World Rowing Development organised a Para Rowing Workshop on the 22nd of April in Szeged, Hungary preceding the of the 2024 European Olympic and Paralympic Qualification Regatta (EOPQR). Delivered by Simon Goodey, the World Rowing Para Rowing Discipline Lead, and Rosie Mayglothing, the World Rowing Coaching Head of Education, this joint effort was supported by the World Rowing Para Commission and the Classification Advisory Panel.
The objective of the one-day Para rowing workshop was to is to equip coaches and or classifiers of European Member Federations with the skills and information they need to launch a Para Rowing program, carry out a recruitment plan, and set development objectives in the run-up to the 2028 Paralympic Games.
Participants in the session acquired knowledge about:
- Classification
- Boat classes for Para Rowing
- Safety procedures
- Goals for development
- IPC qualifying requirements
- The World Rowing Level 1 Para Coaching course
Participants were also provided with three online courses on the World Rowing Education Academy to complete prior to the workshop:
Member Federation present were: Austria, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Romania and Ukraine.
The participants included sport club members interested in starting Para Rowing from scratch in their nation with backing from their Federation, as well as local club coaches from Hungary, experienced Paralympic coaches, and national classifiers.
After the completion of the workshop content, all participants had the opportunity to look at the different Para Rowing sculling boats. The set-up and its equipment was explained and discussed.
This workshop was an excellent opportunity to network for European Para Rowing coaches in addition to the educational delivery of the content.
