The Army Crew Team

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The Army Crew Team The issue of the Army Crew Team arose from the fundamental approach of Coach P. in selecting and managing the Varsity boat’s crew. Firstly, Coach P.’s questionable selection method of the Varsity boat’s crew focused almost exclusively on the physical dimensions (i.e. strength and conditioning) and rowing technique. Neglecting the key ingredients of a successful crew i.e. psychological dimensions (according to a report sponsored by the US Olympic committee), Coach P.’s selection criteria were based almost exclusively on individual attributes rather than any consideration for the overall team performance. The physical ability of the Varsity boat’s crew is clearly superior to the Junior Varsity boat’s crew. This is evidenced by the following: (1) the various results of the physical dimension tests (i.e. erg scores, weight lifting strengths and rowing techniques); (2) the excellent performance of the Varsity boat’s crew against the Junior Varsity boat’s crew when they first competed against each other in Atlanta; and (3) the series of races in which various groupings of pair, four or six back on Hudson River. During that particular test, the Junior Varsity boat’s crew only managed to beat the Varsity boat when all eight rowed at the same time. Notwithstanding the superior physical ability of the Varsity boat’s crew, the selection process resulted in a Varsity boat crew that suffered a distinct lack of leadership as no one was classified as a leader despite two members (i.e. team captain and coxswain) of the Varsity boat being designated members responsible for such a duty. The weak psychological strength of the team resulted in the growing decline in the performance of the Varsity boat’s crew. This is evidenced by the excellent performance of the Junior Varsity boat’s crew against the Varsity boat’s crew on the first practice on the Hudson River

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