Resources for Masters
Stay updated with the latest regatta schedules and participate in events tailored for masters rowers.
Engagement in these events promotes camaraderie and healthy competition among club members.
Participate in our advocacy initiatives designed to represent the interests of masters rowers.
Together, we can create a stronger voice to further enhance the rowing community.
The Legion supports some of our youngest rowers by providing them with financial assistance to help further their aspirations to become representatives of New Zealand at an international level for the first time.
Navigate through our comprehensive directory of rowing clubs that connect masters rowers across New Zealand and globally.
Joining a local club can provide mentorship and support.
Explore insightful articles and blogs written by experienced rowers, coaches, and enthusiasts.
These posts cover tips, training advice, and stories that inspire our community.
Become a member to enjoy exclusive benefits, including event discounts, access to specialized resources, and a supportive network of fellow rowers dedicated to excellence.
Running Events
The Legion of Rowers is keen to encourage more events for masters. This page contains helpful resources and how-to guides which you can download and use.
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Please credit the Legion of Rowers as the source of this information.
Please send us any suggestions for updates.
Running a Masters Training Camp
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​A sign up form
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An email advertising the camp
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Pricing – Please add an additional margin $x per person for non-Legion of Rowers members (pass this back to the Legion – we use this money to reinvest into Masters and Junior Rowing in New Zealand)
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The Sample Camp Joining Instructions have been provided by Christine Hobbs, St Georges Rowing Club
Running a Business-House Rowing Regatta
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Having a lot of inexperienced competitors in one place takes careful marshalling.
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This was for the Auckland Business Rowing Challenge event
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Regatta Race Day plan for the Business Houses
Running a Head Race
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South Island Rowing ran the Head of the Taieri in 2022
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The joining instructions and explanation of How a head race is marshalled and started are exemplary​
Fundraising
Using Adult Learn to Row
Adults are very interested in trying rowing - the sport is so high profile in New Zealand that few people haven’t heard of the Kiwi Pair or the Tokyo Eight or Emma Twigg.
Adult learn to row courses serve two separate and useful purposes - firstly fund raising and secondly a source of new members for your masters training group.
How to run an adult learn to row course
There are three main parts to the course - finding the right dates to run it, finding volunteers to help coach, and finding the right equipment.
Dates first
Spring and autumn are good times because the weather in NZ is often quite stable and there are fewer demands (School holidays, overseas trips) that people take at these times. A simple learn to row course can be six lessons total with a follow up course of another six lessons. This allows people to give it a go and then continue if they like rowing or drop out honourably if they don’t!
Find three consecutive weekends and run your course on both Saturday and Sundays. The follow up course ideally should be on the next three consecutive weekends without a gap. When you have a gap, more people drop out.
Volunteers
You don’t have to be an experienced coach or an experienced rower to volunteer. If you did the learn to row course six months ago, you know enough to help with newbies. The club needs roughly six volunteers for 12 students learning to row. Most of what you will be doing is helping people get their foot-stretchers set up correctly and then sitting the boat level while they try rowing.
Structure
The best learn to row coaching structure and method is detailed in the book Masters Rowing - Training for fitness, technique and competition by Volker Nolte and Wolfgang Fritsch. Wolfgang wrote the chapter and it is really clear setting out what to teach first, what to follow up with.
The main thing which adults need and which is mis-understood compared to coaching young people is to get on the water from the very first lesson. Ideally don’t use ergs to teach on that first weekend - the details of half slide and feathering can be learned later. Get your students in a boat rowing square blades and full slide (however they can) is what gets them hooked. Later on you can teach them body sequencing and what the coxing commands are.
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