My daughter is communicating with a few college rowing coaches who have asked for periodic updates. My question is, what do you say in your update to college coaches when your team didn’t have a great season?
Thanks
I think you focus on your personal stats, improvements and goals.
There are lessons to learn when a season goes sideways. Self motivation, playing for your teammates, competing hard with nothing on the line because you respect yourself and your sport. Certainly communicate your individual stats. But if the recruit learned some lessons about what truly motivates her in her sport, I would communicate that as well.
Coaches are much more interested in personal progress than they are about team results. Focus on your workouts , erg scores, etc. Don’t ignore the team results, but no need to make a big deal of them either.
Thanks for the responses.
Yup to all of the above! Rowing coaches want to see you lower that erg score (2k,6k and 30 minute pieces) or if you have added a skill such as skulling or rowing both sides (bisweptual)
Many important lessons can be learned from some defeats on the water. There is always a takeaway.
Good luck
Bisweptual is a word? Who knew? 
@classicalmama
Why yes it is 
Proficient rowing both starboard and port!
At Southwest Regionals there is always a LGTB tent with fun t-shirts. One year they had one that said “I support my bisweptual rowing son” I thought that was great. Another said, “bisweptual, I swing an oar both ways”
Rowing is ripe with innuendos…
I’ll leave it at that…
Two related questions: now that the fall rowing season is over, how frequently should one send updates to the coaches who have asked to be updated?
Also, did your kids send the same messages to the coaches who sent personal notes and called, as they did to the coaches who sent more generic “keep us informed” messages? We’re trying to strike the right balance between reciprocating the coaches’ interest and over-doing it for someone who hasn’t yet taken the SAT/ACT.
@wykehamist
Remind me…is your daughter a junior or senior? Is she in the process of applying to schools now?
I would say reciprocate with the same level that has been set with the coaches unless there is a school that she is really set on…
So if she is getting the generic email “we received your form here at …” And it’s a school she wants to pursue I’d say respond with more interest. Have her do her homework about the program (it’s successes and strengths) and communicate her interest. She could share some of her success or even why she wants to row. Also mention in that email why she is drawn to the school.
Keep contact with any and all programs that may be a hit. My son created a special email folder to keep communications for reference.
Also keep in mind the world of collegiate rowing is one that often times involves musical chairs…coaches come and go and pop up at different schools.
Good luck!
Actually I’m new to this discussion - son is a junior - and one of the odd things is that a couple of coaches sent very personalized responses to questionnaires, a couple sent form “we will contact you as soon as NCAA rules allow”, and a couple did not even respond - only to later contact him and ask him to fill out the questionnaire. The good news is that he got the most personalized responses from the three of the four schools that are the best fit for him overall, so he was able to communicate that to the coaches in his reply.
After posting this I had a few more questions, and so decided to create a new thread, rather presumptuously titled but perhaps helpful to others. Sorry I didn’t name-drop you in that thread - I have read several of your posts, and appreciated them all!
@wykehamist
Sorry to remind myself I went back to original person who posted hence why I referenced a daughter.
NCAA rules do prohibit coaches from contacting your son prior to July 1st BUT if he makes the initial contact they then can communicate with him although the there are rules to the frequency and duration.
Sounds like he is off to a good start.
Your son’s sport is rowing?..
Feel free to PM me with more specific questions as we just ended our long recruiting run with my son.