Rowing

physical exercises

Training sessions are addressed to first or second year students (no professional rowing record required).

During training sessions of the rowing section, students with a record in sports clubs will perfect their rowing skills on an eight, while students with no previous experience will learn rowing with long oars from the basics. After two or three years of training, the latter may join the University of Warsaw’s eight team and compete in the University Championships of Poland and abroad. In the wintertime, training is carried out indoors, namely in a rowing pool (in conditions close to real), in a gym with specialist equipment or on a rowing ergometer (which is a great form of training of special endurance). Training focuses on learning and perfecting a rowing eight technique, co-ordination and synchronisation of the whole rowing team as well as preparation for competitions.

Owing to the character of the discipline and a long training cycle required to learn the rowing technique and effectively use it in races, the section invites primarily the students with a record in a professional rowing club. However, the training volume in the section is lower than in sports clubs, as training sessions are held only twice a week. Thus, students who are still active professional rowers will participate mainly in training on water, as required to perfect the rowing technique and co-ordination of the whole team. For students with a previous rowing experience, training sessions are an opportunity to regain general and special endurance, improve rowing technique and maintain motor and technical skills on a high level. Finally, students starting to row in the university will be provided with basic information about training safety, key rowing terminology, brief history of the discipline and international achievements of Polish rowers; they will acquire the correct technique in the rowing cycle, work to improve their efficiency, strength and special endurance, and learn the technical aspects of the rowing boat design. Students perfect their rowing technique mainly in an eight, either in natural conditions or in a rowing pool (which in the wintertime, when going on water is not possible, offers conditions close to natural). General endurance is improved by running and individual training of the cyclic sports (cycling, swimming, etc.). This also increases special endurance. As the in-season period gets closer, the focus of training shifts towards speed, which on the basis of the developed endurance and rowing technique will enable the optimum competition in a rowing eight. In the wintertime (i.e. November to March), students will improve their strength, endurance and maximum power by practising in the rowing section gym, which is equipped with machines that target the muscle groups involved in the rowing cycle. For the section members, rowing ergometers are an excellent means of building up special endurance, strength and speed in conditions close to natural.

Students wishing to join the rowing section should not only be fit for physical exercise aimed to increase strength or endurance, but should also have certain mental qualities, such as perseverance in pursuing one’s goals, regularity, proper motivation, and resistance to work conditions at the optimum levels for their bodies. Naturally, active or former professional rowers, who have actively practised the discipline for 2–4 years, are preferred. Other athletes wishing to join the rowing section are also welcome, provided that they have practised any of the sports based on endurance and aerobic muscle work. Owing to the type of work and the movement structure involved, students with the following physical characteristics are preferred: height of about 180 cm or more, weight of 75–85 kg.

Students:

- will acquire the general knowledge of the human body and its functioning;

- will be able to exercise safely;

- will learn how to work in a team;

- will understand the need to stay fit in order to remain healthy;

- will be able to use sports equipment correctly;

- will develop special motor skills under the guidance of the Physical Education and Sports Centre’s staff.

The primary assessment criterion is the results of internal endurance and strength tests on a rowing ergometer machine and/or in the gym. However, the main criterion is the outcome of rowing competitions, such as the University Championships of Poland, where students can compete and compare their results with their peers from other universities.

The PE credit is earned for active participation in training sessions and competing for the university team.