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Why row?
There are many reasons to row – from college admissions, to personal development and satisfaction to camaraderie and teamwork. Rowing is a total team experience that completely immerses the athlete like no other sport. Read: Rowing, or the Greatest Decision You Will Ever Make. Team Experience The team experience in rowing is like no other -- athletes form very close friendships and have a lot of fun. They become responsible to their team and help each other develop and perform. Other sports talk about responsibility and teamwork, but in rowing it is the performance of the crew together that counts more than any one individual. Many students find that rowing gives them that social group which they have been searching for! Personal Development Rowing is for everyone and will make you stronger, and more focused -- in fact, rowers are the toughest, most determined athletes you will meet! Rowing works all the muscle groups and burns more calories than almost any other sport or exercise. It is a sport that demands endurance, strength and skill. It requires consummate mental toughness and will maximize the potential of any athlete. Overall, rowing gives students a boost in their personal development and prepares them well with good habits for success throughout life. College Admissions For parents and students, one of the primary advantages of high school rowing is the benefit of improved college admissions. The application process for the best colleges has become more competitive and selective than ever. Rowing is the fastest growing NCAA sport and many colleges recruit for crew and some even offer scholarships. The overall improvement in admissions for athletes who row is significant and clearly evident in the ACRC program. Equipment New rowers start in eight person boats. Eights are approximately 60 feet long and just over 200 pounds in weight - so each rower (carefully) lifts nearly 30 pounds over their head, on average, when carrying the boat down to the water. What schools do rowers come from? ACRC rowers come from many high schools from around Central Ohio. In 2015 we had athletes from 23 different schools as well as home schooled students. What is the age range of the team? ACRC accepts kids from the summer before their 8th grade year (13 years old) through the summer after their senior year of high school (18 -19 years old). The lower age limit is based on a child's size, as he/she needs to be able to work with the equipment which can be heavy and cumbersome. One of the wonderful things about rowing is that no "prior experience" is required so, unlike a host of other popular sports, your child can start at the age of 13. Can I try rowing before joining the team? Yes! The best way to try rowing is to sign up for one of our summer Learn-to-Row sessions where you'll be put in a boat with other new rowers. If summer is not an option, fill out the form HERE. We'll put you in a novice boat and let you try it before joining. What is the difference between the fall and spring sessions? Rowing is an annual sport with periodized training and competition. In the fall, rowers focus on a training phase to develop overall aerobic fitness and endurance as well as learning good rowing technique. Fall regattas (races) reflect this training phase with longer distance “Head” races, typically 5,000 m (5K or 3 miles) in length. In the spring, training shifts to add the development of strength and anaerobic power. Spring regattas reflect this with shorter 2,000 m (2K or 1 mile) sprint races culminating in the Midwest Junior Championships to decide who will go to Nationals. Can athletes row just in the Fall or Spring? We know that some athletes like to participate in other sports or activities. Rowers may row in just the Fall or Spring season however, there may be additional cost and athletes may not be able to receive the same opportunity to develop and compete in the top boats Teams and Practices The Men's and Women's teams are each split into Varsity and Novice squads.
Lightweight rowing Lightweight rowers get their own category to allow them to race competitively against rowers of similar size. Don't be fooled, though - Lightweight rowers can hold their own in open weight events. The lightweight category is raced at a number of collegiate programs, as well. •Mens lightweight cut-off – 150 lbs •Womens lightweight cut-off - 130 lbs Coxswains A coxswain is an athlete, smaller in stature, who steers the boat and directs the rest of the crew during races and practices. Ideally, women's coxswains weigh 110 lbs or less and men's coxswains weigh 120 lbs or less. Are you coxswain material? Practices Athletes participate in every workout or practice training session. Practices are held five to six days a week including Saturday mornings. Races are scheduled on weekends. In rowing, it is particularly important that all athletes show up for every training session, as boats require all rowers for a productive practice. ACRC Head Coach, Dave Ferris, is responsible for overall coordination of training, racing and equipment. What are the practice times? On-Water Practices: While school is in session, practice begins: M-F at 4:45 PM; Saturday at 7:00 AM. After the school year, practice shifts and begins: Monday - Saturday at 6:30 AM. On-water practices generally last about 2-1/2 hours, but can sometimes run a little over. In the Erg Room: During the winter season, ACRC moves into the erg room. Varsity rowers erg M-F 4:45-6:00 PM. Novice rowers erg M-F 6:00-7:00 PM. All rowers participate in yoga classes on Saturday mornings. Cross-fit training is available (for a fee) Saturday afternoon as a team and on-your-own throughout the week. What's Next? Sign up for Learn to Row, if available, or Conact Coach Ferris and let him know your're interested. He will invite you to either ride along and check it out or get in a boat and give it a try. |
