Erg Times and endurance training.

Question
Al
My son is an 8th grader that really loves the sport. He started in camp 2 years ago and then was asked last year to practice with the team, which eventually became a seat on the novice boat. He is 5'11 and 135 lbs, the weight issue seems to present a slight dis-advantage in erg times, however we are NOT concerned with the weight, since he has many years of growing, however we would like to find some good traing videos or books on increasing endurance and strength training specifically for rowing.
Thank You

Answer
Hi Dan: First off, it's great that you got your son into rowing at such a young age.  My son is an 8th grader; but wants nothing to do with the sport.  I wouldn't worry too much about the weight.  His body will grow into.  Of course, you definitely want to get him started lifting weights as soon as possible.

There's a lot of weight training resources out there, and I'm not going to pick one over the other.  Generally, to build bulk, he wants to do a routine that focuses on heavier weights and less repetitions.  Make sure he focuses on big muscle groups like the chest, back, and especially the legs.  He also needs to focus on a good balanced diet and taking in more healthy calories.

Another suggestion is that you make an investment to have your son workout with a personal trainer for a month or two.  The personal trainer can tailor a workout routine based on the demands of rowing.  The prices are pretty reasonable these days to hire a trainer who owns a studio.  

Good Luck/AP