Registration Packet
Practice Schedule
Rowing Handbook
Tentative Race Schedule
What is rowing?
Rowing gets you into great shape but doesn’t build huge upper body mass. Rowing integrates body and mind into a sport that requires strength, discipline, and focus. For the spectator (otherwise known as really supportive and patient parent) rowing can be confusing as there are two separate and distinct seasons, multiple events and boats, as well as a practice schedule that goes 9 months of the year. Have no fear; we’ll clear it up for you!
Fall Season vs. Spring Season
The two rowing seasons are divided into “Fall Head Race” season and “Spring Sprint” season. The differences between the two seasons are primarily the distance and work outs that are required. In the fall rowers compete in “head races” which are anywhere between 4 and 6,000 meters long. In the spring season rowers compete in “sprints” which are 1,500 to 2,000 meters long. This can be likened to the fall cross country season and the spring sprint/track and field season that runners go through. In the fall we work on overall conditioning with long erg (rowing machine) sessions, runs, and pool practice as well as, team building, and develop a great platform for the more intense spring season. There are 3 races in the fall and practices are 4 days a week in the fall, held from 4:15-6:15 Mon-Fri at either main campus or the boathouse. See our “fall practice schedule” for more details. In the spring we add in Saturday practices and travel to at least 5 away races. Boats which qualify for higher level invitational races have the opportunity to compete in elite competition and travel into the summer.
I’m Sitting 2 Seat in the 4, What’s That?
The boats are separated between men and women and it is our goal to primarily fill Varsity Women’s 8, Varsity Men’s 8, Varsity Women’s 4, and Varsity Men’s 4. In addition to the competitive varsity boats we hope to fill a Novice Women’s 8 and Novice Women’s 4. While that might sound great you might be asking “what the heck does that mean?” A 8 boat actually has 9 people, and refers to 8 rowers plus one coxswain. In race programs it’s written out as 8+ with either a W or M before it signifying that it is either a men’s or women’s race. The same is true for the 4’s, as we will be fielding boats with 4 rowers and 1 coxswain. People often ask about the difference between sweeping and sculling, and it’s really quite simple. Sculling is rowing with 2 oars where sweeping is rowing with 1. Sweep rowers row on either port or starboard side, and on most boats you can find whether a rower is on port or starboard by counting up from bow. Bow is the end of the boat that crosses the finish line first, and the first person that crosses the finish line is called “bow seat” or 1. The next person is 2, then 3, 4, and if it is an 8 boat the seats continue with 5, 6, 7, and 8. The stern most rowers are referred to as “stern pair” and the lead rower is called “stroke seat”. In a 4 boat the coxswain can sit at either the stern or bow.
Rowing Theory and Practice
Although learning the language and procedure of rowing takes awhile (and a lot of patience) the goal is to be able to move on to conditioning and technique training. We want to be in the best condition possible by the end of fall season so we can put most of our energy into technique and race theory during the spring. While different coaches take many different approaches to training our team uses an amalgam of training and coaching techniques. Rowers will practice in male or female groups which gives the opportunity for novice rowers to fill in for varsity rowers should we have an empty seat at any practice due to an absence. Strength and cardio testing will be conducted in the weight room and on the ergs every 3rd week. No seat is ever off limits! A rower who shows progress in technique, erg speed, and strength has the opportunity to overtake the seat of a veteran rower. In addition to this, it is important for our rowers to have a solid grasp of rowing theory and understand how their movements affect the overall movement of the boat. Rowers can expect to be handed supplemental materials such as rowing articles or be asked to write a response to a prompt.