Yup. In my experience coaching novice rowers, even the smartest people suddenly become really stupid the moment they pick up an oar, and need to have a simple,

Yup. In my experience coaching novice rowers, even the smartest people suddenly become really stupid the moment they pick up an oar, and need to have a simple, actionable training goal. The movement is already hard enough to master without complicating things. All the detailed stuff and the "why" can come after a year or two of training. Before that you'd just be wasting your time.