News

Posted: 1 April 2020

Coronavirus might have stopped us going out rowing and training at our clubs but despite that Scottish rowers are working hard to keep in touch and work out while staying in.  With social distancing keeping us at home other than for essential trips, it has never been more important to keep in touch with family and friends and the rowing family is doing just that.

It has been amazing to see how clubs have responded to this crisis, setting up virtual training groups, running online training sessions, taking on challenges and forming communities online to stay connected.  The examples below feature St Andrew Boat Club’s #SABCOffthewater, St Andrew’s University Boat Club’s World Erg Challenge team and Castle Semple Rowing Club’s online sessions.  If your club is doing something you would like to share with the Scottish Rowing community, we would love to hear about it.  Please email your story to erin.wyness@scottish-rowing.org.uk.

Guidance for Online Training

We are all keen to embrace the opportunities presented by technology and social media platforms to keep members engaged and involved with rowing.  Please remember, if you are considering online training activities for your club, make sure you are doing so safely.  Our advice for clubs is to follow the same good coaching practice as you would for any other session.  Scottish Rowing’s insurers are accepting training via online coaching sessions, however, in all cases a risk assessment continues to be key for the activity planned.

Participant Safety

• The coach/instructor should be suitably qualified to instruct on the activity being delivered.
• The activity should be suitable to be undertaken in someone’s home or garden.
• The coach must remind participants to check their surroundings are clear, the surface is suitable for the activity and to keep any pets or other distractions away during exercise.
• The coach should remind participants to check that any equipment used is in good working order.
• The coach should specify at the start of any video that this is general guidance and anyone doing the exercise should be aware of their own capabilities and only do what they are comfortable to do or seek medical advice if they are in any doubt.
• The coach should remind participants to stay hydrated.

Safeguarding

If you are coaching vulnerable adults or anyone under 18 please be aware that safeguarding is as important as ever.  Here are some useful safeguarding points to consider:

• If broadcasting live or sending material to under 18s gain written consent from parents and explain what the purpose of the training is, when it will be done, on what platform etc. It may be safer to pre-record your material.
• Use an online-share platform – that way the coach will not necessarily need access to the children’s contact details - and only use it for the purpose of the training.
• Ensure appropriate privacy settings are used and that images of the athlete are not shared online.
• Do not make contact with athletes outside of the training unless you have parental consent.
• Ensure that you and the athletes wear appropriate clothing at all times.

Finally, if using music, the coach/instructor should be careful not to use copyrighted music/material without the appropriate licence or permission.

Thank you to our insurers Howden UK Group for their significant input to the above guidance.