River City Crew Youth Rowing Programs
Overview
1. Competitive Rowing – This program is for those who are willing to commit the time, hard work and attitude to improve their skills and be as competitive as possible. The group will meet M-F and all rowers will be required to commit to a minimum of 4 practices a week, to include Tuesday & Thursday practice. They will be assigned to specific crews in order to practice together and improve as boats. Rowers will be able to move up or down in their boat seeding according to their skill and ability to help a specific boat move faster. This will not only lead to improvements within rowers and boats but will help to instill a sense of group purpose. We will be able to assign boats and have them work together on a regular basis. Sculling may also be a part of this group to improve skills and also race. Competitive rowers will be eligible for all regattas although they may have to qualify for championships. Unexcused absences from more than a few practices or a regatta may result in the rower being placed in the intermediate group. FEE - $800/season.
2. Intermediate Rowing – This program is for those who are unable to commit to the competitive schedule, are unable to make the commitment to the work needed or practice schedule, prefer a less competitive atmosphere or whose technical skills are still developing to the level of the competitive squad. This group will meet M, W & F. They will have full coaching but boat lineups may vary and they will not be expected to work at the level of the competitive rowers. Intermediate rowers will go to most, but not all regattas. Attendance requirements for the Competitive program are not in force for Intermediate. FEE - $600/season.
3. Coxing Only - This program is for those who are dedicated coxswains and do not row in the sweep boats. Dedicated coxswains may learn to scull but will not row in regular practice or regattas. FEE - $600/season.
4. Beginner Rowing – This is a Fall Learn-to-Row program to complement our summer program. We get a number of people interested in RCC who can’t take the summer program or find out too late to apply. This program will run Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons. The beginning rowers will not participate in initial regattas until the coaches feel they are qualified. FEE - $200/2 weeks. This program will lead into full RCC membership when rowers are ready. FEE - $400/remainder of season. Beginner rowing requires permission given by the Head Coach - contact Coach O'Rourke.
5. Saturday Morning Sculling – (Some Non-Regatta Weekends) This will be a sculling only program to improve the skills of both scullers and sweep rowers. All rowers may attend with the permission of the Head Coach. It will be on a session by session basis with weekly sign up. There will be a limited number of spaces available and, once signed up, a rower will be responsible for the fee even if they don’t attend the session. FEE - $25/session. Coxswains who do not row during the regular sessions may attend the sculling sessions free of charge. The sculling programs will only be for experienced scullers if the water is cold or rough.
6. Summer Learn-to-Row - This is a summer program for rising 8th-12th graders which teaches new rowers the basics of sweep rowing and can lead to full membership in RCC. Two-week sessions run M-F from 8-10AM during the summer with sessions in late June, mid-July and mid-August. After completing the LTR sessions beginner rowers may move up to the Intermediate or advanced sessions. $250/2-week session.
7. Summer Intermediate/Advanced - These sessions are for rowers with previous experience. The focus is on technique as well as endurance and power. New rowers may join these sessions with coach permission after taking LTR.
Summer Camps start in late June and run M-F through July & August with a break during the July 4th week. There are daily 2-Hour sessions from 6AM to 8AM for experienced scullers & sweep rowers and 2-week LTR/Beginner Sweep Sessions (8-10AM).
All individuals, with or without rowing experience, wishing to join RCC as new rowers need to register under the one time/family Initial Membership Fee and should contact the Head Coach to decide which
program to register for.
RCC PARENT/ADULT & ALUMNI PROGRAMS
The Parent/Adult/Alumni Rowing Program is open to RCC member parents, family, friends & past RCC rowers.
Both Sweep rowing in fours and eights and Sculling in singles and doubles are part of the program. There will also be a Learn-to-Row component to the program for those new to the sport. Safety is paramount and, as such, all new rowers must be able to swim and tread water.
PROGRAMS:
LTR - Sweep rowing (one oar) in fours or eights. This is a 3x/week program lasting 3 weeks. There is a minimum number of 5 rowers needed for a sweep program. New rowers will be taught the basic rowing technique, terms and how to care for and move the equipment. A coach in a launch will direct each session. After LTR the new rowers may join RCC as members and have access to certain RCC boats and equipment.
LEARN-to-SCULL - The sculling (small boats with two oars) is taught in training singles that are very stable. Lessons may be individual or up to three new rowers, each in their own boat. After the new scullers have proven basic ability (usually 3-5 lessons) they may take out the training singles on their own with the permission of the coach. With technique improvement the rowers may move up to the racing singles with the coach's permission.
Contact RCC for more information on LTR lessons.