Scotch rowing coach Tim Belcher named Rowing SA Coach of the Year

Being recognised as Rowing South Australia’s Coach of the Year for 2021 came as a surprise for Scotch College’s Tim ‘Belch’ Belcher.

Scotch College’s Tim Belcher was shocked when he was recently named Rowing SA’s Coach of the Year, despite finding consistent success at a grassroots, state and national level.

The 56-year-old rowing veteran has spearheaded Scotch’s rowing program, which has involved coaching both elite and inexperienced students, while also coaching SA’s para-athletes and state representative sides.

Scotch coach Tim 'Belch' Belcher named Rowing SA's Coach of the Year. Pictured with Adam Holland. Picture: Supplied

He credited the state’s rowing community, which he says has been a significant factor in his recognition, for making his job easier.

“It really did come as a surprise. I’m not the best coach in the world and I’m lucky that I’ve had the chance to witness a whole lot of other really great coaches in South Australia,” Belcher said.

“People like Jason Lane and Christine MacLaren at SASI have been terrific. You look at Christine’s work with para-athletes, she’s been a fantastic role model for me.

First getting involved in rowing in the 1980s, Belcher was an impressive athlete who competed in the sport at a state level.

He then took a 25-year hiatus however, after suffering from tendinitis and being unable to recover well enough.

It was his love of the sport which eventually pulled him back in and turned him towards coaching South Australia’s young talent.

“In around 2010, when my kids started at Scotch, I started going out to events as a parent,” Belcher said.

“Like most people who have been any sort of athlete, I struggled to watch and not be involved. The college knew I had a background in rowing and asked if I’d like to coach again, so I did and I’ve never looked back.”

Throughout the last decade, Belcher has had the opportunity to coach some of South Australia’s best young rowers, including Scotch student Adam Holland, who has represented the junior national side.

However, he says coaching the more inexperienced athletes within the sport has been just as rewarding.

“I’ve been coaching a fair range, especially this year. I’ve coached elite school boys like Adam Holland, and have seen him succeed at a national level, which has been fantastic,” Belcher said.

Seeing any athlete he coaches, no matter the level, achieve their goals is something which keeps Belcher’s rowing passion at an all-time high.

He says the enjoyment he gets from these experiences will keep him coaching the sport for years to come.

Scotch coach Tim 'Belch' Belcher named Rowing SA's Coach of the Year. Picture: Supplied

“The sense of camaraderie you get in rowing is amazing, it’s the ultimate team sport,” Belcher said.

“Coaching elite athletes, and also para-athletes or more inexperienced kids who wouldn’t have originally considered rowing, and seeing the joy on their faces as they improve together has been one of the highlights of my life.”