest clubs but also establish close contact with smaller clubs. The development of the performance centre in Mainz was initially met with fear from smaller clubs, Woitok explained. But coordination, a positive cooperation with clubs and the coming together of like-minded people saw trust grow believing that success will breed success.

With a focus on top-level results, Woitok explained what it would take to create a future Olympian:

• Vision (to develop the pathway to success).
• Tasks (screening athletes, long-term building education, attitude, physiology etc).
• Means.

Within the pillar of means Woitok illustrated the following points:

• Accessing talent early on but staying open to talent in later years.
• A small boat focus is important for breeding Olympic success.
• Outcome focused lifestyle – eating, education, life outside sport, striking a balance – athletes need to see meaning in what they are doing.
• Moving away from absolute focus on junior success
     – Is it right to make people win junior medals and think ‘what next?’
     – Early preparation for transition between junior and senior – especially for lightweights who may not have a chance at making heavy junior boats.
     – Long term athlete-coach relationship.
     – Talent nurtured and expanded through a trustful relationship

There should be support for coaches too, said Woitok, to advise and help with conflicts. This can come from other coaches or mentors.

To end his presentation Woitok carried out a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis of the high performance programme showing that although the programme is strong and continues to grow, elements like capacity limitations of coaches and a lack of medium-term funding restrict its progress.

Continuing on the theme of Germany’s rowing success, coach Bernd Nennhaus presented: how to prepare young talented athletes for international competition based on the junior men’s eight experience.  Nennhaus has successfully coached this boat class which has consistently earned medals for Germany every year since 2004. Nennhaus talked about the stages of training that athletes should be coached in.

• Age13/14; varied land training makes up most of the training programme. While the focus on technique is key at this time, it is important not to over-train on the water. Competition should be skill based and not long distance racing.
• Age 15/16; land training in still key but racing in varying boat classes is encouraged. A lot of training is done in small boats to develop technique in bigger boats. Boys begin working on technique in the eight whereas girls use the four for technical learning.
• Age 17/18; greater emphasis on water work. It is important to support the athlete so that they feel their main goal is to row to Olympic level and not that junior success should be their ultimate achievement.

Nennhaus then explained how the first steps to national selection begin for training groups within regional structures. The Munich junior regatta is the first main focal point of the season. Clubs bring small boats and race on the first day of competition. Based on the results crews are then seeded into big boats and have the opportunity to race against other international crews.

Nennhaus illustrated a number of performance limiting factors of the junior men’s eight. The boat often struggles technically when the rate goes over 30 strokes per minute. It is also difficult to transfer the speed achieved in small boats to the eight at such high rates. Nennhaus cited the mentality of young rowers can have a negative impact on boat speed as they can get distracted from performance when at a race in a new place.
The junior men’s eight is a boat that has been a feeder into the elite squad. This is aided by the long-lasting perspective that is instilled in the rowers by their coaches when on training camp. Of the Olympic Champion ‘Deutchlandachter’ eight of the nine crew medalled at the junior world championship level, six of them in the junior men’s eight.

Nennhaus noted that  crews are getting faster. This was the case at the 2013 World Rowing Junior Championships where the photo finish was only just able to distinguish the winning crew of the men’s eight – Germany. Nennhaus’ ways had maintained the edge.

For more Youth Coaches Conference presentations here.