By Dr. Richard P. Borkowski
Richard P. Borkowski, EdD, CAA, is a sport safety consultant based in Narberth, Pa. The former Director of Physical Education and Athletics at the Episcopal Academy in Merion, Pa., his most recent book is titled The School Sports Safety Handbook, publishe
Athletic Management, 12.3, April/May 2000, http://www.momentummedia.com/articles/am/am1203/ovosafety.htm
Crew is a demanding, beautiful, and reasonably safe sport that is gaining popularity in both high school and college athletic programs. Like all sports, though, it contains risks. Many of these are not familiar, as they are unique to crew.
The most common injuries are related to muscle and connective tissue, but those can often be curtailed with a proper warm up and cool down. The major catastrophic injury is drowning, which can happen if the boat tips over, is swamped, or collides with another boat or object.
In this article, however, I will focus on the risks that crop up with this sport that are not always envisioned. They run the gamut from transportation problems to supervision issues.
Check It Out
Before taking the team to the river, it’s imperative that you and the coach carefully research and visit the area where the team will be rowing. This includes the boathouse, the river, and the surrounding area.
The first step is to contact the local security and marine police. Ask what problems have occurred in the past, including inappropriate behavior by individuals along the shoreline.
Next, walk around the area carefully. Look for possible hazards associated with the water and the shoreline, such as a tree branch leaning towards the river or an old dock that is partially submerged. This is a good time to create a safety checklist—a list of potential hazards that coaches should check every day. If it’s tidal water, make sure you visit during both high and low tides.
Now that you’ve got your bearings, make sure your athletes do as well. Before the first practice session, have an orientation meeting for the parents and the athletes. Explain the benefits, the rules, and the potential risks of the sport. In addition, distribute written rules and ask every athlete and parent to sign an informed consent form.
Another part of the preseason plan entails figuring out transportation to the water. Crew is a sport in which you not only have all away contests, you also have away practices. So getting to and from your dock is often a very large risk to take into account. I believe bus transportation is the safest way to transport the team, but be sure to check on the credentials and background of the bus company you will use.
Equipment Issues
It is critical to check all equipment before use. Schools often share equipment with other schools or clubs. What was stored in good condition one day may not be in the same condition the following day.
Review with athletes how to store, remove, and carry the boats, including how to place and remove them from the water. Require a “guide” in front of and behind boats being transported to and from the water. Teach rowers to carry oars with blades down and in sight rather than over the shoulder. Eye injuries caused by the shell ends, oars, and rigging during the moving of boats are a constant concern.
Supervision
Discipline is always necessary around water. It is paramount in rowing. The number one rule is to have enough coaches to provide appropriate supervision. A one-to-15 ratio of coach to participant is often quoted as reasonable. Any ratio however, should be based on the situation. A novice group on the water for the first time, for example, requires a smaller ratio.
Whenever rowers are placed in a role of responsibility, such as directing the placing of a boat in the water, supervision from a coach is needed. Athletes should give their full cooperation, and failure to do so should result in disciplinary action. There is no place for “fooling around” around water.
All boats on the water must be supervised, which leads us to the topic of the coaching launch. Along with being visually recognizable, it should be equipped with a bullhorn, a search light, whistle, flotation devices, life jackets, blankets, cellular phones, a small repair box, an extra oar, binoculars, sunglasses, a first-aid kit, and ice packs. If one boat is not enough to supervise all crews, use two. Another note: coaches should be the only people handling the motors.
While activity on the water poses many risks, supervision must not be neglected once the athletes are away from their boats. Whenever team members are gathered on land, in the weight room, or on the bus, coaches must supervise. Land workout areas should be carefully chosen and not used on a whim. Running routes and rules should be established and enforced.
In Case of Emergency
Drowning is a real possibility in this sport. But there are many ways to lessen the chance of this catastrophe. To start, all participants should be tested for water safety. At minimum, rowers should be able to tread water, wearing what they would in a boat, for five minutes. They should also be able to swim the width of the river.
It’s also imperative to give team members lessons on what to do in case of a tip-over or other distress. For example, teach recognized distress signals (such as raising an oar), explain when athletes should or should not stay with the boat, and go over all other emergency considerations. It’s also wise to teach the “HELP” position (Heat Escape Lessening Position) to lessen the risk of hypothermia.
A written emergency plan is another must-have. Coaches and team members should thoroughly understand and practice the procedures periodically throughout the season. Important phone numbers and procedures should be posted. Coaches and athletes must know where and how to contact emergency personnel such as EMTs, police, and marine police. Of course, all coaches should have first aid training.
Some additional safety hints include the following:
• Practice only during the day.
• Monitor the weather reports. When in doubt, the boat doesn’t go on the water.
• Find out the rules of the river and communicate them often to your rowers. Everyone must know the traffic pattern.
• Emphasize that rowers should avoid entering the water to assist an individual whenever possible.
• Communicate with your insurance company. They should be aware of the hazards of this sport, and they may have tips on how to further reduce risk.
The key to lowering the chance of injuries in this sport is foresight. The coach must be proactive and a leader when it comes to safety. His or her athletes are counting on it.