WENDOUREE-Ballarat Rowing Club is celebrating after one of their own received a top Rowing Australia honour.<\/p>\n
Jamie McDonald was named Pathways Coach of the Year at the national sporting body\u2019s Hancock Prospecting Rower of the Year Awards in Canberra last month.<\/p>\n
McDonald is the coach of World Rowing under-19 bronze medal crew Katie Jackson and Lucy Richardson.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was amazed,\u201d he said. \u201cThe people I was up against are legends in the sport, they\u2019re coaches I look up to, and have been in awe of what they’ve achieved.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be recognised as being equal to them, and to receive the award from the Governor General, was a big deal.\u201d<\/p>\n
On this year\u2019s Australian national junior team, McDonald was the only coach who wasn\u2019t working full time as a paid academy or club coach.<\/p>\n
He said his and the crew\u2019s success comes down to the team of three having strong focus and an awareness of each essential role they play.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really approach it incredibly professionally,\u201d he said. \u201cKatie and Lucy understand their role, I understand mine as a coach, and we each individually have to be bring our absolute best to the pair.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was not rowing it, Katie and Lucy did the amazing rowing, but I could guide.<\/p>\n
\u201cI could have that technical view and set the training program while working with Rowing Australia and Rowing Victoria, with the amazing support of the village around me at Wendouree-Ballarat Rowing Club.\u201d<\/p>\n
McDonald said he aims to set realistic goals, and map out a pathway to them with milestones for the crew to reach along the way.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about identifying if we have the ability as a team, and then guiding them by setting a program and providing that technical coaching,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s being able to take a crew to compete against the rest of the world, and with Katie and Lucy, our first goal was to be best pair in Ballarat, then amongst the fastest junior crews in Victoria, and so on.\u201d<\/p>\n
McDonald rowed seriously for years, became a coach in the 1990s, and said he still loves doing it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been rewarding,\u201d he said. \u201cI enjoy the partnership with the athletes, and you learn from them.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt challenges and adapts me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Making the national team last season created pathways not only for the rowers, but for him as a coach.<\/p>\n
\u201cI absolutely have improved and developed immensely,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing linked in with Rowing Australia, and the sports scientists and head coaches there has opened a door, and the knowledge they\u2019ve shared has been incredible.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been able to see this high-performing team at work, and I notice it in my own coaching.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nominees for the pathways coach category have generally demonstrated skill and expertise in helping their crew make the national team, and medalling.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WENDOUREE-Ballarat Rowing Club is celebrating after one of their own received a top Rowing Australia honour. Jamie McDonald was named Pathways Coach of the Year at the national sporting body\u2019s Hancock Prospecting Rower of the Year Awards in Canberra last month. McDonald is the coach of World Rowing under-19 bronze medal crew Katie Jackson and […]<\/p>\n