In October 2016, the USRowing High Performance Task Force was formed to review and analyze USRowing's high performance systems, structures, resources and policies following the 2016 Olympic cycle. The final presentation of recommendations from the Task Force report was made to the USRowing Board of Directors on December 21, 2016. Since that time, the Board has been diligently reviewing the findings and recommendations and taking incremental actions based on the recommendations. The Task Force Report addresses seven major areas-- Administrative Management and Governance, Coaching Excellence, Athlete Identification, Retention, Training, Resources, External Relationships, and Funding. In the Report, the Task Force analyzed and provided short- and long-term recommendations for USRowing to improve the performance of the U.S. Olympic Team in Tokyo 2020 in each of these areas.
The Board understands the significance of this undertaking and the opportunity this assessment provides USRowing to make real changes in support of athlete performance, not only in Tokyo but for decades beyond. As a result, the Board has been diligent in their review of the report. The digestion of recommendations into real and structured deliverables across a timeline for short term and long term progress takes time and detail.
Notwithstanding the premature and unauthorized publication of contents of the Task Force Report by members of the Task Force, the Board will continue its work in the coming weeks. The Board expects to publicly release a summary of the Task Force Report and the actions it took based upon the Task Force's recommendations upon completion of its full review, by early March 2017.
It is important to recognize that contents of the report have been treated as confidential until this point due to its proprietary and sensitive nature. The Board notes its disappointment that some members of the High Performance Task Force disclosed and provided comment on details of the confidential Task Force report before the Board had completed its review and decision-making process.
"While we understand our rowing community is eager for results, we feel compelled to present our findings and action items in a complete and professional manner as this will impact the future of the national team", said USRowing Board Interim President Meghan O'Leary, "Our goal is to provide the proper context and weight of each individual aspect."