ROW Welcome New Indoor Rowing Coaches!

On February 1, Recovery on Water invited 12 teammates from Chicago and Peoria to become certified indoor rowing coaches, giving them a unique opportunity to pay forward what they had grown to love about our organization and our mission.

They gathered at our Bridgeport erg loft and settled in for a full day of training with Master Instructor Katie Rosso Recker, and afterward they completed a series of independent instructional videos for evaluation.

Of this group, five members are now coaching specifically for ROW, and they—along with our existing coaching staff—have been a critical part of our ability to deliver online programs during the COVID-19 social distancing protocols. We are excited to now have the following team members as part of our coaching staff: JoAnn Baldwin-Glenn, Leanna Blanchard, Tara Hoffmann, Jennifer Lockbaum and Karen Rice-Heidewald.

Join us in welcoming these coaches aboard, and check out what some of them have to say about their experience with ROW and desire to coach.

New Coaches Sound Off!

JoAnn Baldwin-Glenn: “I have been very aware of how my teaching, coaching, advisement, and leadership skills have all been positively impacted by my involvement as a ROW member, and I feel I have become a better teacher, advisor and coach as a result. I have taken on every seat in the boat each summer, not only to give me plenty of time out on the water and to help out, but also to improve my own rowing. I feel strongly that not only will I be able to give a great deal as an indoor rowing coach, but I will also become a much stronger rower, athlete and coach—as well as a stronger ROW teammate.”

Leanna Blanchard: “I wanted to pursue certification as a coach because I love learning new things, I love this team, and I love lifting up my teammates. What better way to do all of those things than as an indoor coach? I'd been looking for ways to be more involved, and I'm glad I was able to jump on the opportunity. My biggest goal as a coach is to eventually start providing regular ‘themed’ rows (think 90s pop theme, holiday theme, etc) to get people engaged and having fun with it. I've had the pleasure and honor of coaching a few in-person classes before COVID-19 turned our worlds upside down, and while I'll miss that interaction, I think there's a lot for us to gain as individuals and as a team working through this virtual space in this challenging time. It's a perfect example of how we ‘Lift As We Climb’.”

Tara Hoffmann: “ROW has transformed my identity over the four years I've been part of the team. I found I was looked to as a leader on the team, and where that would have made me uncomfortable in the past, I decided to accept it and make it intentional. I've been fortunate to have been coached by some exceptional teachers, and I thought a bit about what I responded to, what was likely to reach others. Enthusiasm - Inclusiveness - Clarity - Fun! That's my coaching mantra. Help me live up to it!”

Jennifer Lockbaum: “I wanted to become a coach because my coaches were instrumental in shaping my love for the sport, and I wanted to do this for others. That’s how much this sport and the women of ROW have changed my life.”

Karen Rice-Heidewald: I chose to pursue the certification to give back to the team that has given me so much. I am also preparing for my eventual move to Wisconsin where I hope to continue rowing in some fashion, and certification will help with my credibility in getting a program started there. Coaching virtually has been a bit of trial by fire; fortunately, I was able to do two classes prior to our move to a new platform and this is a different animal! I hope to be able to bring value to the team as we stay connected during this time of isolation.

ROW thrives on community—it is the heartbeat of our mission and the means by which we thrive as an organization. Four years ago, Kym Reynolds became our first team member to earn certification as an indoor rowing coach and then become a coach for her team, and we are thrilled to see additional members choose a similar path in supporting and leading their peers.

We send congratulations to our newest coaches and gratitude to the entire coaching staff who make our programs possible.

Tara HoffmannMarch 30, 2020