Rowing v Sculling
Roger
rowing due to the more even forces put on their developing bodies, so
much so that the ARA some years ago (10+ ? ) encouraged clubs not to
allow under 16s to row but to scull instead. I'm a bit out of touch
with UK rowing so I'm not sure if this approach from the powers that
be is still in place and how widespread it has been adopted, I'm
assuming it is and is now compulsory among member clubs.
I was looking for some reports or studies or something done on the
subject to support the case that young people should not row but I'm
finding these difficult to come upon. Anyone know where I can find
specifics?
Thanks in anticipation
Roger
donal...@gmail.com
Personally I see zero reason for people not to row at a young age.
I would say its actually something that should be done - in its
place.
I would contend that a proportion of bow and stroke side rowing and
steering and learning of the skill is far from being a bad thing but
actually a positive action if people are to be rowing as adults. In
much the same way as weight lifters learn the skill at a young age so
that technique is perfected I think it is a sensible approach to do
the same with the rowing stroke.
Whereas as a club we are principally sculling with access to an 8+ or
4+ I would have no hesitation of getting rowing going. However we only
have coxless boats (which again I see as positive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
and a windy river so the practicalities are that until people are
pretty good at sculling we would probably be helping boat builders
profits by getting kids rowing at a young age rather than achieving
anything beneficial for the kids.
Without having been involved in the ARA's decision making process I
think the mistake was to allow people to row badly, to compete hard on
an unstable platform and to be sucked into rowing on one side
exclusively at an early age of development.Im assuming that at the
same time as restricting competition in rowing to certain ages they
also brought in restrictions on weight lifting. There had been(and
continue to be) problems associated with rowing(sculling?) and
associated training(weights) and backs which the ARA was trying to
address.
I know that competition as such is not allowed under a certain age
though hadnt heard that rowing as such was banned ?! I am certain that
many places people row at least a year or so before the competition
age.
I would ask if sculling is principal means of training with rowing
tacked on as an additional skill...why not and why not at a young
age?
Whether one gets involved in racing and strenuous training around the
rowing stroke at a young age is another question altogether.
When I had access to an 8+ at a previous club we had occaisional
sessions where we would paddle up river outside hand only square blade
in fours or 6's. At bottom everyone would change seat(Bow to
cox....cox to stroke etc. ) and paddle back. Next two laps would be to
introduce inside hand and feathering. Last two laps to introduce all 8
rowers and do a couple of racing starts. There was no crabbing and the
boat ran reasonably level. Everyone though was able to scull. I would
have no hesitation in doing the same again and would need a lot of
convincing as to why it was a bad thing and why not to.
Quite a few of the kids loved rowing and some really want to grab hold
of one oar rather than two sculls and in time I think will.
Finally in my opinion rowing/sculling is weight lifting. Do it badly
and you are weightlifting badly and risk similar injuries that are
associated with poor weightlifting. Also when you are at your physical
limits regardless of how good your technique is then things can "go".
That unfortunately is just life.
Donal
StephenA
Hi Roger,
I doubt there are any scientific studies ( I have been researching the
last 3 years generally on rowing and sculling and not come across
any) but BR still encourages (its not compulsory) the sculling only
rule by not allowing any sweep racing for J14.
Rule: 3-3-2-e Juniors in J14, WJ14 or younger age groups are not
permitted to race in sweep-oared events
(coxswains excepted).
Sculling is an excellent preparation for rowing - I could not believe
how well an 8+ went first time out for some J15 boys - they looked
better than most other crews on the water.
Why do you want to know?
Stephen (a TSS juniors coach)
Roger
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Thanks Stephen,
The bottom line is that I sell recreational sculls (Edon) and people
ask me the differences between rowing and sculling, what the beneifits
are and what I'd recommend for little Johnny to do first. I played a
lot of cricket back in England and we were constantly seeing young
bowlers with back problems, the uneven loading on their developing
bodies during the delivery developed muscle unevenly in their backs
and pulled the spine out of line. When i took up rowing and sculling
there was a lot of discussion at the time about the same problem with
young rowers, the ARA (sorry BR) encouraged clubs not to put young
people in sweep boats and there was a bit of a push towards sculling.
I remember reading a few articles about it but nothing recently.
You can usually tell if a rower has sculled first, they tend to sit up
streighter and taller and don't rush the slide, my limited experience
tells me that sculling should be the first port of call for people
getting into rowing, I was looking for some information to either
support or refute that view.
Cheers