When addressing a rower who misses practice repeatedly, what should you do?

• A. Discuss barriers to attendance.
• B. Publicly punish the rower.
• C. Publicly criticize the rower for missing practice.
• D. Ignore the issue.

Answer: (C)

The best approach is to address attendance issues with a private, supportive conversation to uncover the underlying barriers. When you talk one-on-one, you show respect and build trust, which makes the rower more willing to share what’s making it hard to attend. Publicly punishing or criticizing invites defensiveness and doesn’t solve the real problem. Ignoring the issue lets attendance slip further and hurts team progress, whereas a constructive dialogue helps you identify practical steps to improve consistency.

Work together to identify barriers—transportation challenges, school or work commitments, illness, fatigue, or conflicts with practice times. Then create a plan that could include adjusting practice schedules, offering make-up sessions, arranging carpooling, pairing with a training partner, or providing flexible options while still keeping accountability. Schedule a follow-up to review progress and adjust as needed, and involve a parent or guardian if the rower is a minor.