The Safety Mandate

Ideally, safety should never be an exciting topic for a rowing coach, but it does still need consistent attention. Any time there is a transition—the start of the new season or school year, moving from land training back to the water, the arrival of new novices or coaches—is an ideal time to re-examine and emphasize safety.

It all begins with a well-understood safety plan. This is a practical plan that may addresses how to avoid dangerous situations but focuses on how to react if danger occurs. Plan it in advance, communicate it to all new rowers and coaches, reiterate it regularly, and post it clearly where all can see it. The plan will have different characteristics depending on the local situation, but it typically addresses what to do when there is serious trouble. Athletes and coaches need to understand their responsibilities—especially how to summon professional help—when confronted with an emergency. Start today by making sure everyone knows where the AED and first-aid kits are located.

In addition to a rowing safety plan, policies and procedures must be in place to keep everyone safe. These include having everyone pass a swim test; learn drown-proofing and other rules of rowing; receive proper training in CPR and use of an AED; and more. It also includes the trickier tasks of educating coaches on how to drive a launch and possibly driving athletes and hauling trailers. SafeSport standards, which outline how coaches behave around young athletes, must be articulated and adhered to by all adults. USRowing has resources to help with these topics.

Safety is both a collective and individual responsibility. Some safety considerations don’t rise to the level of emergencies but still need personal attention to mitigate long-term trouble. For coaches, simple steps like putting on sunscreen and using hearing protection around outboard engines can make a difference. Athletes, especially younger ones and those new to rowing, need to learn about the importance of warming up properly, dressing for the weather, hydration, and basic hygiene with shared oars and ergs. Older coaches all know how to treat blisters, but they don’t. Safety cannot afford assumptions.

There is a lot to consider, and the time to do so is now—before an incident. Safety must be an attitude shared by all involved. Questioning the relative safety of any activity before undertaking it should be a given. There are no short cuts. There can never be the exception of  “just this one time.” One hundred-percent adherence to the safety plan and policies is the minimum expectation.

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