What is Alberta Rowing Association Erg Monitoring
Why Test?
2011 marked the first year in some time that the Alberta Rowing Association put together a comprehensive plan to establish an Erg Testing Protocol. Those athletes who followed the erg testing protocol were the same athletes who were selected to Alberta’s Provincial Teams in 2011.
Let the results from 2011 show that in following a national/provincial erg protocol – athletes can not only track their development throughout the year but as well monitor their development relative to those on national & provincial teams. Furthermore, those who follow the protocols will have their development tracked by Club, Provincial and National officials and coaches opening the window for development opportunities. As in years past, the choice to test remains at the discretion of the athlete and program head but a decision not to test only impedes those athletes and programs.
ERG Testing Protocols – Which one should you follow
Athletes who aspire to represent Canada at the Junior, U23 & Senior World Championships / Olympic Games are required to follow the RADAR Test Protocol designed by Rowing Canada.
Senior and U23 Athletes who wish to be eligible for ARA Funding to attend the 2012 Royal Canadian Henley Regatta and or the 2012 National Rowing Championships are asked to follow the RADAR Hybrid Testing Protocol as designed by the Alberta Rowing Association and Rowing Canada.
Junior Athletes who wish to be eligible for ARA Funding to attend the 2012 Royal Canadian Henley Regatta are asked to follow the Provincial Test Protocol as designed by the Alberta Rowing Association.
Junior Athletes who wish to be considered for CSG Camps attend camps in preparation for the 2013 Canada Summer Games and or the 2012 National Rowing Championships are asked to follow the Provincial / Hybrid Testing Protocol as designed by the Alberta Rowing Association.
Testing does not guarantee ARA Funding for the 2012 Royal Canadian Henley nor will it guarantee an athlete entry to the 2012 National Rowing Championships and or an invite to camps in preparation for the Canada Summer Games. Conversely, failure to test does not imply that athletes are ineligible for Provincial Funding. However, in following the testing protocols outlined herein athletes will be providing the ARA with a greater body of work to make sound decisions in determining provincial funding.
National Erg Protocol – RADAR
RADAR – What is it?
To better support athlete and coach development, Rowing Canada and consequently the Alberta Rowing Association will be using RADAR as a form of testing and monitoring athletes. Without getting into specifics RADAR involves a battery of tests that specifically identifies weaknesses and strengths of each individual athlete. The results then allow coaches and athletes alike to formulate an individualized training program that specifically targets an athlete’s area of weakness in future training. Without laboratory testing, it is only through RADAR’s Battery of Tests that coaches and athletes alike can gain an understanding of individual’s fitness traits and their changes throughout the year.
The Tests
1. Peak Power (2 Tests)
2. 1 Minute
3. 2k
4. 6K
5. 60 Minute
For a complete description on how to carry out the tests please visit Rowing Canada @ http://www.rowingcanada.org/sites/rowingcanada/files/athletemonitoring_oct28.pdf
Testing Date Submissions
March 26, 2012– Full RADAR Testing (For athletes residing in Alberta 2k Submission must be done on March 10, 2012 at the ARA Erg Championships.)
September 3, 2012 – Full RADAR Testing.
All tests must be pulled within a three week window of the testing deadline. I.E for the March 26, 2012 deadline, tests must be pulled between March 5, and 26th, 2012.
Provincial Testing Protocol
In 2011, Junior aged athletes were not required to participate in RADAR Testing and 2012 will be the same. Provincial erg tests for Junior Aged athletes are as follows.
The Tests & Submission Dates
March 10, 2012 – Alberta Erg Championships – All Athletes.
March 26, 2012 – 6K erg Submission for U19 Athletes – 60 Minute Test for U17 Athletes
May 1, 2012 – 2K Erg Submission for both U17 and U19 Athletes
RADAR/ Hybrid Testing Protocol
For U23 / Senior Athletes consists of RADAR Testing (Per Above) and the following four Test
January 29, 2012 – 4.5K Erg Submission
February, 28, 2012 – 3K Erg Submission
April 15, 2012 – 1,500m- Erg Submission
May 1, 2012 – 2K Erg Submission
Provincial / Hybrid Testing Protocol
For Junior Aged Athletes consists of Provincial Testing (Per Above) and the following three tests.
January 29, 2012 – 4.5K Erg Submission
February 28, 2012 – 3K Erg Submission
April 15, 2012 – 1,500m Erg Submission
Erg Submission Guidelines
Athletes are responsible for submitting their own erg Scores.
Provincial and Hybrid Erg Submissions must be submitted to the Alberta Rowing Association. Submissions are to include the name of the coach who monitored the test – test score and average stroke rate.
RADAR Submissions must be submitted to Rowing Canada. Rowing Canada has established an online data base to support the collection of this information. All athletes must submit the appropriate information to this on line database.