Club Committee

2012 - 2013 Manifestos

Matthew Griffiths - Men's and Overall Captain

I have spent 3 years rowing in M1 at First and Third. During this time I have been active in almost all areas of the club - in my 2nd year I was a MLBC, and this year I have been active in coaching various crews. So I feel am experienced with what works and what doesn't in the club.

My goal as Men's captain would be to develop the performance of the club so that the club is reliably one of the fastest boats on the river. I would also aim to develop people individually, aiming to take best advantage of the rowers we have available.

I would expect my captaincy to run along similar lines to the Men's Captains before me, but I would do the following things differently:

• Create a clear training document which details the periodization and goals of each term, as well as key events.
• • I have talked to Ming, and he is willing to help me draw this plan up over the summer.
  • At the start of each week I would send out a more detailed plan for each outing, with the technical focuses and goals.
  • This plan would be open to feedback from rowers and coaches, but I would keep ultimate control of the training plan.
  • One of the key criticisms of rowing on the Men's side as of late is the lack of clarity in the training plans - this is one thing I would aim to reduce.
• I would be interested in finding and using more coaches. I would then collate their feedback over the week, and use this feedback to inform the week by week training plan. As well as making sure that all the coaches and rowers now what's going on.
• Run on Cam 'mini' camps before Michaelmas and Easter term
• • These would aim to develop skill and technique in small boats, and specifically 4s.
• During Michaelmas I would set one session a week to be cross-training, sometimes people just 'go through the motions' during training, and I believe that cross training is a great way of keeping people motivated and focussed during outings, while developing fitness. If successful I might carry this through to Lents and Mays.
• I would like a greater emphasis on 4s, and competitive side by side work.

Other key points for my Manifesto:

• Run an off Cam training camp before Lents.
• Coaching: I would be interested in seeking more coaches
• • I would be interested in finding possibly more than one coach.
• Morale:
• • I would like to develop a more aggressive, racy atmosphere within the Men's side - this would mean more sparring, internally and externally.
  • The best form of motivation is progress, I would aim to have a program which develops the individual rowers, and gives them feedback on their performance, with clear goals for them to aim for.
  • I have rowed for about 7 years, in successful and unsuccessful crews, during this entire period, I have had to keep myself motivated; I can bring this experience into my captaincy.
• Selection:
• • Would be primarily based on 2ks
  • Followed by seat racing, this would be in 4s if I judge the 4s to be a high enough standard for this to be sensible, or 8s if I do not.
  • Coxing selection would take place in discussion with the crew and coaches.
  • Would attempt to keep this as open as possible.

I am receptive to input and feedback, and I have had many conversations about my plans for next year, and I would continue these conversations throughout this year and the next.

Overall Captain:

I have been with First and Third for a long time, and I have been dedicated to the club for this entire time. I would be just as committed to being Overall Captain as I have been to the club.

I am good friends with many previous Overall Captains, and would be willing to use their advice in helping me in this role.

There are many issues that the Overall Captain would need to deal with, but I don't believe there is a wide disparity in what people believe the Overall Captain should seek to achieve.

Proposed by: Julia Attwood
Seconded by: Ali Abbasi