Martyn O'Leary — Private Rowing Coaching
Founding Winter Performance Intake
Private rowing coaching for motivated Year 10–11 athletes
A 12-week winter coaching block designed to complement school rowing. The focus is on technical efficiency, intelligent training, objective monitoring, and clear, ongoing feedback. This is a small, private intake to ensure attention, accountability, and honesty.
Who this is for
- Year 10–11 rowers committed to improving through winter
- Athletes willing to train consistently and engage with feedback
- Families who value individual attention and clear communication
Who this is not for
- Athletes looking for casual or drop-in training
- Families seeking guarantees or shortcuts
- Rowers unable to commit to the full 12 weeks
What the 12 weeks actually involve
Individual Performance Plan (IPP)
- Each athlete begins the block with an Individual Performance Plan
- The IPP outlines technical priorities, physical focus areas, and behavioural standards
- The plan is reviewed and refined throughout the 12 weeks based on observation, monitoring, and testing
On-water coaching (weekly)
- One dedicated on-water technical session each week (double or pair)
- Real-time technical feedback supported by video review
- Focus on boat speed, efficiency, and decision-making under load
Individual training & daily programming
- Individually written training aligned with school rowing and winter demands
- Adjustments made in real time based on athlete response, fatigue, and schedule
- Structured training informed by a sport-specific physiologist and strength & conditioning coach currently working within an international rowing performance programme
- Training delivered and monitored through a central performance dashboard (e.g. TrainingPeaks)
Movement Assessment
- Initial movement review conducted by a sport/rowing-specific physiotherapist
- Identification of limiting factors affecting efficiency, durability, and load tolerance
- Integration of findings into individual training and strength priorities
Monitoring & testing standards
- Mandatory use of a heart rate strap to monitor training intensity and recovery
- Scheduled lactate testing used to assess physiological response and guide training decisions
Ongoing communication & accountability
- Regular check-ins to review training, recovery, and mindset
- Direct access for questions, clarification, and feedback
- Honest conversations when something isn't working
High-performance insight & perspective
- Technical insight delivered through a recorded session from an Olympic rowing coach
- Structured conversation on mental performance with an Olympic medallist, focused on preparation, pressure, and expectations
- Exposure to how experienced rowers approach training, competition, and progression
Nutrition support
- Guidance informed by a sport-specific nutritionist with experience in an international rowing programme
- Alignment of fuelling practices with training demands and recovery expectations
- Nutrition habits reviewed using structured food diaries
- Initial and mid-block food diary reviews to support fuelling, recovery, and understanding
Review & evaluation
- Initial review at the start of the block
- Mid-block review to assess direction and make adjustments
- Final evaluation covering technical progress, training habits, and next steps
- A written end-of-block performance summary documenting training focus, progress, and recommendations moving forward
Important clarification
This program does not guarantee selection, results, or performance outcomes. The goal is improved training quality, clearer feedback, and long-term development.
About the coach
Martyn O'Leary is a rowing coach working with school and club athletes. This founding winter intake is intentionally small to prioritise quality, structure, and honest evaluation.
How to apply
This is a limited founding intake.
- Submit a short application
- A brief conversation to confirm fit
- Places offered where appropriate