The Great Catch

1. The Great Catch

Ragy Ragheb Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA

2. The Presentation Course

History/Background The Old Oar The Competitive Oar The Organized Oar The Boats The Stroke The Big Race The Finish

3. The Old Oar

Galley War vessels (25th BC � 4th AD) Ancient Egypt (Nile River) and Roman Empire (Mediterranean) Greeks 2000 years ago Oar against the boatside Oar against fulcrum more effective than paddle. Primarily transport goods Natural competitive instincts lead to racing Rowing has been around for centuries and will stay among the best of competitive sports around the world. It began as a means of transportation. Galleys, used as war vessels and ships of state, prevailed in ancient Egypt (on the Nile River) and subsequently in the Roman Empire (on the Mediterranean) from at least the 25th century BC to the 4th century AD. The Greeks discovered the technique of affixing the oar to the side of the boat approximately two thousand years ago. They discovered that working a single oar against a fulcrum was much more useful and effective than a paddle. Rowing was primarily used to transport goods, but when there was more than one boat in the water, human nature took over and racing started.Rowing has been around for centuries and will stay among the best of competitive sports around the world. It began as a means of transportation. Galleys, used as war vessels and ships of state, prevailed in ancient Egypt (on the Nile River) and subsequently in the Roman Empire (on the Mediterranean) from at least the 25th century BC to the 4th century AD. The Greeks discovered the technique of affixing the oar to the side of the boat approximately two thousand years ago. They discovered that working a single oar against a fulcrum was much more useful and effective than a paddle. Rowing was primarily used to transport goods, but when there was more than one boat in the water, human nature took over and racing started.

4. The Competitive Oar

Club and School activity beginning early 19th cent. And then later in USA. Organized racing began in 1820s in Oxford and Cambridge 1839 � present Henley Regatta 1830s�1860s Australia and Canada popularized rowing with most of Europe and USA 1851 --Harvard and Yale first race 1872 --First open amateur regatta Fall Head Racing, Spring and Summer Sprints, and Winter Indoor Training and Racing All ages, fitness and experience levels Hansa Dortmund rowing to win the Grand Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta Rowing began as a club and school activity for amateurs about early 19th century and somewhat later in the United States. Organized racing began at the universities of oxford and Cambridge in the 1820s, culminating in 1839 in the Henley Regatta, which has continued to the present. Rowing as sport developed from the 1830s to the 60s in Australia and Canada and during the same period became popular throughout Europe and in the United States. (Harvard and Yale universities first reaced in 1851; the first open regatta for amateurs was held in 1872.) Since then thousands of people have joined the sport of rowing.� Nowadays there are programs reaching out to people who are beyond their college years.� These programs are geared toward masters-aged (27+) people who are looking for a new way to stay fit.� People are beginning to learn that rowing is not a sport relegated to only elite athletes, rather is is one that can be enjoyed by a people of a variety of ages, fitness and experience levels.� Not only that, but rowing is also a year-round sport which means rowers can participate in competitions throughout the year.� There are separate racing seasons, Fall Head Racing, Spring and Summer Sprints, and Winter Indoor Training and Racing. Rowing began as a club and school activity for amateurs about early 19th century and somewhat later in the United States. Organized racing began at the universities of oxford and Cambridge in the 1820s, culminating in 1839 in the Henley Regatta, which has continued to the present. Rowing as sport developed from the 1830s to the 60s in Australia and Canada and during the same period became popular throughout Europe and in the United States. (Harvard and Yale universities first reaced in 1851; the first open regatta for amateurs was held in 1872.) Since then thousands of people have joined the sport of rowing.� Nowadays there are programs reaching out to people who are beyond their college years.� These programs are geared toward masters-aged (27+) people who are looking for a new way to stay fit.� People are beginning to learn that rowing is not a sport relegated to only elite athletes, rather is is one that can be enjoyed by a people of a variety of ages, fitness and experience levels.� Not only that, but rowing is also a year-round sport which means rowers can participate in competitions throughout the year.� There are separate racing seasons, Fall Head Racing, Spring and Summer Sprints, and Winter Indoor Training and Racing.

5. The Organized Oar

F�d�ration Internationale des Soci�t�s D�Aviron (1892) Amateur Rowing Association Nederlands Rowing Association Italian Rowing Federation First events Crews of two, four, and eight Olympic for men �1900 Olympic for women �1976 Local and national organizations, amateur and professiona, were formed in this period, and in 1892 the Federation International des Societes D�Aviron (FISA) was founded. Events in rowing (for crews of eight four and two) and in sculling were established. IN races for eights and for some fours and pairs, there is also a coxswain, who sits at the stern steers, calls the stroke, and generally directs the strategy of the race. Rowing events in the Olympic Games have been held for men since 1900 and for women since 1976.Local and national organizations, amateur and professiona, were formed in this period, and in 1892 the Federation International des Societes D�Aviron (FISA) was founded. Events in rowing (for crews of eight four and two) and in sculling were established. IN races for eights and for some fours and pairs, there is also a coxswain, who sits at the stern steers, calls the stroke, and generally directs the strategy of the race. Rowing events in the Olympic Games have been held for men since 1900 and for women since 1976.

6. The Different Boats

Sweeping (two hands) Sculling (one hand) Single (1X) Pair with coxswain (2+) Pair without a coxswain (2-) Double (2X- or 2X+) Four (4+ or 4-) Quad (4X+ or 4X-) Eight (8 or 8+) And now we come the boats. Just to quickly go over the different types of boats raced there are singles, pairs with and without cox�s, double with and without, fours, and quads and finally eights. If you are rowing with one oar in your hands you are sweeping and if you are rowing with an oar in each hand, you are sculling.And now we come the boats. Just to quickly go over the different types of boats raced there are singles, pairs with and without cox�s, double with and without, fours, and quads and finally eights. If you are rowing with one oar in your hands you are sweeping and if you are rowing with an oar in each hand, you are sculling.

7. The Stroke

Catch Stroke Leg push Body swing Pull Finish Outset Recovery Stretch Bend Slide The racing stroke begins with the entry of the oar blade into the water (the catch). The stroke underwater follows, and then the travel of the blade out of the water (the recovery). Turning the blade horizontally by wrist motion as the oar handle is depressed to raise the blade clear of the water at the beginning of the recovery is called feathering. The extraction of the blade after driving the boat through the water is called the finish. Turning of the blade from horizontal to vertical in preparation for the catch is called squaring. Insert side view of a rower on tape. Here we have the tape of a beginner who is struggles a little bit to keep the good form. It is very important that you get this form down as it helps you maximize you strength and drive to pull the boat forward. This is the US Olympic Sculler, Bill Waddell who raced during this past year. As you can notice he is a very calm and composed rower focusing all his energy in his legs, back and arms. Perfect sense of balance. What a sight! The racing stroke begins with the entry of the oar blade into the water (the catch). The stroke underwater follows, and then the travel of the blade out of the water (the recovery). Turning the blade horizontally by wrist motion as the oar handle is depressed to raise the blade clear of the water at the beginning of the recovery is called feathering. The extraction of the blade after driving the boat through the water is called the finish. Turning of the blade from horizontal to vertical in preparation for the catch is called squaring. Insert side view of a rower on tape. Here we have the tape of a beginner who is struggles a little bit to keep the good form. It is very important that you get this form down as it helps you maximize you strength and drive to pull the boat forward. This is the US Olympic Sculler, Bill Waddell who raced during this past year. As you can notice he is a very calm and composed rower focusing all his energy in his legs, back and arms. Perfect sense of balance. What a sight!

8. The Big Race

The Sydney International Regatta Centre Opened in 1996, 40 miles from Sydney in Penrith 2.3 km competition course with warm-up lake 30,000 spectators The Sydney International Regatta Centre are officially opened in March 1996. It is situated 40 miles from Sydney in a small town named Penrith.The regatta site consists a 2.3 kilometer long competion course and an adjacent warm-up lake. The olympic spectators capacity will be 30.000 The tension builds up here. This is the site of the best rowers in the world. They gather around from all over the world to come race their best 6 minutes or less ever. I will show you a few clips of the beginning, the drive, and the finish of the race. In the beginning, there is the Mental Readiness: a feeling of preparation, an ability to foresee what will occur during the event and live up to all their hard work, devouted time and support from others. To them, this becomes judgement day. Once, the race has started, they immediately get into Full focus: placing all energy -- mental and physical on their stroke and ability to Row as one unit as one being driving their shell smoothly through the water. In the midst of the race and focus, they religiously omit Distractions : tuning out external distractions, like crowds, noise and Olympic hoopla; and internal distractions, like extraneous messages of hope or fear that simply increase tension. Circulating Positive imagery through their minds: imagining yourself doing the event flawlessly, which seems to train the mind to control the body more effectively. With the last strokes across the line, keep in mind that it's not about winning or losing. It's about competition with yourself - going out there to do your very best, to give it your all, to have nothing left. It's about supporting your teammates, pulling for them when you have all but lost faith in yourself. Crew is a sport that demands all of these things. It is not a sport of fame; it is not a sport of popularity. Rowing is above all that. Rowing is a sport of purity and strength, constantly made better by those experience it. The Sydney International Regatta Centre are officially opened in March 1996. It is situated 40 miles from Sydney in a small town named Penrith.The regatta site consists a 2.3 kilometer long competion course and an adjacent warm-up lake. The olympic spectators capacity will be 30.000 The tension builds up here. This is the site of the best rowers in the world. They gather around from all over the world to come race their best 6 minutes or less ever. I will show you a few clips of the beginning, the drive, and the finish of the race. In the beginning, there is the Mental Readiness: a feeling of preparation, an ability to foresee what will occur during the event and live up to all their hard work, devouted time and support from others. To them, this becomes judgement day. Once, the race has started, they immediately get into Full focus: placing all energy -- mental and physical on their stroke and ability to Row as one unit as one being driving their shell smoothly through the water. In the midst of the race and focus, they religiously omit Distractions : tuning out external distractions, like crowds, noise and Olympic hoopla; and internal distractions, like extraneous messages of hope or fear that simply increase tension. Circulating Positive imagery through their minds: imagining yourself doing the event flawlessly, which seems to train the mind to control the body more effectively. With the last strokes across the line, keep in mind that it's not about winning or losing. It's about competition with yourself - going out there to do your very best, to give it your all, to have nothing left. It's about supporting your teammates, pulling for them when you have all but lost faith in yourself. Crew is a sport that demands all of these things. It is not a sport of fame; it is not a sport of popularity. Rowing is above all that. Rowing is a sport of purity and strength, constantly made better by those experience it.

9. I row

And thus, I come to end of the my presentation, but let me leave you with this poem written by an anonymous writer: Because I am part of every sunriseBecause new beginnings take on new meaningBecause of tranquilityBecause I am a part of something much larger than an individualBecause I am merely a physical entityBecause my body is an appendage of a machineBecause I share every movement with kindred spiritsBecause of dedicationBecause others share my painBecaue I know others� painBecause of sacrificeBecause I am an equal fifthBecause I leave my independence on the shoreBecause the burden of responsibility is temporarily liftedBecause my subconscious dominatesBecause of the power evoked only by waterBecause of my desire to winBecause of simplicity Because of this, I row And thus, I come to end of the my presentation, but let me leave you with this poem written by an anonymous writer: Because I am part of every sunriseBecause new beginnings take on new meaningBecause of tranquilityBecause I am a part of something much larger than an individualBecause I am merely a physical entityBecause my body is an appendage of a machineBecause I share every movement with kindred spiritsBecause of dedicationBecause others share my painBecaue I know others� painBecause of sacrificeBecause I am an equal fifthBecause I leave my independence on the shoreBecause the burden of responsibility is temporarily liftedBecause my subconscious dominatesBecause of the power evoked only by waterBecause of my desire to winBecause of simplicity Because of this, I row