Bert Cocu
Bert Cocu has coached internationally for both the Netherlands and Australia. He started the Olympic 8 project for the womens 8 in the Beijing Olympiad which won a silver medal.
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03:00 Bert Cocu – background in rowing. From the Netherlands to Melbourne University Boat Club and now back at E.S.R. Thêta (Eindhovense Studenten Roeivereniging Thêta)
07:00 Differences between Australia and The Netherlands rowing. How to introduce yourself to a new club as a coach
09:30 I know I made the girls cry. But at the end they liked it!
12:00 Bill Tait head of Rowing at Victoria Institute of Sport asked me to do the LW4x for the Interstate races.
16:00 National Style – in Australia there was more pitch / angle measurement. There is a lot of money available in Australia compared to the Netherlands. Sport institutes are very involved in the clubs. The Institute supports athletes who do good erg power tests and you do strength and conditioning there – an athlete individualised programme. They coach the coach as well as the crew. Force curve analysis – pressure gauges.
25:00 It’s not about winning, it’s about your best performance.
30:00 The club where I started LM4- we took them to Amsterdam for races to watch and analyse.
33:00 Renee Mijnders cached me asking why the boat was unbalanced. Just look at the blade. Train hard and push hard, The main thing I say is push harder and keep hanging.
40:00 At a club as a coach there are few people to talk to. Do go to other clubs – go out with other coaches. So few coaches choose to come out with me. It’s so stupid. Be aware of the words you use, the language and meaning. Slowly people start to row the same style. Once a week we all go out in big boats. When building a club and develop the technique over the years start with the athletes and crews you have. Then the big boat is a chance to develop one style. Be aware of the impact of what you say.
51:00 Blending in a good skill to have, In seat racing how do you become fast? Have a chat – agree your goals with that crew – share the vocabulary.
54:30 How do you seat the right athlete in the right seat. For an eight, good rhythm, basic technique and power and consistent rhythm – that’s the 8 seat. Full reach at the catch and not the most powerful. 6 is the second most important seat. Bow has to have good rhythm, 7 supports the 8 – be stubborn, confident and mentally strong. In seating a quad 3 is important for the rhythm and 4 should be consistent. 1 is able to absorb everything happening in front.
1:01 Kim Brennan in a 7 for the Yarra eight – in Australia how great the legends of the sport are – so humble and loyal to the club.
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