Lindsay Segall has been a coach at the Lea Rowing Club in East London for 5 years after starting her rowing career not long before that as an adult. Keen to get a greater insight into rowing, I spoke to her about her journey and experience.
Unlike others, Segall started rowing as an adult after her housemate recommended she try out the 'learn to row' course that the club were running. Though she explained that her degree at university was in graphic design and, although there was a rowing club at university which I was tempted to join, it wasn't taken that seriously.
After the often monotonous task of sitting in front of a computer in an office for many years, the introduction of rowing transformed her life. Following this, in 2017, Segall helped renovate the club. She said: “At the time, the club was quite small, smaller than it is now, and I worked with another lady to renovate and repaint the bar area."
The same summer she was made redundant. However, this started a new path in her career when a junior coach asked her if she wanted to become a teacher at the club. This is where the journey began.
Segall spoke about the greatest challenges for a rowing coach. She explained that unlike other sports, where the teacher can show the point they are trying to explain through an example, rowing is not like that. Therefore, it is very hard to help the rower make the desired change, because, the coach can say everything they can, but the rower themselves has to have the will to change and improve.
The Lea Rowing Club in Stamford Hill, East London run two pathways - recreational and performance. Those who choose to join the performance pathway and take part in regattas and races often have to train both in the water and in the gym for up to 6 days a week. Segall spoke about the best way to balance sport, education and other aspects of life. "I am still trying to achieve the perfect balance," she explained. "I still want to have time for my creative projects and make a film." Although, some of her best tips would be to avoid procrastination, discipline yourself especially on phones, plan your schedule and manage your time as efficiently as possible without too much time to relax and do nothing.
Segall’s proudest moments as a rowing coach was in her first year as a performance coach. She said: “My Junior 15's won gold at the British Rowing Championships and my Junior 16's won bronze."
When speaking about her hopes for the future of rowing at the club and across the country, she added. “The answer was simple: I understand that rowing changes lives and my aim is to make rowing accessible to any child at any level." These powerful words prove why the Lea Rowing Club now as around 400 adults and 100 children members to date.
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