As a high school rower, you’re putting in the time. Early mornings. Long pieces on the erg. Grueling water sessions. But something’s still missing—and you can feel it.
You’re not improving as fast as you should. You know there’s something off in your technique, but no one is telling you what or how to fix it.
Sound familiar?
This is one of the biggest concerns I hear when I talk to student-athletes and their parents during consultations. You’re motivated. You want to get better. But you’re not getting the individualized feedback you need from your coaches. And that’s frustrating.
Here’s why this happens—and what you can do about it.
1. Your Coach May Be Overextended
Most high school rowing programs are juggling dozens of athletes with just one or two coaches. It’s nearly impossible for them to give every athlete the personalized attention they need during a practice. That doesn’t mean they don’t care—it means they’re doing the best they can with limited time and resources.
2. Technique Gets Sacrificed for Volume
In a race-focused program, there’s a lot of pressure to log meters and prepare the team for regattas. The problem? When practice becomes a constant grind of “just row more,” athletes don’t get the technical corrections that lead to real breakthroughs. You’re told to “row harder,” not “row better.”
3. One-Size-Fits-All High School Rowing Training Plans and Feedback Don't Work
You might hear general advice like “sit up tall” or “get your hands away quicker,” but these cues don’t always translate into meaningful improvement unless they’re tailored to your specific movement pattern. Technique needs to be reviewed in video, slowed down, and broken down in a way you can understand.
Here’s What You Can Do
If you feel like you’re not getting the feedback you need, you have options. Start by:
Asking for Specific Feedback – Be proactive. At the end of practice, ask your high school rowing coach what one thing you can work on to get better.
Recording Your Rowing – Whether on the erg or in the boat, video gives you the visual context to self-correct—or to send to a coach like me for a review.
Working with a Private Coach – If your school coach doesn’t have the capacity, it’s completely valid to supplement your training with a remote coach who focuses on technique and individual progress.
Learning Through Drills – Incorporating targeted technical drills in your erg or water workouts can help you break bad habits and reinforce proper movement.
You Deserve Better Coaching
Rowing isn’t just about power—it’s about efficiency. And that only comes with a deep understanding of technique and how your body moves through the stroke and how to apply force effectively throughout your stroke.
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start improving, I offer 1-on-1 video reviews and individualized technique training for motivated rowers just like you. Together, we’ll fix the technical blind spots and turn you into a more effective, confident athlete.
Let’s row smarter. Not just harder.
