Boat Club (RUMS): Novice Men's Captain

Hey, I'm Owen and I'm running for Novice Men's Captain! RUMSBC has been a huge part of my time at university, and I’ve made some great memories, with both the rowing and social aspect of the club. I’d love the opportunity to introduce the newest members to Boat Club, teach them to row, and hopefully see them enjoy it as much as I have.

This year I’ve spent a lot of time at the boathouse, gaining a large amount of valuable rowing experience, so I’ve developed a good understanding of how different coaching techniques and drills can improve the stroke. I’d aim to adapt sessions to provide different focuses, offering individual feedback, with videos and demonstrations. I’d also create an erg and land training plan early on in the year, to improve fitness and technique.

The social side of Boat Club can be just as important as the rowing, so I’d strongly encourage the novices to get involved. I’ve attended most events this year, and I will continue that commitment, offering a friendly face and helping to integrate the novices within the club. I’d also organise crew meals and socials, including some relaxed post-outing socials, so they can get to know me and each other as a crew.

So if you’d like to see a familiar face return as Novice Captain, vote for me!

Oui le RUMSBC!

It’s time to properly give back to the club that I’ve been a part of for almost 4 years, by giving next year’s Freshers the Novice Experience that was crucial to me sticking with RUMSBC up until now. My commitment, leadership experience, and love for the boys (and the club as a whole) are qualities that I hope you can see would make me a Novice Captain that can deliver this important experience. 

My 3 priorities are:

CREATION OF AN ENJOYABLE ALL-ROUND NOVICE BOATHOUSE EXPERIENCE

• Bringing back pre-outing squad meet-ups to travel to the boathouse together as a crew. 
• Music at the boathouse and a rowdy, feel-good atmosphere will be staple. 
• Coordinated group warm-ups and cool downs after outings.  

CONTINUATION OF A GREAT SQUAD CULTURE

• At least two Novice & Senior Men socials once a term, with at least one of them not focused on drinking (e.g. paintball), in order to promote greater inclusivity.
• Cultivating a spectator culture - even if you’re not racing, you can still come down to support! 

FACILITATION OF THE NOVICE TO SENIOR TRANSITION

• Planning an all-new Christmas Dinner event with the Social Secs, featuring integrated Novice-Senior ‘crews’ to facilitate more intra-club bonding. 
• Creation of a groupchat with all of the men in RUMSBC, Novice and Senior, for the *expletive* chat!

Hey, I’m Arjun and I’d love to be your Novice Men’s Captain next year! I’ve had an amazing experience rowing with RUMSBC and felt very welcomed into the club over these past two years. I’m keen to coach a novice crew as I enjoy being vocal in a team and feel fulfilled observing its impact on individuals and on the team.

During sixth form I regularly ran with ASICS Wembley and undertook an EPQ on exercise physiology and biomechanics in resistance training. Throughout this I learnt how to build an effective training plan that adapts to the needs of an individual. My experience with injuries has made me more aware of possible risks involved in sport, so a change I would like to implement would be the inclusion of focused mobility training as part of water sessions. In conjunction, I’d apply my sports medicine iBSc, particularly modules based around injury, to RUMSBC’s overall fitness.

I’d also like to involve more seniors when coaching the novices when available, thereby both myself and the novices would gain additional insight into how to improve technique and fitness.

My experiences with tutoring throughout sixth form and university and as a vaccinator, have made me a much more confident communicator and improved my ability to work in a team, learning to seek help when needed and remain organised.

Overall, I really look forward to another year of rowing and hope that I can contribute towards the club in the role of Novice Men’s Captain!