UQ making waves with online rowing coaching course

29 Jun 2017

Habs RowingRowing coaches in the United States will be the first outside Australia to use an online coaching course designed by The University of Queensland and Rowing Australia.

Community Rowing Inc (CRI) in Boston, the largest rowing club in the US with more than 5000 rowers, is now offering the Rowing Australia Level 1 Coach Accreditation course as part of its coach education strategy. 

UQ’s School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences team, led by Bob Crudgington and Sue Dickens, designed the course based on their expertise in education, multi-media design and research in teaching coaches.

“By expanding into the US rowing community, we can share best practice in coach education and share resources with the ultimate aim of improving coaching practice on a global scale,” Ms Dickens said.

“Our initial aim was to design a quality learning experience with an emphasis on the fundamentals of good coaching practice.

“The course is designed as a starting point for rowing coaches to develop their skills, and it is considered a valuable step towards learning their craft as part of a larger rowing community.”

The Level 1 online coaching course has been running in Australia since June last year and more than 500 rowing coaches across Australia have now received accreditation with Rowing Australia. 

The course includes short videos demonstrating good technical rowing execution, guided instruction from experienced coaches, practice quizzes, as well as tips from coaching peers to provide maximum opportunities for learning.

Rowing Australia’s National Community Development and Education Officer Ron Batt said the course was unique because it’s the only rowing coaching accreditation course available online.

“This provides a significant opportunity to reach a global audience and create a global network of rowing coaches,” he said.

“This Level 1 course is the first of a number of intended short online courses that will be created in conjunction with UQ and CRI.”

UQ offers postgraduate programs in sports coaching entirely online, allowing coaches to fit study alongside professional or personal commitments.

It collaborates with a variety of national sporting organisations including the Australian Football League, Australian Rugby Union, Cricket Australia and Netball Australia to improve the quality of the delivery and development of coach education courses specific to each sport.  

“With research evidence supporting the broad range of skills required to be a successful sports coach, the delivery of targeted coach education courses is invaluable,” Ms Dickens said.

Media: Sue Dickens s.dickens@uq.edu.au +61 7 3346 9977 or Kirsten O’Leary, UQ Communications, kirsten.oleary@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3365 7453

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