Is COVID safety keeping you and your newest rowers out of your big sweep boats, or maybe high and dry altogether? If you are stuck on land or in a singles-only environment and starting to get nervous that you are missing out on a lot of two-handed handle-handling and sweep blade work, then perhaps you will be glad we dusted off this Rowing Hack for you: The Erg Rigger.

Coach Alex Mann sent this tip into us six years ago, when he was coaching at a place that lacked tanks and he just wanted to do some better dry-land teaching. You can read about his inspiration in the original article here and see if, just maybe, this hack could be helpful this fall.

After all, 'tis the season of virtual racing, so why not some "virtual" blade work? If nothing else, you can spend some good time in the shop hacking this one together and then get to switch things up a bit at practice.

Even a simple tripod with a pin and oarlock on top can help you turn an erg into a way to help newer rowers visualize how things will be slightly different once they are in a sweep shell. And, if your dock is wide and stable enough, you can even make yourself an erg "dock box" to get into some placement drills with actual water.

If nothing else, this could be the best way to put an old rigger and busted oar to good use!

Have you cobbled together a sweet teaching tool this fall? Share your tips--and hacks--in the comments below.

Have a great rowing hack to suggest for future inclusion here? Send it to us!