As part of its commitment to raising coaching standards and expanding the sport across all levels, the Hong Kong, China Rowing Association recently delivered its first World Rowing Level 1 Classic Rowing Coaching Course. The course was run through April and May 2025 and marked a significant milestone in aligning Hong Kong’s local coaching education with World Rowing’s international standards.
A total of 23 enthusiastic candidates participated in the course, which combined classroom learning with hands-on, practical sessions on the water. The majority of the course activities took place at the Association’s newly upgraded Jockey Club Shatin Rowing Centre, with additional modules—focused on swimming, capsize recovery, safety, and risk assessment—hosted at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. Final assessments were held at the Hong Kong Sports Institute’s high-performance rowing centre, offering candidates access to its world-class facilities.
Participants represented a diverse mix of the local rowing community, including members from open clubs, university rowing programs, and alumni crews. Notably, several former members of the Hong Kong, China National Team took part, bringing valuable experience and enthusiasm to the course.
Led by Chris Perry, World Rowing’s Development Lead Coaching Expert for Asia, and Coach Educator Sam Wong, the course also provided a practical training ground for three aspiring coach educators—Keith Lam, Karen Wong, and Olympian Lee Ka Man—who had previously taken part in the World Rowing Coach Educator Course held in Hong Kong in October 2024. These trainees played an active role in facilitating practical sessions and conducting assessments, gaining valuable experience towards their future involvement in local and regional activities.
Following final evaluations, 21 candidates were certified as competent Level 1 Coaches, with two others invited to complete reassessment after revisiting key course modules. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the engaging instruction, comprehensive course structure, and the opportunity to build both coaching knowledge and confidence.
Building on the success of this initiative, the Association now looks forward to offering a World Rowing Level 1 Course for Coastal Rowing later in the year.