In search of effective feedback variables. The full video and audio presentation are on www.rowing.chat podcast network. Lotte Lintmeijer finished her research master in psychology at Utrecht University. In 2013, she decided to leave her comfort zone and apply for a phd position at the Human Movement Sciences department at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), on a project at the interface of sports performance, biophysics and motor learning, and all that in the context of rowing. Even though she did not meet the job requirements in a strict sense, she was hired. Now, she has successfully finished her PHD. In the coming months she will start as a sports data scientist at the TU Delft on the project: “Sport Data Valley”.

1. Power in rowing
In search of effective feedback variables
Lotte Lintmeijer

4. Problem
Too few objective feedback
variables to monitor and
improve individual rowing
performance

5. Aim of the thesis
To develop and evaluate
feedback variables that
contribute to the improvement
of rowers’ physical capacities
and coordination

6. Criteria for effective feedback variables
1. Variable needs to be key performance variable
2. Variable must be accurately measured
3. Variable can be adapted by the athlete

7. 1. Key performance variables
Coordination
Prower
Pdrag
P∆velocity
Pblade
Physicalcapacities

8. 1. Key performance variables
Prower
Pdrag
P∆velocity
Pblade
Physicalcapacities
Coordination

9. 1. Key performance variables
Prower
Pdrag
P∆velocity
Pblade
Physicalcapacities
Coordination

10. 1. Key performance variables
Prower
Pdrag
P∆velocity
Pblade
Physicalcapacities
Coordination

11. 1. Key performance variables
Prower
Pdrag
P∆velocity
Pblade
Physicalcapacities
Coordination

12. 2. Accurately measurable
Step 1: Evaluate the most commonly used method
The common method:
- neglects that the boat moves with a
non-constant velocity
Correction:
- An extra power term is required that
is related to:
- Mass rower
- Acceleration of the rower
- Velocity of the boat

13. 2. Accurately measurable
Step 2: quantifying the extra term in on-water rowing

14. 2. Accurately measurable
Step 2: quantifying the extra term
The commonly used
method underestimates
rowers’ power output with
12.3 %

15. 3. Can be adapted
Step 1: Development of a feedback system

16. 3. Can be adapted
Step 2: Feedback study
Traditional FB
Traditional FB
Real-time FB

17. 3. Can be adapted
Step 2: Feedback study
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
traditional FB power output FB
Deviationfromtarget(W)
Low intensity
Medium-high intensity

18. Conclusion
Prototype feedback systemA framework &

19. Conclusion
Prototype feedback systemA framework &
1. Power output can be used as a feedback variable to control
training intensity
2. More research required on power losses
3. Effect of effective feedback variables on rowing performance